June 22nd,
10 a. m.
The Wayne and Granger families chatted and laughed as they dragged their luggage into Heathrow International Airport in the Hillingdon district of London.
The two adorable pets, Gu Gu and Crookshanks, were also there, but they were both staying in Vincent's suitcase.
Cheshire and Abraham followed quietly behind them.
The two, disguised as an ordinary Muggle couple, were not on vacation together; their mission was to set up Magical Base Station across Europe.
The cumbersome boarding procedures did not displease the two former dark wizards, since the only way to legally enter another country was through Muggle channels.
The direct flight to Modena, Italy, landed smoothly three hours later.
As they exited the airport terminal, both families could see three conspicuous Bugatti sports cars.
Eric went up and gave Luca Schreiber, Bugatti's chief engineer, a warm hug.
"Luca, have you been waiting long?"
"No way, Mr. Wayne, you have no idea how eager our team has been to share our latest findings with you."
After the two embraced, Luca looked at Vincent with a surprised expression.
They've grown so much in just one year! Kids these days develop so fast.
He walked enthusiastically toward Vincent, and the two shared a big hug.
"Mr. Wayne, your design is fantastic. We're sure you'll be satisfied with the prototype we've completed."
"Thank you for your hard work. I'm afraid some of the ideas I've proposed will be difficult to implement."
Luca shook his head as he released his embrace. "Of course not. You have no idea how excited our group was when we realized your groundbreaking ideas."
His confident demeanor made Vincent begin to look forward to it.
With current technology, the Bugatti Veyron was successfully manufactured 10 years ahead of schedule. One can imagine what the research team must have been going through during that year.
Working day and night was a given, but the undisguised excitement on Luca's face clearly showed that he was actually a very pure person.
After Eric introduced the Granger family to him, the group got into the car and headed to the Bugatti factory in Campogalliano.
The square building's exterior remains unchanged, and the "BUGATTI" lettering on the wall, made of blue bricks, remains dignified and understated.
Led by Luca, the group first toured the slightly modified factory buildings.
The Volkswagen Group has a cooperation agreement with Bugatti, and they provide many advanced equipment and technical support.
Their team returned to their home country after completing the prototype, but the two sides have maintained remote communication.
After touring the factory, Luca led everyone to a closed laboratory.
Through the glass, they could clearly see a Bugatti Veyron in its original carbon fiber color.
It was placed next to a bunch of instruments. Although the carbon fiber texture of the shell was somewhat monotonous, the "shark nose" design on the front was very unique. Combined with the large air intake and headlights, the front of the car looked particularly imposing.
Its rear end is also very unique, with dual exhaust pipes on both sides and four outlets that look formidable, while the streamlined rear end further highlights its elegant temperament.
Domineering yet elegant, like a tough guy in a suit.
He looks like a gentleman, yet his powerful presence is not jarring.
However, the interior is rather basic, as it is currently only a prototype and not yet ready for mass production.
Luca excitedly pushed open a glass door and led everyone to the car.
"The Veyron features a mid-mounted four-wheel drive system and ceramic ventilated disc brakes. Its titanium-built W16 direct-injection engine is equipped with four turbochargers, producing 1,001 horsepower, a maximum power of 736 kilowatts, and a maximum torque of 2,200 to 5,500 rpm."
He clenched his trembling fists tightly, his eyes gleaming with an unbelievable fanaticism.
"The laboratory has reached a top speed of 417 km/h, and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds. These are truly amazing figures!"
417 km/h, which is faster than the expected 407 km/h.
Of course, this is lab data, and it would be difficult to achieve in actual testing.
Eric stroked the carbon fiber shell of the car with obvious delight. "Do you have data from runway tests?"
Luca shook his head and sighed softly. "The Veyron is a raging beast at heart. We've contacted several suitable test drivers, but unfortunately, their schedules are full, and the earliest we can expect to see them is early next month."
The 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 2.5 seconds and it has a G-force of 1.1. An ordinary person who has not received training can withstand at most about 2G. It really requires a top-notch test driver to complete the whole course.
Bugatti did not hire a designated test driver, and there was only one prototype, so they could only continue to wait patiently.
Vincent approached Eric and gave him a wink.
Test drive? Now?
Given Luca's passion for the prototype, even the boss's orders probably wouldn't work.
"Dad..."
"Okay, I'll take care of it."
Eric mysteriously led Luca out of the laboratory.
The soundproof glass effectively blocked their conversation, but their increasingly exaggerated body language clearly indicated that they were arguing.
Hermione approached Vincent, who was half-squatting and examining the Michelin special tires, and gently patted his shoulder. "You want to be the first test driver?"
"Yes, I designed the car, so of course I'll personally test it."
She pointed to the other side of the soundproof glass, "Uncle Eric seems to have done his best. Don't forget that in his eyes you're still just a child."
Vincent stood up. "It seems I need to prove myself."
He walked out of the lab and calmed Luca down with just a few words.
Then he gave Hermione an "OK" sign through the glass, indicating that everything was settled.
Evelyn, needless to say, and even the Mr. and Mrs. Granger could see what he was planning to do.
How do you prove you're capable of being a test driver? There's only one answer: demonstrate your abilities on the track.
Led by Luca, the group arrived at the test track behind the Bugatti factory.
Vincent changed into his blue-black racing suit and found that almost the entire research team had arrived.
Under the watchful eyes of more than a dozen people, each with their own unique gaze, he calmly put on his helmet and got into a silver Bugatti EB110SS used for testing.
Compared to the base EB110, the SS (SuperSport) model features optimizations in the engine, chassis, and aerodynamics, resulting in a total weight reduction of 150 kg and the use of lighter wheels and glass.
The silver EB110SS slowly drove into the test track, and when the countdown reached "0", it roared out of the starting line.
One of the research team members pumped his fist and shouted, "Perfect start!"
Luca's face was filled with disbelief.
He quickly looked at the large screen next to the speed measuring instrument.
It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, a full 0.1 seconds faster than the previous top test driver.
A fast start doesn't mean much; the key is how well you can handle corners and your top speed.
Soon, the first right-angle turn came.
It took 1.3 seconds to maintain a speed of 192 km/h.
Next is a long straight track.
The maximum speed is 355 km/h, which is the theoretical upper limit of the speed.
How could you achieve such a result on your first try?
Luca swallowed hard. "He's a genius test driver."
The members of the research team all nodded in agreement.
The Wayne couple and the Granger family weren't too surprised.
Especially in Hermione's eyes, it would be strange if Vincent didn't have that kind of ability.