A Bugatti Veyron and an Audi TT. At first glance, they have little in common. One became an icon with 1,001 pk and a top speed of over 400 km/h, whilst the other went on to become one of the most recognisable Audis ever.
Yet they do have something striking in common
During the development of the Veyron, not every component for the first prototype was designed from scratch. Instead, they simply ‘borrowed’ parts from within the Volkswagen Group. And apparently, the TT was also on the shopping list. The first Veyron prototype features several components that come directly from the TT:
Door mirrors
Fuel filler flap
Not exactly the sort of parts you’d expect to find on a Bugatti that would eventually cost nearly two million euros.
From warehouse to hypercar
It actually makes perfect sense. The Veyron was an ambitious project, and during its development there was a constant need for prototypes, modifications and new solutions. In such circumstances, it is naturally quick and easy to use something that is already available and tried and tested for certain components.
The first Veyron prototype was, after all, clearly still a test car. The parts borrowed from the TT eventually disappeared. On the later production versions, they naturally received their own versions, specially designed for the Bugatti.
And so the Audi TT 8N has, in its own modest way, made a small contribution to the development of one of the most legendary hypercars of all time.
From a TT door mirror to a Bugatti Veyron… sometimes the gap between an ordinary Audi and a hypercar is surprisingly small.
Let’s have a closer look…
Precisely because these parts are unremarkable at first glance, they serve as a lovely reminder of how prototypes are actually developed. Behind the spectacular end products, there are often cars still full of temporary solutions, borrowed parts and clever innovations. If you take a close look at the Veyron prototype, you’ll suddenly spot something familiar – including elements from other models within the VAG Group. So Sjoerd Weetjes 514 comes highly recommended.
© Header photo: Noël Van Bilsen