The newest Bentley has made its official debut at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in Monterey, California.
The car is called the Mulsanne and will arrive next year as a 2011 model.
The name was last used on a sporty Bentley from the 1980s until 1992. It’s a reference to the famous Mulsanne Straight and Corner at Le Mans.
Bugatti unveiled a Sang Bleu special edition model of its new Veyron Grand Sport this weekend at Quail Lodge at Pebble Beach in California.
The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Bleu combines carbon fiber and polished aluminum - an innovative combination never realized before.
Bugatti calls this approach a ‘new dimension of « Art – Forme – Technique »’, the company’s core values statement.
Hyundai has officially confirmed the luxurious Equus sedan will be launched in the United States.
Set to go to on sale in late 2010, the Equus will attempt to compete with premium models from Lexus, BMW and Mercedes.
Hyundai’s American CEO, John Krafcik said that the success of the smaller Hyundai Genesis had paved the way for an American Equus.
The Rolls Royce Hyperion, that we introduced to you two montgs ago, made its world debut last week at the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach.
The car was designed and built by Pininfarina, commissioned by car collector Roland Hall who wanted a unique Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé.
The private client who already owned a Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, asked them to create a custom-built car that would evoke the appeal of the sumptuous cars of the 1930s.
A rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe sold for $7.92 million at Gooding & Co.’s auto auction during the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California over the weekend
With its streamlined styling, low-slung chassis and supercharged engine, the Type 57SC Atalante is one of the most desirable Bugattis.
It was designed by Jean Bugatti as a two-seater sports coupe and became the rarest of the four different body styles offered at Carrosorie Bugatti : only seven were manufactured.
On the evening prior to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Bugatti unveiled
the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport.
In response to customer demand, significant modifications have been made to the vehicle’s complex structure to make possible open-top driving, thereby adding a new dimension to this high-performance sports car. Incorporating a host of new and innovative safety and equipment features, it is the world’s fastest roadster. It is immediately recognizable as a result of its slightly higher windscreen, stylized daytime running lights, and lightweight, transparent polycarbonate roof.
The main challenge in developing the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport with removable roof resulted from the unique structure of the fixed-roof Bugatti Veyron. An optimum combination of rigidity and lightweight engineering ensures the monocoque passenger cell of the original model is extremely strong while weighing an absolute minimum – it is a central element of the vehicle’s structure.
As the roof is an integral part of this, removing it meant the load paths had to be completely redesigned to maintain the vehicle’s rigidity and crash safety, and to offer additional protection from side impacts and rolling.
As a result, the monocoque structure has been reinforced around the side skirts and the transmission tunnel. The B-pillars have been cross-stiffened using a carbon fibre support, and a central carbon plate has been positioned beneath the transmission tunnel to ensure the vehicle suffers from less torsional flexing
than any other roadster. The doors of the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport are made of carbon fibre, and house an integrated longitudinal beam. In the event of an accident, this transfers the load from the A to the B-pillar, thereby dissipating impact energy. Furthermore, the two redesigned air intakes for the 16-cylinder mid-engine now feature 10-centimetre wide carbon-fibre elements to offer protection should the car roll.
Along with moisture-resistant, backstitched leather, a range of new equipment features has been added to the interior, including a reversing camera with 2.7-inch monitor in the rear-view-mirror, and the “Puccini” sound system with digital signal processor.
When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport can reach 407 km/h, while speeds of up to 360 km/h are possible with roof off. Should it rain, an innovative folding roof stored in the luggage compartment can be opened up like an umbrella at any time. When this folding roof is in place, the car can travel at up to 130 km/h.
Assembled by hand at the company’s headquarters in Molsheim, Alsace, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport will be available from March 2009 at the price of 1.4 million euros (excluding tax). Just 150 examples will be made, with the first 50 of these going exclusively to registered Bugatti customers.
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