While traveling on a Shinkansen train between Tokyo and Nagoya, Piëch jotted down a concept on the back of an envelope: an 18-cylinder engine that could produce over 1000 horsepower. His idea wasn't just about raw performance, it was about redefining what a car could be. He wanted to create a vehicle that could exceed 400 km/h on the track but still feel refined enough for a night at the opera. This balance between brute force and polished elegance became the DNA of what would evolve into the Bugatti Veyron.

In his quest for the right brand to house this dream, Piëch turned to Bugatti, a marque steeped in luxury and racing heritage. Inspired by a toy car his son bought—a Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic—Piëch chose Bugatti as the vessel for his vision. By May 1998, Volkswagen had secured the rights to the Bugatti name, setting the stage for a new era of automotive excellence.

The path from concept to production wasn’t just about engine power, it was a monumental challenge in engineering. In 2005, the Veyron 16.4 debuted with a jaw-dropping 407 km/h top speed and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds. At its heart was the now-iconic W16 engine, a direct descendant of Piëch’s original envelope sketch. But what truly set the Veyron apart was its ability to merge such extreme performance with everyday luxury.

Ferdinand Piëch’s demand was simple yet profound: build a car that no one else could. And Bugatti delivered. The Veyron wasn’t just fast, it was elegant, smooth, and uncompromising in comfort. Even two decades later, its legacy remains untouchable. The car didn’t just rewrite the rulebook; it authored an entirely new one.