But the W16 engine and its quartet of turbos will deliver the promised '1001PS' - that's 987bhp. Torque peaks at 922lb ft at 2200rpm and flatlines all the way to 5500rpm. Bugatti claims a 252mph top speed and that the car will crack 186mph in under 14sec, though engineers admit that another vexing issue is designing tyres that can cope reliably with that top speed.

Production starts later this year and a few years' worth of cars have already been sold. Price? Rumoured to be around ΂£700,000, depending on the ΂£/euro exchange rate.