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Bugatti’s Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Is A Topless Super Sport

Bix — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:17:52 +0000

Yes, the hairdos of the upper 0.0000001 percent are about to get a lot messier, thanks to Bugatti’s new car—the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, scheduled to debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Vitesse—which is French for “speed,” because people needed a reminder that they Veyron is fast—is the product of Bugatti hybridizing the Grand Sport and Super Sport strains of their supercar. From the Veyron Super Sport, the Vitesse receives the 1,200 horsepower, 1106 lb-ft version of Bugatti’s quad-turbo 8.0 liter W16 engine, along with the Super Sport’s front fascia and chassis alterations; from the Grand Sport, it gets the pop-off targa top and tall ovoid air intakes on the roof.

Bugatti hasn’t specified just how fast the Grand Sport Vitesse will go, but we’re gonna take a stab and say it’ll go 229 mph with the roof off (the same Vmax the regular Grand Sport will do sans chapeau), and 258 mph with the roof firmly locked in place (the same tire-limited top speed the Veyron Super Sport will reach). No word on price, but if you can afford it, up yours. [via Bugatti]

Press Release:

Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse celebrates world premiere in Geneva

Molsheim/France, 22 February 2012 – Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. is set to unveil the most powerful roadster of all time at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March.

With an increase in power up to 1,200 HP, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has entered a new dimension of open-top driving. Optically aligned to the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which holds the current world speed record of 431 km/h, the Vitesse also impresses with its dynamic driving characteristics.

Bugatti’s engineers have developed the current Grand Sport, with its 1,001 HP and 1,250 Nm, into an even more powerful vehicle. The Vitesse’s maximum torque is now an impressive 1,500 Nm. The increased power of the new roadster’s 16-cylinder engine is made possible by the four enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers. The chassis has also been modified to support the power increase.

The Vitesse therefore also ensures the supreme range of excellent features one would expect of a Bugatti super sports car, from precise driving dynamics to extraordinary acceleration and braking.

“The rapid success of the Super Sport convinced us to increase the performance of the Bugatti roadster. Once again our engineers worked hard to demonstrate that Bugatti is able to constantly redefine the boundaries of what is technically feasible,” reveals Bugatti President Wolfgang
Dürheimer. “We gave our all to transfer the achievements of the Super Sport over to the Grand Sport, thereby turning open-top driving itself into an extraordinary experience at high speed.”

Porsche 911 Winds Up Stuck In Wet Cement (w/Video)

Bix — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:37:07 +0000

Writing your initials in wet cement is a mostly harmless way of leaving proof of your existence for later generations. Plowing your shiny Porsche 911 into wet cement, on the other hand, is an extremely harmful way of leaving proof that you’re an idiot.

Harmful both to the Porsche—we don’t even want to imagine how hard it would be to remove dried cement from the undercarriage of your car—and to the self-esteem of the driver, whose humiliation will now last forever on the Internet, available in a moment for anyone who Googles “Porsche idiot cement.”

[via YouTube]

Mercedes Unveils 2012 F1 Car…Say, Is That The New SL63? (w/Video)

Bix — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:28:45 +0000

Update: Mercedes-Benz saw fit to release a whole bunch of new images of the SL63 AMG since we first posted this story, so we’ve added them to the photo gallery above.

Since they had a nice chunk of the automotive media present in Spain for the unveiling of the new Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W03 race car, Mercedes-Benz decided to kill two birds with one stone and bring out the SL63 AMG, too.

Between running test laps in the W03 and quietly seething at each other, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher found a little time to show off the new SL63. Details were pretty scarce—we’ll likely learn more at, yup, the Geneva Motor Show next month—but Mercedes-Benz did reveal that the SL-Class’s version of AMG’s 5.5 liter twin turbo M157 V8 makes 529 horsepower. (If that’s just no enough, an AMG Development Package that boosts the horsepower higher is almost guaranteed.)

The new SL63 AMG is also 275 pounds lighter than the outgoing model; between the new engine (the old SL63 used the 6.2 liter naturally aspirated M156 V8), the reduced weight and a few other tweaks, the new SL63 gets 30 percent better gas mileage than the outgoing car.

As for the new Formula One car, Mercedes’s latest racer gets the ugly split nose that’s going around this season, and despite being constructed out of 200 additional parts when compared to last year’s car, it still ends up weighing less than the 2011 racer. Whether it’ll be enough to bring Nico and Schumi glory…that’s a wait-and-see question.

[via Mercedes-Benz]

Press Release:

Mercedes-Benz this morning marked two world premieres at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, with the unveiling of the 2012 Silver Arrow, the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 W03, and the first public sneak preview of the brand-new Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG. The new high-performance roadster, which develops 537 PS while delivering weight savings of 125 kg and 30% improved fuel economy, was introduced by Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.

The new Silver Arrow, the F1 W03, has undergone an intensive programme of simulation testing at the team’s technical bases in Brackley and Brixworth. This was followed by a filming day limited to 100 kms at Silverstone on 16 February, and a private test day in Barcelona on 19 February, during which the car ran for 354 km. Michael and Nico shared driving duties on both days.

The new car concept is based on a largely stable set of technical regulations, which nevertheless include two significant changes: revision of the maximum bodywork height at the front of the car, which encouraged the distinctive stepped-nose design; and new restrictions concerning the positioning of the exhausts, designed to prevent the aerodynamic benefit gained from exhaust gases during 2011, the so-called ‘blown diffuser’.

The F1 W03 project was begun in May 2011 and is the first full car produced by a technical team that was strengthened last year with recruitments at every level of the organisation. The new car, which is composed of some 4500 parts compared to 4300 parts in 2011, has nevertheless achieved a lower core weight than its predecessor, is better packaged and more efficient. All mandatory FIA crash tests had been successfully completed at the first attempt by the end of the first week of January 2012.

“The F1 W03 is a car that I believe, and hope, our team can be proud of, and which will deliver the on-track results that everybody has worked so hard to achieve,” commented Team Principal Ross Brawn. “Notwithstanding the distinctive nose design, which is certainly an acquired taste, the F1 W03 is an elegant interpretation of the current regulations, and a clear step forward over its predecessor in terms of detail design and sophistication. Last year, we produced a very bold car and, although its more radical elements didn’t always deliver the results we had hoped for, the experience we gained has been invaluable to the design of the 2012 car. The F1 W03 is also a more integrated package, which reflects the ever-strengthening ties between our technical teams in Brackley and Brixworth, and demonstrates that our Silver Arrows works team is taking the next step forward in terms of on-track performance.”

Nico, who drove the first laps in the F1 W03 on 16 February in Silverstone, commented: “We have had a good start to our 2012 testing programme, and it was a great feeling to drive the first laps in the new F1 W03. The car looks good, and is very nicely packaged under the bodywork – all the parts are in harmony, which reflects how well the different departments of our team are working together. From the beginning of our running, we have been able to focus on understanding the car and making good progress with our test programme. It will be very interesting to learn more about where we stand in the next few weeks.”

Michael, who will complete the first full day of official testing with the new car today in Barcelona, commented: “I have done quite a few roll-outs and launches of new cars, but even after all these years, I must say it still feels special. Days like this are precious moments, as they are always filled with hope and anticipation. Already last week, when we were driving the F1 W03 for the very first time, it instantly gave us good feedback and sensations. Starting today, we will work intensively to make it a competitive runner. Obviously, we will only see over the next couple of weeks how big the step is that we have made, but I can say already that the guys and girls back in the factories at Brackley and Brixworth were brilliant in putting in so much effort, and we can only say a big thank you them. I know which reward they would like, and we will definitely try to deliver it. For my part, I am eager to fight again, looking forward to the new season, and I can’t wait for it to begin.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, concluded: “2012 will mark the third season for our Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows works team, which was introduced in January 2010, and our target is to take a step forward in on-track performance. A lot of work has been done throughout the last year, not just to design the new car but also to build a technical organisation that is capable of delivering to its full potential, with consistency. Our ultimate goal is to become regular race winners and championship contenders, and so to write another chapter of success in the story of the Silver Arrows which began 78 years ago. Our target this year is to take another step forward on that road.”

Following the car’s launch this morning, the F1 W03 will complete eight full days of pre-season testing over the next two weeks at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Another Sneak Peek Of The 2013 SRT Viper

Bix — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:52:35 +0000

The first teaser Dodge—er, SRT, damn it, we keep doing that—released of the 2013 Viper gave us a hint as to what the car’s front end will look like. This new teaser, however, clues us in as to what the car’s scoop will look like. But, uh, we’re not entirely sure where said scoop sits on the car.

Anyone want to take a stab at it? The shape in the top left corner reminds us of a subtle rear spoiler for some reason, but that doesn’t really fit with the rest of car. It could be the new Viper’s exhaust pipe. It could be the 2013 Viper’s version of the Viper’s enormous heat vent between the door and the front wheel. Hell, it could just be an extreme close-up of the cupholder.

We’re guessing SRT will keep feeding us teasers as we move closer to the 2013 Viper’s debut at the New York Auto Show in April. Until they send us a new picture to puzzle over, though, we’ll be scratching our heads about this one. [via SRT on Facebook]

Ferrari’s 740 HP 599 Replacement Will Bow February 29th (w/Video)

Bix — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:49:57 +0000

Update: Thanks to some of the posters on Ferrarichat who attended an early customer preview for the new F152, we have new details to report. According to them, the 599 replacement’s 6.3 liter V12 makes 740 horsepower (presumably metric HP, which works out to 730 SAE horses). They also say the car weighs in at 3,355 pounds dry, and laps the Fiorano track one second faster than the 599 GTO. The one thing they didn’t have was the car’s official name—for that, we’ll have to wait until next week.

There are some sentences we wish we had the opportunity to write more often. Dear Ms. Upton, I’d love to have dinner with you this Friday is one. I must regrettably inform you I will not be coming in to work tomorrow or ever again, as I won the Powerball last Saturday is another. And who could leave out The most powerful production Ferrari in history will be unveiled next Wednesday?

Instead of letting it get lost in the sea of new cars at the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari project F152 (as it’s internally known) will be revealed on Wednesday, February 29th, thus kicking off what Ferrari calls “a new era of extreme V12 cars.” Ferrari pledges that the F152 will be “the most powerful Ferrari ever,” a title we’re assuming excludes track-only specials like the 850 horsepower FXX Evoluzione—and a title it’ll likely lose this year to the rumored 920 horsepower Enzo replacement.

But the day we complain about a 700 horsepower Ferrari is the day we turn down Kate Upton for that dinner.

[via Ferrari]

Ferrari 458 Italia Vs. Japan, Germany & America’s Tuned All-Stars (w/Video)

Bix — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:27:51 +0000

The gang over at DragTimes have been steadily upping the drag race video game on YouTube, and their latest installment is one of the best yet. Not only does it have some of the best camerawork you’re like to see while watching an amateur drag race, they managed to convince a Ferrari 458 Italia (well, the car’s owner) to take on three epic competitors.

Sure, it’s not the fairest fight; because of the tuning work performed on the ZR1, GT-R and RS6 it competes against, the stock 458 Italia is at a bit of a power disadvantage. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to go down easy. Check out the video below, and see what it takes to knock off Ferrari’s mid-engined V8 wonder.

[via YouTube]

Ferrari’s Next Supercar Will Make 920 Horsepower

Bix — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:53:15 +0000

Ferrari’s mid-engined supercars—the 288 GTO, the F40, the F50 and the Enzo—are the sort of cars that turn ordinary folks into raving car enthusiasts, and raving car enthusiasts into moaning piles of jelly. So you should expect to find yourself quivering on the floor this autumn, when Ferrari unveils their latest member of their supercar lineage—one making as much as 920 horsepower.

According to Automobile (among other sources we’ve heard from), the F70/Enzo replacement/Italian Jesus Supercar will combine a 7.3 liter, 800 horsepower version of the 6.3 liter V12 used in the FF and 599 replacement with a 120 horsepower KERS-inspired hybrid electric system. Max out both power sources simultaneously, you’ve got 920 horsepower at your command—but when tooling through traffic, the V12 can shut off entirely and the Italian Jesus Supercar can cruise along with nary an emission. (Unless the driver farts.)

Not only is the new Ferrari supercar expected to be much more powerful than the Enzo it succeeds, it’ll likely be much lighter, too. The Ferrari Enzo Ferrari weighed in at 3,010 pounds, but Maranello is purportedly aiming to bring the Italian Jesus Supercar to market with a curb weight around that of the 2,550 pound FXX. If they succeed, that’ll give the IJS a power-to-weigh ratio of 2.77 pounds per horsepower—compared to 4.16 lbs/hp for the Bugatti Veyron.

But sadly, the son-of-Enzo could be the last of the great V12 supercars—at least out of Maranello. Any subsequent Ferrari hypercars may be forced to give up the 12-cylinder engine for twin-turbo V8s in the name of increasingly rigid environmental regulations—part of an engine downsizing trend that could even wind up sticking forced-induction V6s in Ferraris before you know it. “Now that Formula 1 is about to agree to switch to six-cylinder engines, a downsized powerplant may become acceptable for our next entry-level road car,” Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa told Automobile. Well, at least we’ll always have the Italian Jesus Supercar. [via Automobile]

Pictured: Artist’s conception of the new Ferrari supercar. We hope this artist conceived it incorrectly.

What’s The Correct Term For Multiple McLaren MP4-12Cs? (w/Video)

Bix — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:31:20 +0000

The first batch of McLaren MP4-12C customer cars has finally reached American shores, and McLaren Automotive was there with a video camera to mark the Twelvsy’s initial incursion.

And like Decepticons in a Michael Bay Transformers movie, once the McLarens arrived, there was no stopping them from conquering the major metropolises of America. New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco—each fell prey to the Twelsvy onslaught, usually with a major landmark somewhere in the background. No city can long resist the power of that 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8.

[via YouTube]

Next Ford Focus RS: “You Need At Least 320 HP”

Bix — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:05:27 +0000

While we’re all sitting around waiting for Ford to start handing out Focus STs to the media, the car maker is working hard to build an even hotter version of their newly global compact car. The new Focus RS reportedly hasn’t been given a green light for production yet, but the engineers who’d be tasked with building one know what they need.

According to Top Gear, Ford’s current plans for the RS (should it reach the streets) involve shoehorning a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.3 liter inline-four under the hood, then sending said engine’s power to the front wheels. (AWD would reportedly be too expensive and too difficult to package in the Focus’s floor plan.) “You need at least 320 horsepower,” Top Gear‘s source told them, which would be right in line with earlier reports we’ve heard regarding the Focus RS.

Ungodly levels of torque steer would be kept in check through a combination of electronic wizardry and Ford’s RevoKnuckle struts, which separate the strut’s steering and suspension functions. We expect a six-speed manual transmission would be assigned to transfer power from engine to axle, but a dual-clutch flappy paddle system doesn’t seem out of the question, considering Ford likes loading DCTs into Focuses.

If it’s approved, expect to see the new Focus RS sometime around 2015—and considering Ford’s recently discovered desire to share models across all markets, the odds of U.S. residents being able to buy one seem fairly bright. TG‘s report has another interesting fact tucked in it: according to their sources, the RS’s 2.3 liter turbo four will also reportedly be used in the Mustang, starting in 2014. Which jives with what we heard last June. Keep up the good work, Ford. [via Top Gear]

Pictured: 2009 Ford Focus RS

Lapo Elkann Shows Off His Pair Of Eclectic Ferraris (w/Video)

Bix — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:20:26 +0000

Fiat scion and potential Ferrari chairman of tomorrow Lapo Elkann loves his cars. He loves them so much, he never, ever wants to accidentally mistake someone else’s car for his own after a long night of doing speedball shooters with middle-aged trannies.

Hence, he prefers to have them designed with…well, let’s be kind and call them creative design schemes inside and out. Okay, the matte-blue-paint-over-denim-upholstery Ferrari California isn’t that bad, but the camouflage 458 Italia…good God, that’s just wrong. (Especially the interior.)

And for a guy who clearly likes to think outside the box, we’re kind of surprised he slapped the same livery on his Jeep Grand Cherokee as he stuck on his Italia. At least his old Grand Cherokee had some class.

[via Wallpaper]