Auto blog
Bugatti Chiron shows off new blue-tinted carbon fiber skin at the Quail
Sat, Aug 20 2016It was all the way back in February that Bugatti unveiled the Chiron at the Geneva Motor Show. In the ensuing months, we've seen what we think are two Chiron models make various appearances around the world (including one with company CEO Wolfgang Durheimer behind the wheel at the Nurburgring). Now it's finally time for an official Chiron sighting in the States, courtesy of the Quail Motorsports Gathering in Monterey, California. And it's beautiful. With its carbon fiber weave showing brilliantly behind a dark blue tint, this "near-production" Chiron looks fast just sitting still. And, with its 8.0-liter, quad-turbo W16 engine spitting out some 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque, it's fast when moving, too. Durheimer apparently got the preproduction Chiron up past 200 miles per hour at the 'Ring, but that's quite a bit short of its top speed of 261 mph. Don't miss this chance to drink in all the details of the Chiron's North American debut at the Quail in our high-res image gallery above. After all, you never know when a Saudi prince will snap it up... Stay tuned for plenty more from Monterey Car Week over the next few days. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bugatti Chiron North American Debut View 11 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Misc. Auto Shows Bugatti Coupe Luxury Performance Supercars Pebble Beach Bugatti Chiron
Saudi Prince buys Bugatti Chiron and Vision Gran Turismo
Thu, Aug 4 2016The 1,500 horsepower, $2.5 million 2017 Bugatti Chiron isn't on sale yet. The car isn't even production ready. That doesn't mean you can't get your hands on one. Just ask Prince Badr bin Saud of Saudi Arabia, who recently purchased two one-off versions of the upcoming hypercar. Prince Badr recently posted a photo to his Instagram account showing the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo concept that debuted last year parked alongside the Chiron concept car from the Geneva Motor Show. The photos was taken by photographer GFWilliams, who posted a few on his Facebook page. There's no word on how much the Prince paid for the pair, but Carscoops estimates it's in excess of $5 million, based on the production car's MSRP. Carscoops also quoted Bugatti, who said that the Prince had the highest bid, implying that he wasn't the only interested party. While both cars are pre-production concepts, they still have Bugatti's quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine. It's unclear if the cars are drivable, but the photos do show both have Saudi Arabian license plates. Even if the cars don't actually run, they'll make some pretty impressive display pieces. In a few weeks, the Vision Gran Turismo is set to appear at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance alongside another Chiron, so it seems Prince Badr hasn't yet taken possession of the cars. Once he does, these two rare Bugatti models are sure to enter an impressive collection in Saudi Arabia. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bugatti Chiron Pair News Source: CarscoopsImage Credit: Instagram, GFWilliams Bugatti Supercars Bugatti Chiron
Bugatti has no plans for a 1,500-hp Chiron roadster
Fri, Jul 29 2016Automakers seem to create variations of variations of variations. That's how we end up with vehicles like the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which is totally not a slightly worked over M5 with a wider body. Many manufacturers seem to have taken Field of Dreams to heart, so it comes as a bit of a surprise that Bugatti said there will be no roadster version of the upcoming 1,500-horsepower Chiron. Speaking to Autocar, Bugatti board member Dr. Stefan Brungs said that the Veyron successor would only come as a coupe. That's a change of pace from the Veyron, which came in open-top Grand Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse versions. All in all, Bugatti sold a total of 450 Veyrons over a ten-year lifespan, a third of which were targa-roofed Grand Sports. Dr. Brungs didn't rule out more-powerful future variations of the Chiron, though the company is focused on selling the current 500-car allotment. The Chiron's 1,500 hp are supplied by an 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged, mid-mounted W16. That engine is a heavily updated version of the 1,300-hp W16 from the record-setting Veyron Grand Sport. That car holds the ill-defined title of the world's fastest production car, something Bugatti itself hopes to top with the Chiron in 2018. The Chiron goes on sale soon with a base price of $2.6 million, though options could easily push it over $3 million. Other hypercars, like the Ferrari LaFerrari, are coming out with open-top editions. The Porsche 918 only comes with a removable targa top. Despite the comments from Dr. Brungs, Bugatti is in the business of making money, so expect the company to seriously consider changing its mind. Related Video:
Second part of Forza Horizon 3 car list revealed early
Tue, Jul 26 2016We previously brought you the first portion of Forza Horizon 3's list of 350 cars last week, and today we're bringing you part two. Apparently Fairfax Media in Australia had the list and images early and published them on The Sydney Morning Herald's website . We say early because the publication's story reveals that Playground Games, the developer of the game, plans to make the official announcement on the Forza website this Wednesday. This set of virtual machinery brings us closer to the full list, which will continue to be revealed over the coming weeks. While this part is smaller than the first one, it still features a number of notable automobiles, including the Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, GMC Syclone and Ferrari Dino 246 GT. This list also adds more vintage Aussie machines, including the very cool 1974 Holden "Sandman" HQ panel truck. Fans of the Mad Max movies may remember Max's Sandman truck from the original film. Check out the list of new cars from The Sydney Morning Herald below and take at look their article for new images and insight on what the developers' goals were for the game. 2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione 1970 AMC Rebel "The Machine" 1998 Aston Martin V8 Vantage V600 2011 Audi RS 5 Coupe 2011 BMW X5 M 1981 BMW M1 1992 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport 1970 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 1966 Chevrolet Nova Super Sport 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT 1968 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 2011 Ferrari FF 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra 1956 Ford F-100 1991 GMC Syclone 2016 Holden Special Vehicles GTS Maloo 1951 Holden 50-2106 FX Ute 1974 Holden Sandman HQ panel van 2012 Infiniti IPL G Coupe 2015 Jaguar XFR-S 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV 2014 Lamborghini Urus 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged 2005 Lotus Elise 111S 2013 Mazda MX-5 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II 2013 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR 2000 Nissan Silvia Spec-R 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 2010 Renault Megane RS 250 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Related Video: News Source: The Sydney Morning HeraldImage Credit: Playground Games/Microsoft Auto News Bugatti Ford GMC Holden Technology video games forza motorsport forza horizon 3
Cristiano Ronaldo buys Bugatti Veyron to celebrate soccer title
Fri, Jul 15 2016Portugal won the Euro 2016 soccer championship, and its star player is celebrating with a new car: The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. He Instagrammed a shot of the new ride, which costs $1.9 million or more and is capable of 255 miles per hour. Ronaldo was injured in the Euro 2016 final and carried off the field, though his country defeated France 1-0. Ronaldo is a noted car guy, and his collection reportedly includes a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, and more. While the dark blue Bugatti isn't identified in Ronaldo's Instagram post, it appears to be the Vitesse model. It cranks out 1,200 horsepower from an 8.0-liter W16 engine and can hit 62 mph in 2.6 seconds. It's a baller car, for sure. But it's still not as good as this. The animal arrive A photo posted by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) on Jul 14, 2016 at 10:12am PDT Related Video: Celebrities Bugatti
Watch the first Bugatti Chiron media ride-along
Thu, Jun 2 2016Bugatti has been ramping appearances for its new Chiron hypercar since it debuted earlier this year at Geneva. Last weekend, during the Nurburgring 24, that meant giving out the very first media ride-along. Our friends at CarThrottle got to go for a spin around the Nurburgring in the 1,500-horsepower Chiron, and their chauffeur was none other than Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Durheimer. The 13-minute video covers plenty about the new car before climbing into the cabin with Durheimer, who talks through the start procedure and the detailed controls on the steering wheel. He also talks top speed, telling CarThrottle that the Chiron's Guinness World Record attempt won't come until 2018. We're going to be waiting a bit. After a lengthy chat, the pair set out on the track, escorted by a Bentley Bentayga. But at Bergwerk, Durheimer opens a gap and proceeds to punch it. Hard. It's difficult to comprehend the acceleration from watching a video, but hearing the angry whistle of the four turbochargers and the brutal upshifts give a sense of how much power is being deployed. Needless to say, he has no trouble catching up to the Bentley. Later on, Durheimer runs the Chiron up to around 200 miles per hour on the Dottinger Hohe straight. Related Video:
Bugatti Galibier could arrive after Chiron
Mon, May 23 2016Bugatti has been playing "Will they, won't they?" with the Galibier sedan for years, and the endless speculation has grown tiresome. Just build the damn thing. Believe it or not, the ultra-high-power, ultra-luxury sedan is kind of a white space. The world needs a vehicle as sumptuous as a Rolls-Royce Phantom, but with the driving dynamics and performance of, well, a Bugatti. Now, according to CEO Wolfgang Durheimer, his company might actually go through with such a creation. The Chiron will remain an only child for the time being, Durheimer says, but Bugatti is already looking at potential paths for life after its current 1500-horsepower monster. "We are following a sequential pattern. We don't want to make two model lines, but we are deciding on the product that would succeed the Chiron," Durheimer told Car and Driver. "We are weighing four strategic alternatives, all of them sensational. One of them is the Galibier." Galibier would be great news. But what else could Bugatti be considering? Perhaps something more track focused than the high-speed heavyweight Chiron? A crossover (we shudder)? A high-speed hybrid to humiliate the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, perhaps using a more powerful version of baby brother Porsche's 918 Spyder tech? It's all hard to predict, although whichever path Bugatti takes, we doubt it'll be anything but spectacular. As for the Chiron, if it follows the Veyron's path, we can expect a convertible version in the near future. C/D asked Durheimer about it, particularly about whether it'd get a set of T-tops in order to retain the trademark Atlantic line on the roof. The CEO didn't say much, beyond telling C/D its question was "very perceptive." We expect this kind of cagey response, but the fact that Durheimer even acknowledged it is a good sign for the few dozen people wealthy enough to want a topless Bugatti. Featured Gallery Bugatti 16C Galibier concept View 11 Photos News Source: Car and DriverImage Credit: Bugatti Bugatti Convertible Luxury Performance Sedan Bugatti Chiron wolfgang durheimer bugatti galibier
A revving Bugatti Chiron is our new favorite sound
Tue, May 3 2016The new Bugatti Chiron has an 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged W16 engine that produces about 1,500 horsepower. We desperately want to drive it, but as that doesn't look like it's going to happen for a while, the best thing we can do is just sit and listen to that powerplant. We've said it before, and we'll say it again, the Chiron sounds like an absolute monster. Of course, you've heard the Chiron already. Bugatti fired it up on the Geneva Motor Show stand, and more recently, it was caught being unloaded and driven into a dealership in – where else? – Monaco. What makes this video different is that rather than just angrily idling away, the lucky guy behind the wheel actually revs the huge engine a few times. It still doesn't compare to actually hearing the Chiron under load – get on that Bugatti – but this latest taste of the new hypercar showing off its singing voice will have to do. Related Video:
Watch a Bugatti Chiron arrive in style to Monaco dealership
Wed, Apr 13 2016Monaco is known as a playground for the world's ultra-wealthy, so there's no better place to draw the eye of the Bugatti Chiron's potential customers than at a dealer in the tiny city. This clip shows a shining black example of the new hypercar arriving at the showroom. While the 8.0-liter, quad-turbo W16 never gets much above an idle, the growl from the exhausts suggests great things at higher revs. The dark color stands out well on the showroom's white floor. The chrome trim around the doors and intakes also adds a little bit of bling, and the light blue brake calipers provide a nice flash of color. The same turquoise shade appears inside on the center console and seatbelts. It's hard to spot many other details inside because the seats and steering wheel have protective coverings. Even the driver wears white gloves to keep the interior immaculate. Bugatti plans to make just 500 examples of the Chiron for about $2.6 million each, so seeing one is a rare treat, especially this early. They are starting to pop up, though, like this blue one in Manhattan. If you want to hear the Chiron throw a few more revs, this clip from March offers another tease of the upgraded engine's sound.
Even the Bugatti Veyron is subject to recalls
Wed, Apr 13 2016The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration listed three recalls for the Bugatti Veyron today. Yes, even the super-rich have recalls on their cars. And being unable to afford a Veyron we can't help but feel a tiny amount of schadenfreude. One question not answered in these recalls: What's the loaner car when your Veyron is in the shop? The Basics: Bugatti will recall 72 examples of the 2006-2010 Veyron with manufacturing dates between October 3, 2006, and January 17, 2010, and the 2010-2011 Veyron Grand Sport from between September 29, 2009, to June 30, 2010. The Problem: The fuel gauge may show there's more gas in the tank than there actually is. The Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank control unit and upgrade the software. If you own one: Bugatti hasn't yet told NHTSA when the recall will begin. The Basics: Bugatti will recall 13 examples of the 2006-2008 Veyron with manufacturing dates between October 3, 2006, to December 22, 2006. The Problem: The positive battery cable and the connection to the alternator can corrode. This could cause the cable to overheat. Accidents/Injuries: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the positive battery cable and alternator. If you own one: Bugatti hasn't yet told NHTSA when the recall will begin. The Basics: Bugatti will recall 87 examples of the 2006-2010 Veyron from March 10, 2006, to March 9, 2012, the 2010-2012 Veyron Grand Sport from September 29, 2009, to October 14, 2014, and the 2011-2013 Veyron Super Sport from February 18, 2011, to August 17, 2012. The Problem: The aluminum plates under the vehicle, which support it during lifting, can corrode and potentially detach from the supercar. If this happens while the Veyron is on the road, the plates could become a hazard to other drivers. The Fix: Dealers will rivet and seal the underbody plates. If you own one: Bugatti hasn't yet told NHTSA when the recall will begin. RECALL Subject : Fuel Gauge may Read Higher than Actual Report Receipt Date: APR 08, 2016 NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V200000 Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Potential Number of Units Affected: 72 All Products Associated with this Recall close Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) BUGATTI VEYRON 2006-2010 BUGATTI VEYRON GRAND SPORT 2010-2011 Details Manufacturer: Bugatti SUMMARY: Bugatti is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Veyron vehicles manufactured October 3, 2006, to January 17, 2010 and 2010-2011 Veyron Grand Sport vehicles manufactured September 29, 2009, to June 30, 2010.