Bentley Hunaudières

The Bentley Hunaudières is a concept car built by Bentley for the 1999 Geneva Salon International de l'Auto. It is powered by a Volkswagen 8.0-litre, naturally aspirated, W16 engine adapted and modified by Bentley to generate 623 bhp (465 kW; 632 PS) of power at 6,000 rpm and 760 N⋅m (561 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm in conjunction with a five-speed manual transmission.[1] It is capable of a 350 km/h (217 mph) top speed.[1]

Bentley Hunaudières
Overview
Manufacturer	Bentley
Production	1999 (Concept car)
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S)
Body style	2 door coupé
Layout	RMR layout
Related	Bugatti Veyron
Powertrain
Engine	8.0 L (488 cu in) VW Group (Bugatti) naturally aspirated W16
Power output	623 bhp (465 kW; 632 PS)
Transmission	5-speed manual

Name

The Hunaudières' name pays homage to the famous straight of Circuit de la Sarthe where Sir Tim Birkin in a "Blower Bentley" overtook Rudolf Caracciola in a Mercedes-Benz SSK at 125 mph (201 km/h) with one wheel on the grass down the Hunaudières straight.[2]

Production

The concept, along with the similar Audi Rosemeyer, led to the production of the Bugatti Veyron by parent company Volkswagen.[3][4][5]

Video game

The Bentley Hunaudières was featured in the 2000 video game TOCA World Touring Cars as an unlockable car.

References

1. "1999 Bentley Hunaudieres". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
2. "Bentley Hunaudieres". Diseno-art.com. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
3. Roth, Dan (2 January 2007). "Separated at Birth: Bugatti Veyron and Bentley Hunaudires Concept". Autoblog. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
4. "Bentley Hunaudières: The Bentley that became a Bugatti". Cars UK. 29 April 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
5. Orlove, Raphael. "Can You Tell What's Missing From These Photos Of The Bentley Hunaudières Concept?". Jalopnik. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2019.