Movers, Moving Company on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Bugatti moving ahead with Veyron successor

With production of the Veyron coming to an end, all eyes are fixed squarely on Bugatti and what it
will do next. Because by next year, it will have sold the last examples of the Grand Sport and Vitesse roadsters, and after that there will be no more. And since the Veyron line is the only one Bugatti makes - or has made, for that matter, since Volkswagen took it over - it will need something else in place or it will effectively go dormant. The only question is what that next project will be - or more likely, given the timeframe, already is.
One thing which Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber - who is now president of Bugatti and was its technical director during the Veyron's development - ruled out in speaking with Top Gear is that there won't be any further development of the existing Veyron. Schreiber put to rest the longstanding rumors that an even more extreme evolution of the Veyron than the record-breaking Super Sport would be made, and that the vehicle would die after the remaining 43 examples have been built. Nor will Bugatti proceed with development of a four-door model. It's an idea that Bugatti entertained prior to the release of the Veyron with the EB218 concept at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show and again after it with the Galibier concept in 2009, but it's ultimately been put to rest. According to Schreiber, a four-door Bugatti "would confuse our customers."

Bugatti Chiron to get 3D-printed titanium brake calipers

Automakers have only recently started to take advantage of 3D printing. It's been interesting to see the wide variety 3D-printed parts being put into production. Mini now offers customizable trim and interior pieces. Michelin created an airless 3D-printed tire that looks a bit like an oversized sand dollar. The Koenigsegg Agera One:1 uses 3D-printed turbochargers. This week, Bugatti announced that it's testing 3D-printed brake calipers on the new Chiron. These eight-piston fixed calipers look wild, featuring an almost organic shape that ditches any unnecessary material in an effort to shave weight. Traditional calipers are limited in shape by the casting process. Aluminum must fill a mold, meaning there will always be some excess material. Using a 3D printer allows Bugatti to create the part layer by layer. While most calipers today are made from aluminum (including the ones currently on the Chiron), these new ones from Bugatti are crafted with titanium. The automaker says these calipers are the largest functional component made of 3D-printed titanium. The shape maximizes stiffness and reduces unsprung weight at the car's corners. Bugatti says this particular titanium alloy is used in the aerospace industry on parts like airplane wings and rocket engines. The new calipers weigh 6.4 pounds each, significantly less than the 10.8 pounds of the outgoing model. Tensile strength is up, too, meaning the parts are both lighter and stronger than before. The main drawback of the new part is the extremely long production time. It takes 45 hours to print each individual caliper. That's not really too much of an issue with a limited-production model like the Chiron. The first trials will begin early this year, and Bugatti hopes to reduce the production time as testing goes forward. Still, don't expect to see 3D-printed titanium calipers on a Toyota Camry anytime soon. Related Video: Related Gallery Bugatti Chiron: First Drive View 67 Photos News Source: Bugatti Plants/Manufacturing Bugatti Technology Coupe Luxury Performance Supercars brakes Bugatti Chiron

Bugatti Veyron bids adieu with the Grand Sport Vitesse La Finale [w/video]

It's the end of an automotive era at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show as Bugatti unveils the last Veyron, and it's appropriately named La Finale. Based on the Grand Sport Vitesse, this vehicle is number 450 of a production run that included 300 coupes and 150 convertibles, over the last decade. Sitting right next to La Finale on Bugatti's Geneva show stand is the very first Veyron chassis built, and the pair purposefully carry similar stylistic cues. Where the original car combines a black-painted hood over red fenders, the final one switches the motifs around. Although, the color now comes from exposed carbon fiber, and this marks the first use of crimson carbon on a Veyron. The choice of material lends a muted, almost somber tone to the design, which is appropriate for the concluding model. A set of matching, maroon wheels and contrasting air intakes complete the look. The interior continues the scarlet theme with more exposed carbon fiber and a shade of leather called Hot Spur. Contrasting cream upholstery provides some visual relief, though. For their final outing, the designers took the opportunity to add a few unique touches, as well. Bugatti's famous elephant logo appears on the wheel center caps, fuel door and oil cap. There's also another one cast from bronze on the storage compartment cover inside the car. In addition, the La Finale gets written in a brighter shade of red under the passenger-side headlight and on the bottom of the wing. Mechanically, the La Finale doesn't receive anything extra over the other Grand Sport Vitesse vehicles. It still sports an 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 with 1,184 horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft of torque. The sprint to 62 miles per hour reportedly comes up in a shockingly quick 2.6 seconds, and a top speed of 255 mph is claimed possible. While this ends the story of Veyron production, Bugatti isn't going to fade away now. The company says that development of its next vehicle is "well underway," in the La Finale announcement. "With the next Bugatti model, we are aiming to consolidate and expand the market-leading position we have established with the Veyron," said Bugatti President Wolfgang Durheimer. "Our challenge is to make the best even better." That certainly leaves something to look forward to. Related Video: Geneva International Motor Show 2015: Bugatti celebrates the Veyron World premiere of the 450th and final Veyron, the Grand Sport Vitesse "La Finale" ?