2006 Bugatti Veyron 1001 Horsepower 8.0l Quad-turbo W16 Alcantara 253mph Black on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Bugatti Chiron spied on video in tight spot

Pictures are good. Video is better. That's especially true when we're talking about something like the successor to the Bugatti Veyron. Rumored to be called the Chiron, the new vehicle looks to share a lot of its styling with the French company's Vision Gran Turismo car. In this video, captured by our friends at Germany's Auto Bild, you can see a pair of Chiron prototypes. The first gives us a good look at the ultra-hypercar's tail, which doesn't even try to hide its aerodynamic aids, unlike the far cleaner lines of the Veyron. There's a huge diffuser and a prominent rear wing, although neither item is as extreme as the Vision GT car. The taillights also look to be far more conventional, unlike the thin, vehicle-spanning strip shown on the concept. After this quick peek at the rear of the new Bug, the camera pans over to a second prototype exiting an extremely tight situation, as it sneaks between a stone wall and a lumber hauler. It's a small enough gap that the Chiron requires a spotter to get through unscathed, and the slow speed required to safely get through gives us an extra-long look at the new coupe. We can also clearly see the horseshoe-shaped traditional Bugatti grille and slim, menacing headlights with LED running lights. You can also see elements of the Vision Gran Turismo's hood, which still comes to a point around the grille. It's less aggressive – no shock there – but it still gives a purposeful look to the front fascia. Unfortunately, the video ends before we can get a look at the sides of the new Bugatti. Check out the short, 13-second video at the top of the page. News Source: Auto Bild TV via YouTube Spy Photos Bugatti Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance Videos Bugatti Chiron bugatti veyron successor

Ferdinand Piech (1937-2019): The man who made VW global

Towering among his peers, a giant of the auto industry died Sunday night in Rosenheim/Upper Bavaria, Germany. Ferdinand Piech, a grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who conceived the original Volkswagen in the 1930s, was the most polarizing automotive executive of our times. And one who brought automotive technology further than anyone else. Ferdinand Porsche had a son, Ferdinand (called "Ferry"), and a daughter, Louise, who married the Viennese lawyer Anton Piech. They gave birth to Ferdinand Piech, and his proximity to two Alfa Romeo sports cars — Porsche had done some work for the Italians — and the "Berlin-Rome-Berlin" race car, developed by Porsche himself, gave birth to Piech's interest in cars. After his teachers in Salzburg told his mother he was "too stupid" to attend school there, Piech, who was open about his dyslexia, was sent to a boarding school in Switzerland. He subsequently moved on to Porsche, where he fixed issues with the 904 race car and did major work on the 911. But his greatest project was the Le Mans-winning 917 race car, developed at breathtaking financial cost. It annihilated the competition, but the family had had enough: Amid growing tension among the four cousins working at Porsche and Piech's uncle Ferry, the family decided to pull every family member, except for Ferry, out of their management positions. Piech started his own consultancy business, where he designed the famous five-cylinder diesel for Mercedes-Benz, but quickly moved on to Audi, first as an engineer and then as CEO, where he set out to transform the dull brand into a technology leader. Piech killed the Wankel engine and hammered out a number of ambitious and sophisticated technologies. Among them: The five-cylinder gasoline engine; Quattro all-wheel drive and Audi's fantastic rally successes; and turbocharging, developed with Fritz Indra, whom Piech recruited from Alpina. The Audi 100/200/5000 became the world's fastest production sedan, thanks to their superior aerodynamics. Piech also launched zinc-coated bodies for longevity — and gave diesel technology a decisive boost with the advent of the fast and ultra-efficient TDI engines. Less known: Piech also decided to put larger gas tanks into cars. Customers loved it. Piech's first-generation Audi V8 was met with derision by competitors; it was too obviously based on the 200/5000.

Bugatti's next model could have 4 doors, electrified powertrain

Back in 2009, Bugatti showed a four-door concept called the Galibier, and it seemed like it would make it to production. That project stalled out, though, sidelined during the development of the Chiron. The idea of a four-door Bugatti hasn't been completely discarded, though, and, as Automotive News reports, the supercar manufacturer might ready the car for 2024. "The four-door car is not dead," Bugatti President Wolfgang Durheimer told Automotive News at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the automaker showed a Chiron that set a 0-249-0 speed record of 42 seconds. Durheimer also suggested it would be Bugatti's sole model, as he said, "For the time I can foresee, [Bugatti] will be a one-model brand." The Chiron will be Bugatti's model for eight years, with replacement scheduled around 2024 or 2025. Bugatti hasn't decided on the powertrain for its next model, and is considering all its options, be they internal combustion, electric or hybrid. What matters, Durheimer said, is that it provides the level of performance Bugatti customers expect from the brand. Bugatti also considered electrifying the Chiron's powertrain, but, Durheimer said, abandoned the idea due to weight and packaging challenges. The company was still able to achieve 1,500 horsepower through traditional means. Related Video: Related Gallery Bugatti 16C Galibier concept View 11 Photos News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Bugatti Green Bugatti Electric Hybrid Luxury Performance Frankfurt 2017 Bugatti Chiron wolfgang durheimer bugatti galibier