Veyron product extension spells good news for Ricardo
AUTOMOTIVE and engineering consultancy Ricardo has secured a major order from Bugatti for its Veyron supercar.
Bugatti has placed a further contact with the group for the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) system, which is so important to the 1,001bhp Veyron’s performance.
The new order represents a further extension on the production for the DCT unit – which was designed in collaboration with Ricardo. The system will be manufactured at the Ricardo facility at Leamington Spa.
The seven-speed DCT of the Veyron is the result of a highly successful design, development and manufacturing collaboration between Ricardo and Bugatti, encompassing both the transmission hardware and its electronic control unit and software.
The state-of-the-art transmission is an important contributor to the high quality driving experience offered by all versions of the supercar. In addition to providing support on the design and development of the DCT, Ricardo has also been responsible for the manufacture and supply of these class-leading transmissions for all versions of the Veyron since the launch of the product five years ago.
Mark Barge, Ricardo’s director of high performance transmission products, said: “We are pleased to be able to announce this further extension of our longstanding and highly successful collaboration between Ricardo and Bugatti.
“The Veyron represents the ultimate in high quality automotive design, engineering and manufacture, and we are proud to have been able to extend the support provided to Bugatti in the design, engineering and manufacture its advanced DCT.”
The announcement came as Ricardo said its business was progressing to plan. In a trading update for the six months to December 31, 2012, the company said order intake across its multiple geographies and business segments was progressing well.
Within Technical Consulting, the UK operations continued to secure a good stream of business with work continuing on existing multiyear programmes with key clients.
Further work has been secured in Japan and the pipeline of activity continues to build in China where starter programmes have been won which should lead to multiyear programmes. Mainland Europe remains benign although work from a large engine client and a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer is offsetting the reduction in test bed revenue in the group’s German division. The US division has maintained its strong order book position built earlier in the financial year.
The recent acquisition of AEA Europe, announced in November 2012, is delivering to plan, both in terms of expected trading performance and the integration into the wider Ricardo business. Clients and employees are said to have received Ricardo’s ownership extremely well.
Dave Shemmans, CEO, commented: “We are encouraged by our solid orderbook and pipeline, as well as the continued progress in implementing our strategic growth plans, including diversification into neighbouring market sectors. We remain confident of further progress both in the half and full year.”
