Bugatti

Early last month we revealed details about Bugatti's new special edition variant of the Veyron, the 'Bleu Centenaire'. Designed to mark the company's 100th anniversary, we thought that there could not possibly be any more special editions of the Veyron on the horizon, but at this past weekend’s Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Bugatti unveiled four new special edition Centenaire Veyrons.

The four new cars are part of the Bugatti's centenary celebrations, and pay tribute to four legendary Bugatti drivers who drove the Type 35 racing car prior to World War II. These include French driver Jean-Pierre Wimille, Italian driver Achille Varzi, English driver Malcolm Campbell and German driver Hermann Zu Leininger.

The Bugatti brand is almost inextricably linked to the Type 35. The Type 35 Grand Prix was by far one of Bugatti’s most successful racing models, and its unmistakable radiator grille and eight-spoke aluminum wheels have become defining features of the carmaker’s latest efforts.

Each of the four new Veyron Centenaire Editions get their own specially mixed color scheme, and these colors consist of blue, red, beige and green. Additionally, other exclusive aesthetic details include the grille, front wings, and doors being made of polished aluminum to give off a mirror effect.

Inside, the headrests bear one of the signatures of the four legendary drivers, and there is also a special commemorative plate detailing the significance of the cars.

Bugatti news at Bugatti unveils more ‘Centenaire’ special edition Veyrons

We've seen gold-plated Aston Martins and even Fiat 500s, but until now the cars receiving the treatment have largely been worth less than their paint jobs once all was said and done, save rare specimens like the gold-ensconced Rolls Royce Phantom - but not this time. A gold Bugatti Veyron out of Dubai brings together opulence and excess in a way few people can fully envision.

It certainly takes a special kind of eye to look at a $1.75 million Bugatti Veyron and think, "I'd like to draw more attention...I think I'll paint it gold." But that's exactly what the car's Kuwaiti owner did. The combination with tan offers a color combo that's at once eye-catching and also nearly camouflaged with its resident environment - the desert.

The car isn't just a freak-show garage queen, however, and it does get driven. It's been spotted out and about in Kuwait by media, the public and even a few speeding cameras. But the owner also coddles it as one might expect, treating it to the occasional $10,000 detail job and storing it in a climate-controlled atmospheric chamber inside the garage.

Bugatti news at Gold Bugatti Veyron defines excess

Bugatti's cars are today one of the most cherished in existence, whether old, like the Type 57S Atalante left by a UK physician in his will this week, or new, like the Veyron Sang Noir, which is dedicated to that very car. The incredible 1937 Bugatti left to the doctor's nieces and nephews is expected to reach up to £6 million ($8.75 million) at auction.

The car was left in a garage willed to the man's relatives without indicating what was inside. Along with the Bugatti, they found an E-Type Jaguar and and undisclosed type of Aston Martin, reports The Telegraph. The incredible finds were completely unexpected by the family.

Built as a modified version of the standard Type 57, the Type 57S Atalante was lower, more powerful and even rarer - only 17 of them were ever made. A yet rarer variant - the Type 57SC, for supercharged - was also made, but only two such cars were built by Bugatti from the factory. Many 57S owners later had the superchargers, which could boost output as high as 200hp (149kW), installed by the factory in Molsheim.

The standard 57S, like that pictured above, still generated a substantial 175hp (130kW), enough to propel the car to about 130mph, and the Atalante was a unique variant with elements drawn from the 1935 Aerolithe concept car, including aluminum body panels among other innovations.

The newly found Bugatti will go on sale at Bonham's auction house on February 7.

Bugatti news at British doctor leaves $8.75 million Bugatti 57S in will

Customized Bugatti Veyrons are almost as common as the cars themselves, which is to say not common at all. But this particular car, modified by Mansory, is less common than even most other custom Veyrons. Little information about the car exists, though there appear to be as many as three examples of this particular styling package.

Eschewing the popular matte-color trend of late, the Mansory Vincero is pure gloss from stem to stern. Largely blacked out, but with a sprinkling of chrome accents in the grille and a dark chrome treatment along the side of the car across the front fenders and door panels, the Vincero certainly lives up to its name. Inside the car gets a typically Mansory two-tone black and white treatment, though the addition of a woven element makes for a unique touch.

An extra dose of naked carbon fiber across the front bonnet and rear engine cover, plus the rear fascia and diffuser gives the Vincero the look of the Sang Noir, which may in fact be the basis for this custom car. Only 15 of the Sang Noir special-editions were built, however, so it's more likely that this car is styled to look somewhat alike.

For those that would like to investigate the matter in person, or just happen to have several million unused dollars lying about, the car is on sale at Prestige Cars in the United Arab Emirates.

Bugatti news at Mansory modifies the Bugatti Veyron

Only 300 Bugatti Veyrons will be made, and already a fair portion of that allotment have been built as limited edition specials, including the Pegaso, Hermes, Pur Sang, and Sang Noir. The latter, an exposed-carbon fiber special that eschews paint in the interest of weight and raw appeal, may be getting another version, based around the topless Veyron Grand Sport, according to the latest reports.

While such a car may seem counterintuitive in the way that a Ferrari 430 Scuderia Spyder does to the performance-minded, it could make for a stunning piece of automobilia, and a fine contrast to the white Grand Sport revealed at Pebble Beach this year.

The report grows out of the sighting of a customer Sang Noir alongside a model of a topless version of the same at an exclusive customer event, according to CAR. Only 15 of the hyper-exclusive Sang Noirs are to be built in coupe form, but it now appears about that many could be built in Grand Sport roadster form as well.

Bugatti news at Bugatti working on Sang Noir version of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Bugatti is one of the most prestigious badges in the automotive industry. If one doesn’t have at least $3 million to throw around, then one shouldn’t even think of entering a Bugatti showroom. The first unit of the brands latest creation, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, sold for $3.19 million - exceeding the roadster’s sticker price of $2.05 million.

Only 150 units of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will be produced, 50 of which has already been sold to existing Bugatti customers who apparently have another $3 million to throw around. So what’s next for the exclusive luxury brand that caters to a very elite demographic?

According to Automotive News, Bugatti is working on a Rolls-Royce competitor to replace the Veyron production that ends in 2012. CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen says that Bugatti may work together with sister brand Bentley to build the car. Is World’s fastest sedan on the way?

And it doesn’t end there. Rumors have started of Veyron GT model. A 1200-hp Veyron that will top speeds of 270 mph.

Bugatti news at Bugatti to team up with Bentley to build Rolls-Royce competitor

It’s been known since the outset that production of the Veyron supercar would be limited to just 300 units, and from its early days there has been talk about Bugatti releasing a successor. Last month a leaked memo alleged to be an official document suggested that Bugatti would launch a faster and more powerful version of the Veyron, and now a new report indicates that a brand new model, possibly a high-end saloon, could follow soon after.

Bugatti’s CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen has previously confirmed that a new model is due for launch sometime in 2011 or 2012, and while it was originally thought that it would be a new supercar Automotive News is reporting that it could be a saloon rival for the likes of Rolls Royce and Maybach.

One possibility could see Bugatti team up with fellow Volkswagen Group brand Bentley to co-develop the new model. Bentley is currently working on its next-generation Arnage saloon, and the platform could possibly be modified for use in a Bugatti. There’s even been talk of cross-sharing of the 1,001hp (746kW) 16.4 engine, but officials on both sides have denied this.

Nevertheless, Bugatti has spent hundreds of millions of dollars developing the Veyron’s world beating powertrain and execs would want to recoup some of that investment by launching more variants.

Bugatti news at Bugatti’s next model could be a Bentley-based sedan

Swiss watch company Parmigiani Fleurier has released an updated version of its Bugatti Type 370 wristwatch for 2008, after enjoying two years of success including winning an ‘International Watch of the Year’ award back in 2006. The watch was originally released to celebrate the launch of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 supercar, and was designed so that the driver can see the time without taking their hands of the steering wheel.

The watch has now been updated with a new special edition range designed exclusively for the Veyron Fbg par Hermes model. The watch is available in several color combinations including a brushed white-gold model with a brown dial or a rose gold model and a coffee brown dial. The version pictured here is fitted with a mother of pearl face and diamond highlights.

Only 20 units of each version will be made and all come standard with a Hermes leather strap.

The Veyron Fbg par Hermes was a special version of the Veyron developed together with French design and luxury brand Hermes. Its odd name ‘Fbg par Hermes’ refers to the company’s historic headquarters on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore (the Fbg being short for faubourg), which used to create custom interiors for many of Ettore Bugatti’s creations during the 1920s.

The special car comes with a unique hood, eight-spoke polished aluminum wheels with air vents around the edges to Hermes’ saddle-stitching, a new grille and custom fuel-filler cap.


Bugatti news at Parmigiani and Hermès release special edition Bugatti Type 370 watch

The 300th Veyron will be the final car built, as was always the plan with the limited-edition hypercar. A Dutch buyer, Harrie van de Moesdijk, will buy the final car to complete his collection of three - one in each color of the Dutch flag.

Owning three Veyrons is a unique status symbol in its own right - according to Moesdijk, he'd be the only person in the world with so many to his name. The 300th and final Veyron would be the crown jewel of the trio, a bright red car to complement the blue and white examples he already owns, reports AutoTelegraaf.

Getting the 300th car will be a challenge, however, as it will surely command a significant premium over the standard price of roughly $1.75 million due to its innate collectibility.

Nevertheless, van de Moesdijk has his heart set on buying the car and he has a price in mind, though what that figure is he's not disclosing. A fellow Dutch businessman and Trust Int'l CEO, Michel Perridon, has just placed his order for a second Veyron, one of the even-more-limited edition soft-top Veyron Grand Sport cars (pictured).

The 300-car grand total of Veyrons is actually inclusive of all of the various special-edition cars, including the Fbg Par Hermes, the Sang Noir, the Pur Sang and the Pegaso.

To date, the Grand Sport is the most unique of the Veyron special editions, since it is more than an interior and exterior design treatment. According to Bugatti’s communication chief, Georges Keller, the roofless ‘targa’ option was the only one available to Bugatti because there was no other solution which could fit with the car’s safety cage. The low cost of development and maintenance of structural rigidity makes the targa-top option a common one for low-volume supercars.

With the primary roof in place, the Grand Sport will reach speeds of up to 252mph (407km/h) just like the coupe. Speeds of up to 224mph (360km/h) are possible with the roof stowed away. The temporary umbrella-like cloth roof limits the Veyron's top speed to a rather low 81mph (130km/h), however.

Bugatti news at Dutch buyer sets sights on final Bugatti Veryon

It’s been known since the outset that the Bugatti Veyron would be limited to just 300 units, and from its early days there has been talk about a special run-out model. Last month reports emerged claiming that Bugatti is already working on a Veyron successor, however a leaked memo alleged to be an official document suggests that before its arrival there will be a special edition of the Veyron simply called the ‘GT’.

Specifics on the new car are few, but according to the memo the Veyron GT will essentially be a standard Veyron with more power and a few minor mods. How much power you ask? Apparently 1,350hp (1,007kW) and 1,018lb-ft (1,380Nm) of torque – enough to take it to a new top speed of 264mph (425km/h).

The memo claims the car will also be fitted with upgraded carbon-ceramic brakes, a new electronic stability program, and a revised active aerodynamics package. With the upgrades on board the Veyron GT will sprint from 0-62mph (100km/h) in just 2.4 seconds and will go back to zero in just 2.2 seconds.

The expected launch date is scheduled for the Geneva Motor Show in March next year. Importantly, the memo also states that current Veyron owners will be able to upgrade their vehicles to GT status.

While the concept of an even faster Veyron is exciting, Bugatti is yet to release an official statement on the car so it could all just be rumor.

In a previous interview with Autocar, Bugatti CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen confirmed the launch of a Veyron successor sometime in 2011 or 2012. In another interesting twist, the Bugatti boss also hinted that the company could take the new car racing, an activity that has been completely ruled out with the Veyron. What series or races the company might be considering are unknown, but Le Mans and similar activities might carry the prestige and notoriety that would suit Bugatti’s image.


Bugatti news at Unofficial document reveals details about 425km/h Bugatti Veyron GT