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Sold-out Bugatti Centodieci honors the under-appreciated EB110

Bugatti traveled to Pebble Beach, California, to introduce a sold-out hypercar named Centodieci. The limited-edition model celebrates the company's 110th birthday (centodieci means one hundred and ten in Italian), while shedding light on a chapter of its history that's often left unexplored. The EB110 was unusually designed and manufactured in Italy, inconveniently far from Bugatti's historic home in Molsheim, but purposely close to Ferrari's Modena headquarters. It comes from the same era as the original Game Boy and R. L. Stine's Goosebumps series, so interpreting its key design cues on a Bugatti penned with an eye on the 2020s was easier said than done. It's shaped like a door stop, its headlights are mounted relatively close together, and its grille is almost comically small. "Those are the ingredients I had to cook something modern with," Achim Anscheidt, the company's head of design, told Autoblog. Blatantly copying the EB110 was out of the question, so his team put a modern spin on its defining features. The Centodieci doesn't need to be shown next to the original; it stands on its own. Pill-shaped lights and a metal panel with slots that give hot air a way to escape the engine bay dominate the EB110's rear end. The Centodieci is a prima donna when it comes to cooling, however, because it packs considerably more power than its spiritual predecessor. Working closely with Bugatti's research and development department, Anscheidt chose to vent the rear end's entire width, and use 3D lighting elements to replicate the cooling slots. This solution works well and channels both the base GT and the more hardcore SS variants of the EB110. Bugatti wrapped the head-turning body around Chiron underpinnings. It's made largely with carbon fiber to keep weight in check, and it's powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine, quad-turbocharged to 1,600 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, a 100-horsepower increase over the Chiron. Part engine and part work of art, the 16-cylinder sends its power to the four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that can be left in drive, or shifted manually using steering wheel-mounted paddles. To add context, the EB110 used a quad-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V12 rated at 560 horsepower. It featured a six-speed manual transmission, and permanent all-wheel drive. The Centodieci hits 62 mph from a stop before you reach the end of this sentence; it takes 2.4 seconds.

Petrolicious turns a masterful lens on Bugatti specialists Garage Novo

Petrolicious is known for the fantastic cinematography of its videos, but the latest clip featuring Bugatti specialists Garage Novo in France and a Bugatti Type 38 is a visual masterpiece. Combining lingering shots of the car's mechanicals at work, a roadster sliding around narrow roads with the sun low in the sky and a fascinating family story, this is an absolute must-see. Garage Novo was founded due to one man's love of Bugattis, and the shop has been in the business of repairing and restoring the cars for three generations now. In the family's personal collection is the Type 38, covering a claimed 125,000 miles over the Novo's decades of ownership. Giving away much more would ruin this charming story, but be sure to experience this video because it's a treat for the eyes.

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport: born to speed (and drift) through the twisties

Bugatti made automotive history in 2019 when it built a long-tail variant of the Chiron that was still accelerating when it smashed through the 300-mph barrier. With the speed record broken and set, the French company wants to prove it also knows a thing or two about handling with a new Chiron version named Pur Sport. "It's a lot of little details that add up to a very different driving experience. You immediately feel the car is nimbler and more agile," explained Frank Heyl, the company's deputy design director, in an interview with Autoblog. Heyl's team worked directly with Bugatti's engineering department to create a front fascia with wider air intakes, a redesigned splitter, and a bigger grille. Out back, it's impossible to miss the 74-inch long wing that unlocks quicker cornering speeds by adding downforce. Below it, a pair of exhaust tips 3D-printed in titanium are integrated into a taller air diffuser made with carbon fiber. There's no way to miss the Pur Sport if it passes you on the highway. The rear wing is fixed, and its mounts form an X-shaped insert. Heyl told us Bugatti deliberately sent the Chiron's hydraulically-operated spoiler back to the parts bin to save as much weight as possible. It shaved a total of 110 pounds, which is far more impressive than it sounds. "You have to consider this: we've done everything we could to save weight on the base Chiron. We've put the most expensive materials inside this car, and used the most expensive solutions already. To gain another [110 pounds] was quite a challenge," he pointed out. The wheels received attention, too, and we're not just talking about the design or the -2.5 camber angle. "[The two rings] suck air from the inside of the wheel to the outside, which creates downforce and improves the brake cooling by increasing airflow through the wheel," Heyl explained. The 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels are made of magnesium to reduce unsprung mass by 35 pounds, and they're wrapped by Bugatti-exclusive Michelin Sport Cup 2 R tires manufactured with a stickier compound. All told, the tweaks made at the Chiron's four corners increase its lateral acceleration by 10%. Heyl's equation is beginning to add up. Alcantara upholstery largely replaces leather in the cabin. It's lighter, and it does a better job of ensuring the driver's butt doesn't slide around when racing up a mountain road.