Hunaudieres Concept

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1999 Bentley Hunaudieres Concept

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. It is capable of a 350 km/h (217 mph) top speed.

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.

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

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