Bugatti Royale at The Classic Motor Show
The recently concluded Classic Motor Show is already quite impressive in itself, as said auto show not only celebrates the future of the automotive industry, it also pays tribute to its colorful history and evolutions. Nevertheless, the auto show managed to further boost its appeal with the inclusion of the Donington Collection’s Bugatti Royale.
This Bugatti Royale, as the regality of its name implies, is a faithful recreation of one of only six originals. Recreation as it may, it took more than 11,000 hours to construct, and has a cost of £1.6 million. On the other hand, its original counterparts still exist to this day, reportedly wearing varying bodies due to enhancements over the years. Three of these six authentic Royales were marketed to external consumers, purchased for staggering prices ranging from £5.5 million to a still-to-be-confirmed $17 million dollars. The remaining three were reserved within the company, where one actually became the personal car of Ettore Bugatti, the brand’s legendary manufacturer, for the remainder of his days.
As it goes, the Classic Motor Show truly got a star attraction in its hands. It also commanded quite a space in the show, what with an overall measurement of 21 feet long, seven feet wide, and a 1693.-inch wheelbase. Stuart Forrest, Classic & Sports Car’s Publishing Director, even shared an anecdote on how the organizers were able to bring in the prized Royale in the auto show grounds: “The car is so big that it required a specialist moving company even to bring it into the hall!”
“We’ve driven the car in our latest issue, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Donington Collection, where the car can normally be seen, to display it on our stand at the Classic Motor Show. It is an incredible car to see, and there are so few of these vehicles in the world,” Forrest asserted as conclusion.
The Classic Motor Show is undisputedly the United Kingdom’s biggest and best classic motoring event. It boasted an enormous display of over 1,000 spectacular cars from all eras and generations. It came equipped with a live stage, restoration theater, 200 prestigious car clubs, and 300 traders and dealers. The show successfully ran from November 9 to November 11. Too bad for all those who missed the actual action, but to recompense, the show’s website has documented the events various episodes. Please visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com.
Bugatti Enters Russian Market
With reference to Bugatti automakers’ plans of distributing its vehicles in Russia, a dinner gala was prepared at the Barvija Luxury Village. Needless to say, the highlight during this high-society launch is the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 model. With an initial plan of marketing ten cars for the said territory, Bugatti officials are quick to assert that more units may still come should the demand greatly exceeds the supply.
The prized Bugatti is pricey indeed, with a starting value of $1.7 million.
Survey Proclaims Bugatti as having the Second-best Rear End
If it is to be remembered, MPH ‘07 unloaded yet another interesting poll for its online viewers last November, namely the “Rear of the Year”. Who would have thought that 1,260 people would actually participate? But surprisingly, it did amount to such a number. And with these people cooperatively checking out vehicle’s behinds, the results have now already been tallied.
First-placer went to the Aston Martin DBS. The shapely backside of the Bugatti Veyron relegated itself in second place (Just as an added thought: This is the second time wherein the Veyron got stuck in the second spot, the first being in the “Dream Car” category). Interestingly enough, women participants in the survey seemed to prefer the behind of the Veyron over the DBS, but regrettably, overall tally still went to the Aston Martin.
Simon Cowell Spent Over $2M for a Bugatti and a Rolls Royce
Who is this infamous sort-of celebrity that spent more than $2 million shopping for luxury cars as a birthday gift for himself? None other than Simon Cowell of
the American Idol fame.
The Daily Mail has reported that the usually snappish Cowell, who turned 48 just recently, purchased a Bugatti Veyron in Los Angeles for about $1.5 million. Not only that, on his way back to London, Cowell made a stop at the Romans International UK Dealership and spent $800,000 for a Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.
An unidentified source told a British paper that this is just typical leisurely pursuit for the American Idol co-creator and judge, disclosing: “He loves cars. They’re one of his biggest passions. And only the best is good enough.”
Indeed, Cowell’s love for speed is already no secret from those who would take the time to learn of his other accomplishments. Cowell is actually ranked as having the eighth fastest time for the BBC Top Gear’s ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’ category, as well as third place non-professional driver in the Series8.
Bugatti Veyron Races Against a Jet Fighter
When the Bugatti goes out to race, it not only competes against other speed cars, it also battles it out with jets and planes. And just for that, one can see that the Bugatti Veyron is in another league of its own.
It was only last year when the Bugatti raced it out with two Cessna 182s, from which the four-wheeled speed machine emerged victorious. This time, on Sunday to be specific, another challenger has stepped forward in the form of a Eurofighter Typhoon jet.
More updates to come with regards to this exciting event.
American Car Beats the Speed Record of the Bugatti Veyron
It would seem that the Bugatti Veyron has another challenger nipping at its tracks. Well, not exactly in its tracks, because this time, the challenger won.
Guinness has officially verified that Shelby Supercars’ Ultimate Aero was able to produce an average run of 256.19 miles per hour on a remote road in Washington, toppling the unofficial record of Bugatti that is worth 253.52 miles per hour.
The driver of the record-breaking car is Chuck Bigelow (yes, that’s really the name) and he happens to be 71 years old. Who says only the young gets to have all the fun?
Now, let’s just wait and see if Bugatti Veyron would take on this new challenge (This writer certainly hopes so).
Bugatti is no.2 Dream Drive
In a recent poll conducted by 4Car website and MPH ’07 Auto Show, Bugatti emerged as runner-up in the “perfect car and passenger of our dreams” category. The Bugatti Veyron garnered 13 percent of total votes, but not enough to dislodge the Alfa 8C Competizione, which received a commanding 30 percent approval.
The Alfa paired with actress Scarlet Johansson as she was awarded the tag of perfect passenger.
Bugatti then partnered with the no.2 dream passenger, Jessica Alba. For those who may have just come out from a rock, this American actress just happened to be the recently crowned sexiest woman in the world.
See? Being a runner-up isn’t all that bad.
No Little Brother for the Bugatti Veyron
Rumors have been roaming around that a smaller and cheaper Veyron is in the works within the Bugatti camp. But management quickly dispelled such scandalous hearsays of actually releasing a Bugatti for just a measly million dollars.
Franz-Josef Paefgen, newly appointed CEO of Bugatti, could not be more emphatic in his statement: “There will be no smaller Bugatti. If a second car comes to market, it will be in the same market segment as the current 1000-horsepowered car.”
“And like the current Veyron, a new addition will be extremely exclusive, with lifetime volumes in the hundreds, not thousands.”
Bugatti Squares Off with BMW in Vintage Grand Prix (An Update)
With the advent of the prestigious Frankfurt Motor Show and all, updates for this prior discussed event took quite a long time coming. However, even if it’s a week late, the positive result is still definitely worth going over (hint as to the winner).
Not surprisingly, a Bugatti clinched the top spot for this Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix. Granted, it was a rainy and very wet Watkins Glen International that greeted racing participants, it did not hinder Peter Giddings and his 1927 Bugatti 35B Grand Prix car from zooming past the finish line.
In an interview, Giddings could not hide his glee as he ecstatically proclaims: “What a great weekend. I love the rain. I’m a little wet now, but it can’t get any better than that.”
Nearly 400 vintage racecars were vying to take part in said Vintage event. Later in the day, however, a number of drivers decided to back out as they chose not to run their prized racers under drizzling conditions. However, despite the slippery racetrack conditions, 14 of the 15 rare Italian-designed Bugattis still went along with the four-lap race.
Giddings skillfully bested the newer and more powerful 1939 Type 59 handled by Charles McCabe of San Francisco by 1.7 seconds.
“His car was much faster, but rain is a great equalizer,” Giddings triumphantly asserted.
Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang Sparks Silver in Frankfurt
In the advent of Europe’s biggest and most esteemed motor show, the minds behind the Bugatti brand decides to parade its Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang.
Bugattis, besides its ground-breaking speed performance, is also renowned for high-end style. And for prestigious Frankfurt, the chosen design was that of a Veyron Pur Sang in clear-coated carbon fiber and ensconced in body panels of polished aluminum.
This selection proved to be a splendid idea, as with this specific Pur Sang’s silvery all-aluminum body shell amidst all the painted cars in the motor show, the Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang was definitely a standout among the other equally-superior car participants. Moreover, such an absence of exterior coats enabled the show’s journalists and car enthusiasts alike to visibly inspect the underlying raw materials of the vehicle.
The overall effect is pricelessly dazzling.
