Letters.(Letter to the Editor)

In fast company

Along with other readers, my eyes are bugging (sorry) out over the Bugatti Veyron's performance numbers (Cover story, Oct. 3). I remember an earlier time, when what was considered the first Funny Car, driven by Jack Chrisman, was a Double-A fuel dragster with a Comet body shell dropped on top. As I recall, it was for exhibition only, and wowed crowds with ETs in the nines and speeds around 150 mph. Extrapolating from your numbers, have we now a street car with performance to match a dragster?

Harry Viener, Burke, Va.

As a land speed racer I found the Veyron's claimed 250-plus mph interesting. I used the provided numbers of 0.36 Cd, 987 hp, 4300 pounds and a frontal area I found elsewhere of about 26 square feet, to plug into formulas to acquire top speeds. These numbers indicate a top speed of 238 mph with the claimed 987 hp, and a necessity of 1053 hp to achieve 250 mph. A 12-mph difference might not seem like much, but the power needed at these speeds to get a small boost is exponentially different from 100 mph less.

Bob Wanner, via e-mail

I want to drive from New York City to Los Angeles in 11 hours. How much off the $1.2 million sticker is the employee pricing deal?

Paul A. Kalenian, Princeton, Mass.