There's going to be an addition to Volkswagen's luxury marque. The Veyron supercar is getting a big brother. The model is still at the design stage but is now being presented to customers around the world. With the Bugatti 16C Galibier, the manufacturer intends to offer a saloon as well at a future date.
First pictures show that this Bugatti has an elegant shape with a long bonnet, which opens on both sides. This high-class motor car has the obligatory two-tone colour paint job. Doors and wings are made of polished aluminium, the remaining bodywork is carbon fibre. And the rear is sheer poetry. In the cockpit, your gaze immediately alights on the small round gauges. And what do you see? A speedo needle that goes up to 260mph! The Galibier is four-wheel drive and, as in the Veyron, power comes from an 8-litre, 16-cylinder 1,001bhp engine with two-stage supercharging.
There were quite a few tasty offerings again this year in the luxury class. If you've got around £100,000 to spend on a luxury car, you're spoilt for choice. Six cars were nominated for an award. A quite different type of luxury limousine won in the shape of the Porsche Panamera. It came out on top against the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS, the new BMW 7 series, the recently up-dated Mercedes S-Class and the elegant Lexus LS. Its classic counterpart from England, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, had no chance against the Porsche Panamera.
The most important prize award for cars in Europe was instituted by the publisher Axel Springer in 1976, and has been awarded annually since then. On the 4th November, top managers from the car industry accepted awards for the model year 2009 at the Axel Springer Building in Berlin. Eight new models in total received a Golden Steering Wheel award. For the third time, a Green Steering Wheel prize was presented for the best eco car. Fiat and Ferrari president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, received an honorary award.
The winners in the individual categories:
Small car class: VW Polo Compact class: Vauxhall Astra Medium class and above: Audi A5 Sportback Luxury class: Porsche Panamera Supercar: Mercedes SLS MPV: Renault Scenic Eco award: Toyota Prius and VW Blue Motion Honorary prize: Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
Diamonds might be a girl's best friend but a £140,000 supercar might just come close as one footballing WAG has just found out.
Melanie Slade, the long-term girlfriend of Theo Walcott, has just been presented with a brand spanking new Ferrari California by the Arsenal striker to celebrate her 21st birthday.
According to The Sun, the physiotherapist student is 'over the moon' and has already got personalised plates for the car.
It's a bit of a step up from the Volkswagen Beetle he bought her three years ago and the insurance premiums for the Ferrari are probably more than the Beetle was worth, but with a 193mph top speed we imagine Mel will find the upgrade more than makes up for the cost.
The new Audi A8 is awaited with bated breath. Due to arrive in the showrooms in January 2010, it is reputed to combine the dynamics of a BMW 7 series with the comfort of a Mercedes S-Class. Like other models in the Audi stable, the A8 will be equipped with Drive Select for the electronic control system, including pneumatic suspension. The new range of engines are claimed to reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent. The price of this luxury Audi has been set at 65,000 euros (£60,000). The newcomer was spotted performing a circuit of the Nürburgring in mufti. See photo gallery below for the candid camera pics.
The 1,183bhp SSC Ultimate Aero TT is currently the world's fastest car. It's possible to achieve over 413 km/h (258mph) when the American muscle car really lets rip. In 2007, this supercar from the land of opportunity took the crown from reigning speed-king, Bugatti Veyron. The way in which the massive 1,183bhp engine propels the Aero from 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in just 2.8 seconds is awesome. After six seconds, you have already passed the 200 km/h (125mph) mark. Adrian von Hooydonk, Head of Design BMW Group, is responsible for the Aero's aggressive looks.
What a rear-end on the Wiesmann Roadster MF5! A turnkey version of the car is being launched at the IAA in Frankfurt. Wiesmann is a small manufacturer based in Dülmen, Westphalia. Limited quantities of these lovely, quintessential sports cars are produced there by hand. In contrast to the hard-top, the roadster's rear has pumped-up sides. As is the norm. at Wiesmann's, a BMW unit propels the open-top MF5. The familiar five litre V10 used in the M5 and M6 produces 507bhp, and top speed is a bit on the steep side: 310kph, around 195mph.The MF5 will sprint from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in just 3.9 seconds. Only 55 cars are to be built, each one costing 198,500 euros, 173,500 pounds.
The first official pictures of the Rolls-Royce Ghost have finally been published. The witty name should serve as a reminder of the legendary 1907 "Silver Ghost". Visually, the 5.40m Ghost is in the style of the Phantom, but without the enormous bulk. Special treats are: the integrated radiator grille with foldaway "Emily" radiator mascot, slender Xenon headlights and special wheels whose centre caps display the Rolls-Royce logo the right way up, even when the car is moving. The Ghost will debut at the IAA in Frankfurt.
What is the most appropriate setting in which to unveil a special model costing €1.3 million? At the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, of course. VW subsidiary Bugatti celebrated its centenary by stealing the show with the Veyron Sang Bleu (French for 'blue blood'). Specially built for Pebble Beach, the bodywork of this roadster is a combination of royal blue carbon fibre and aluminium, which represents a new departure in the upmarket carmaker's traditional twin-tone design philosophy. The rear air vents are likewise in blue and the interior trim is a newly developed 'gaucho' leather that would come as a revelation even to an Argentinean cattle breeder. The figures for this Bugatti are out of this world: 1,001 horsepower, a top speed of around 250mph (400km/h plus) and acceleration from 0 to 62 in 2.5 seconds. Almost enough to make you overlook the colour.
Lexus - the luxury Toyota subsidiary - will be presenting this new model at the IAA in Frankfurt (September 17 - September 19.). So far, there has only been a computer sketch, but it shows how cool the 'Bonsai Lexus' is, being low with small narrow windows, a long bonnet and sharply-shaped headlights. The Lexus will probably be competing with theBMW X1 and the Audi A3. Under the bonnet there will probably be a hybrid drive, since Lexus are claiming that that this new model will feature a pioneering power pack.
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The most important prize award for cars in Europe was instituted by the publisher Axel Springer in 1976, and has been awarded annually since then. On the 4th November, top managers from the car industry accepted awards for the model year 2009 at the Axel Springer Building in Berlin. Eight new models in total received a Golden Steering Wheel award. For the third time, a Green Steering Wheel prize was presented for the best eco car. Fiat and Ferrari president, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, received an honorary award.
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