Authorized Bugatti Dealer, Own A Piece Of History..... on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Volkswagen may 'carve out' Lamborghini to list on the stock exchange

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen is drawing up plans to set up Lamborghini as a more independent unit, and is discussing long-term supply deals that could make it easier to list it on the stock exchange, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. "Volkswagen is in the process of carving out Lamborghini, and to organize future supply and technology transfer deals," one of the sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Italian sportscar brand, which is currently a division of Audi, could be partially listed, with Volkswagen retaining a controlling stake, the first person familiar with the talks said. There is no formal decision to divest Lamborghini, a second source said, adding that the timetable of any deal remained unclear. "This is a first step which gives VW the option to list the unit further down the line," the second source told Reuters. A third source familiar with the discussions said the future of Bugatti, Lamborghini and Ducati was discussed during a supervisory board meeting last Friday. The possibilities for how to electrify the Lamborghini and Bugatti brands through partnerships and investors was discussed, the third source said. Bankers and potential cornerstone investors in an IPO have been approached by the carmaker, the sources said. Volkswagen declined to comment. Volkswagen Group's Chief Executive Herbert Diess on Wednesday said the carmaker will announce "important steps" about the company's future before the close of the year. Volkswagen is reviewing what role its high-performance brands Lamborghini, Bugatti and Ducati will play within the multi-brand carmaker as part of broader quest for more economies of scale, senior executives told Reuters. A global clampdown on combustion-engined vehicles has forced carmakers to accelerate development of low-emission technology for mainstream models, leaving Volkswagen managers struggling to find resources to electrify low volume sportscar models. Related Video:

Bugatti Niniette 66 yacht is a 1,000-hp Chiron for the water

You know the problem with a Bugatti Chiron? It can't drive on water. Those poor ultra-wealthy Chiron owners will have to resort to some other brand for aquatic travel, and that just won't do. Bugatti recognized this issue and built a Chiron-inspired yacht with the help of boatbuilder Palmer Johnson. The companies actually started work on a yacht back in 2015, but according to Palmer Johnson, the design was different at that stage, and later it was redesigned to look like the Chiron. And it most certainly looks like a boat version of the hypercar. The horseshoe design on the sides of both are clearly connected, and the yacht is available in two-tone color schemes like the car. There are even options to have portions of the carbon fiber hull left exposed to show the weave. You can check out the different schemes using the online configurator. The yacht features both an open deck and interior cabins. Outside there is plenty of leather and carbon fiber, and the decking is available in various types of wood, including a naturally blue morta oak. The hot tub onboard also features a champagne bar, and nearby is a fire pit. Inside, marble joins the carbon fiber and leather, and the seating area has a surreal, flowing, organic look that wouldn't seem out of place in an alien spaceship. The theme continues to the bedroom, which features a double bed. The roughly 66-foot-long yacht also features a Man V8 engine displacing 16.2 liters and making 1,000 horsepower, good for a top speed of 44 knots or just over 50 mph. A 1,200-horsepower version of the engine is also available, propelling the yacht to 48 knots, or about 55 mph. The use of Man engines is also a nice touch considering that Man and Bugatti are owned by Volkswagen. The name of the yacht also has an interesting connection to Bugatti. According to Palmer Johnson, Bugatti built a speedboat in 1930, and it was also named Niniette, the nickname for Ettore Bugatti's youngest daughter. If you want one of these yachts, you'll want to act quickly though, as only 66 of them will be made. And price is only given on request. And you know what they say about having to ask for the price. If you miss out on the Niniette, there are other automotive-themed boats out there, such as a Lexus yacht or AMG speedboat. Related Video:

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.