The Bugatti Veyron - the fastest and most expensive production car in the world today. 

1000 bhp and 253mph speak for themselves, figures that exceed those of current Formula One cars. When you throw in the 4WD system, plus the comfort and reliability levels that have to be part of any modern car and you can see why this car has attracted so much attention and admiration.

AutoArt's rendition of the Veyron is about what we'd expect from the German company - very pretty! The body shell is beautifully sculpted - low, wide and muscular in appearance. Fit and finish are flawless, and the paint finish is gorgeous. Both colours look slightly pearlescent and are finished to a high gloss.

Though not as intricate as a racing car with all the attendant intakes and aerodynamic devices, the Veyron has a high level of detail especially at the rear with the semi-exposed engine (with two miniature EB logos!). The sides have deep vents ahead of the rear wheels with nearly invisible wire mesh inside them. A nice smattering of chrome-plated 'bling' completes the car.

AutoArt always put a lot of effort into their interiors, but this is fairly spectacular even by their standards. Lots of crisply moulded detail, even down to the stalks behind the steering wheel. There's plenty of chrome too, on the dash, steering wheel, instrument surrounds and centre console.

But the figures let them down. AutoArt's early cars were criticised for not having driver figures. The company listened and responded, but I think they have further work to do. Their current figures are poor, neither attractive nor well-finished. They look so wooden they ought to be in a daytime soap opera!

Please AutoArt, replace these soon. 

Four screws hold the body and chassis together, though when you remove the body you have to remember to unplug the cable for the lights too. (The LEDs and circuit board are housed in the body shell.)

The Veyron has four wheel drive. The motor is a standard Mabuchi type, mounted inline at the rear, driving the front axle via a prop-shaft. Gearing is 10:28, all nylon. The axles and prop-shaft run in metal bearings.

And we can't forget those wheels. Large diameter (though rather narrow) 12-spoke design, chrome plated and beautifully finished with the Bugatti logo in the centres. 

But all four wheels had small moulding pips on the rims. (It only takes two minutes to whip the tyres off and clean the wheels up with a knife or file.)

AutoArt have gone to some lengths to make sure the running gear is adequately secured. The motor is held in place at the front, rear and both sides. The axle bearings fit tightly in their mountings and have a clip-on cap for extra security. The prop-shaft bearing also fits tight in its mounting.  

The guide is the wired type, not the 'quick-fit' style supplied with some of their cars. The guide has a small amount of play, but it's not excessive. Two spare guides complete with braids and eyelets are clipped to the base of the display box.

The car is fitted with a single magnet, the screw in type first seen on their Shelby Concept car. It's fitted to the underside of the chassis, just ahead of the motor.

The Veyron didn't disgrace itself though. It's pleasant and predictable to drive, and doesn't seem nervous or twitchy even on such a small track.

Here the Bugatti was a pleasant surprise. The Veyron motors round the track with little apparent effort. The gear ratio (and large wheels) mean that acceleration and braking aren't the sharpest, but the car copes very well. It's almost deceptively fast. The tyres seemed to hook up well, especially after a light sanding, even on a cold track. The 4WD means there's very little wheel-spin anyway - the car just gets up and goes.

And it goes very well indeed. It doesn't accelerate as visibly (or violently) as some cars, but it's not sluggish either. What really impressed me was the way it tackles corners. Several times I thought it was going to crash because I braked too late - but no, the Veyron stayed firmly planted and hurled itself round without any drama at all.

Even on the inside lane of the hairpin - the tightest corner on the track, everything gets sideways there and many cars need some delicate throttle control to get them straight and accelerating afterwards. The Bugatti slides its tail wide, but rapidly sorts itself out - all I had to do was mash the throttle and away it went! 

I'm really impressed with its performance, and of course it looks great too. If you like super-cars, this one could be hard to resist. 

Bigger pics in the Gallery