Michael Larner

Remember your boyhood days, when you lay restless at night staring up at the car poster that hung over your bed? It's a story that holds true for all of us gearheads. The only variation from house to house was the actual car that we were dreaming about. Some drooled over the Lamborghini Diablo, others of the Ferrari F40 or of the Ford GT.

But many of today's youth probably dream about the Bugatti Veyron. And now, with the release of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, you might think that they'd be dreaming of someday owning that automotive titan. But you'd be wrong: The 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which costs a mere $2.64 million (only $900,000 more than the Veyron 16.4), is targeted at Veyron owners who want even more power. In other words, if you're a wee lad dreaming of buying one of the 30 Super Sports scheduled to be produced, you first need to set your sights on owning the comparatively underpowered Veyron 16.4. 

Though the original Veyron 16.4 has 1001 horsepower and is capable of a top speed of nearly 254 mph, the new Super Sport takes that insane amount of power to the next level. Indeed the latest iteration of the Veyron puts out a monstrous 1200 horsepower and currently holds the world record for the fastest production vehicle, as it tops out at 268 mph. 

Powering the Veyron Super Sport is the same 8.0-liter W-16 engine found in the 16.4, but the four turbochargers and intercoolers are even larger than before. The suspension has been stiffened as well giving this version more aggressive handling capabilities, and the increased use of carbon fiber throughout the vehicle has increased the structural rigidity (and safety) while saving weight. The Super Sport can even be delivered “unpainted” (read: clear-lacquered), so as to show off the entirely carbon-fiber body. Granted, foregoing the paint will cost you an extra 300 grand. Though, it might actually be worth it.

Check out Autocar's video review of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport below and let us know if you think this car is the ultimate super car or just a pointlessly tuned version of the original Veyron 16.4.