Autoblog

Roofless Tyrant: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport enters production

Noah Joseph — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Plants/Manufacturing, Supercars, Bugatti

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The marque's faithful (read: the obscenely wealthy) have been waiting a long time for a convertible Bugatti. The last time a roadster rolled out of Molsheim was in the company's heyday before WWII, and despite our teenage fantasies, no roofless EB110 ever materialized from the Romano Artioli era. But after over a half century's wait, Bugatti has officially returned to the world of open-air motoring.

The most exclusive of exclusive automakers came to Pebble Beach last year with the Veyron Grand Sport, and auctioned off the first example for a whopping $2.19 million. Now the targa-topped Veyron is officially beginning its production run, with deliveries to commence in July. If you're one of those who's been waiting for the opportunity, good economy or bad, you'd better act quickly: Bugatti is only making 150 examples of the world's fastest roadster, with the first 50 units going to existing Veyron owners. Asking price, before the inevitable succession of special editions, is nearly $2 million, which ought to make your eyes water even more than the air kissing your face at 224 mph. Check out the details in the press release after the jump and the fresh crop of high-res images added to the gallery below.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

[Source: Bugatti]

Continue reading Roofless Tyrant: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport enters production

Roofless Tyrant: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport enters production originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 May 2009 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Build your own Bugatti Veyron Gran Sport... that you'll never get to drive

Dan Roth — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Etc., Supercars, Bugatti, Specialty

Personalized Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport - Click above for a high res gallery

You can't own one, at least not right now, but maybe the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport will be as much of a bargain in 25 years as the Ferrari Mondial is. Okay, so that outcome is doubtful, but on the off chance you might someday take possession of one of these monsters, planning ahead is key. When it's beaten, broken, clapped out, and the top piece has gone missing, bodywork and restoration will be necessary, opening the door to a personalization party. Bugatti's even going to help you out. The storied French nameplate has a configurator on its website that it has now opened up to include the toupée-ripping Grand Sport.

The website is actually a pretty stripped-down affair; pick your model, pick your colors. With the Bug, that's because there's really nothing left to want, besides a very good pair of earplugs in lieu of serenity in the cabin. There is fun to be had in dreaming about how your own personal GS might look, and the site will even kick out a .pdf for you to download and treasure. When you're all done, and your car looks like it came out of the Creamsicle factory, you can print it on high gloss paper and tack that which will never be up on your bedroom wall.

Gallery: Bugatti Configurator

[Source: Bugatti]

Build your own Bugatti Veyron Gran Sport... that you'll never get to drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti developing Veyron Grand Sport Sang Noir edition

Michael Harley — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Supercars, Bugatti

If the current list of Bugatti Veyron derivatives isn't confusing enough, the automaker is developing yet another variant to be available to customers in April 2009. The new supercar is an open-top Veyron Grand Sport 'Sang Noir' (French for 'black blood') -- it's essentially an evil-looking unpainted carbon-fiber version of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport targa. The exposed version will be very limited in production (remember, only 15 Sang Noir models are to be built in coupe form), and likely limited to a top speed slightly below 253 mph. Considering the first Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport went for $3.19 million at auction, we can only imagine where these will be priced.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir

[Source: Car Magazine Online, photo by Car Magazine]

Bugatti developing Veyron Grand Sport Sang Noir edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Veyron and eventual replacement coming around 2012

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Supercars, Bugatti

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

The big question for Bugatti is: What comes after the Veyron? Seriously, there isn't much that could top the 1,000-or-so horsepower, quad-turbo, 16-cylinder engine that's carried around in the back of the most gorgeous body ever with an equally exquisite interior. How about a revised model with 1,200-horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft of torque? Yeah, that'd do nicely. Rumors indicate that an über-Veyron could make an appearance at the very end of this current generation's production.

Despite consistent rumors of the firm's eventual demise after that, head-honcho Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen says that another supercar and possibly an ultra-lux saloon (four-door to all you poor people) could be in the cards for 2012. In an effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions, alternative-fuel powerplants will also be on the drawing board. We know that parent-company VW has plenty of worthy powerplants in its parts bin, and the idea of giant torque funneled through an all-wheel drive system has us saving our millions already.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Live Debut

[Source: Autocar]

Super Veyron and eventual replacement coming around 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport's umbrella roof in action

Noah Joseph — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Videos, Supercars, Bugatti

Click above to watch the video after the jump

You can't go lopping the top off of a $1.5 million supercar without replacing it with something. Well, you could, but not if you're going to sell it for more than $2 million apiece. That's why when Bugatti unveiled the new Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, the automaker made sure to demonstrate not one, but two removable roofs that will be included with the targa hypercar. The first is a transparent polycarbonate hard-top section that can be removed and stowed for open-air driving. But in case the obscenely wealthy driver finds himself caught in an unexpected torrential downpour (or just a drizzle, for that matter), Bugatti has also developed an umbrella-like soft-top that can be deployed in an emergency. Unfortunately, the fabric roof section can't withstand the 252 mph top speed that the polycarbonate solid roof can, limiting speeds to an embarrassing 80 mph.

The deployment of the fabric temporary roof was a little difficult to describe in words and pictures, but fortunately our Latin friends at Autoblog En Espanol have found a video of the roof in action. Follow the jump to check it out.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Live Debut

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport's umbrella roof in action

VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport's umbrella roof in action originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2008: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:04:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

The wraps - and the roof - have come off the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport here in Monterey, finally answering a question few have asked and even fewer will sample.

As you'd expect, Bugatti hasn't just hacked the roof off the Veyron and gone to the pub. The windshield is slightly higher, the daytime running lights have been tweaked and then there's the showpiece: a removable, transparent polycarbonate roof, which blends the A-pillars into two painted carbon fiber strips that lead into the massive air intakes feeding the 1001 hp, quad-turbocharged, W16.

If you stow the roof at home for the world's fastest open-air, four-wheeled experience and the heavens decide to open, a folding roof stored in the luggage compartment can be - according to Bugatti - "opened like an umbrella." With the soft-top in place, speeds are limited to an incredibly low 130 km/h (81 mph), otherwise, the Grand Sport can hit 252 mph with the polycarbonate roof and 224 mph with the top removed.

Bugatti made several structural enhancements to ensure the Grand Sport shares the same chassis rigidity and safety standards as its fixed roof counterpart. The monocoque has been reinforced around the side skirts and transmission tunnel, the doors feature new longitudinal beams, and the air intakes have been redesigned to include ten-centimeter-wide carbon fiber elements to protect occupants in the event of rollover.

Only 150 examples will be made available, with the first 50 going to registered Bugatti customers. The first model will be auctioned off at the Gooding & Company auction tomorrow night, with all the profits over the 1.4 million euro ($2.05 million) sticker going to charity.

Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Live Debut

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Monterey 2008: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look Ma, no roof! First pics of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Supercars, Bugatti

Click above to view more photos of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

Our buddy Richard Owen over at Supercars.net has revealed that the long-rumored targa-style Bugatti Veyron will officially be called the Grand Sport. We recently learned that the pop-top Bug will make its public debut at the Pebble Beach Concourse d'Elegance in a couple of weeks. What we didn't know was that Gooding & Company will be auctioning the first order slot on August 17th, right after the best-in-show trophies are handed out at Pebble Beach.

While an open-top Veyron will instantly appeal to some, the thought of removing a chunk of aerodynamically essential material from the roofline will have many others questioning their sanity. Have no fear, however, as Bugatti has developed the roof so that there will be no draft inside. Even with its top speed limited to just 217, this will be one of the fastest open top cars around. We'll get you more details as they become available, but for now, get thee to Pebble if this is the the car you've been waiting for. And bring more than $2,250,000, the expected starting price. Bugatti is planning to build just 80 of these Grand Sports.

Maybe we'll get a chance to compare it to the coupe we got to sample last year.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Gallery: First Drive: Bugatti Veyron

[Source: Gooding & Company via Supercars.net]

Continue reading Look Ma, no roof! First pics of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Look Ma, no roof! First pics of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron Targa to debut at Pebble Beach

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, Bugatti, Misc. Auto Shows

According to InsideLine, Bugatti plans to unveil its Targa variant of the Veyron next month at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, California. The open-air hyper-car will use a removable hardtop, while a fabric cover can be used in its place if the heavens decide to open up mid-jaunt. IL is reporting that the chassis will be heavily reinforced to cope with the loss of the crucial structural component. Production will begin next year along side the Targa's fixed-roof predecessor, and with the current Veyron going for around $2 million, don't expect to get your 217-mph (limited) top speed kicks without paying another $250,000 on top of the Veyron's base-price.

[Source: InsideLine]

Bugatti Veyron Targa to debut at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti targa-top Veyron will be more expensive, exclusive

John Neff — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Plants/Manufacturing, Bugatti

Click above for high-res gallery of our time with the Bugatti Veyron

We already know that Bugatti's second vehicle in the modern era will be a targa-top version of the Veyron 16.4, but AutoExpress has revealed that production of the open-air exotica will be limited to just 80 units compared to the coupe's comparatively ample run of 300 cars. The cost of letting the sun shine through your Veyron's dome will also be more prohibitive, with a price tag creeping up on £900,000 compared to the £840,000 cost of the coupe. As with most open-air cars, the Veyron's chassis will be made beefier to cope with the loss of rigidity caused by a big hole in its roof. As such, the new car will weigh more than than the record-setting original. Top speed will therefore be relatively limited, if one can call a 217-mph top speed limited. Then again, as we learned while driving the car ourselves, every car is limited compared to the original Veyron.

Gallery: First Drive: Bugatti Veyron

[Source: AutoExpress]

Bugatti targa-top Veyron will be more expensive, exclusive originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron targa confirmed for next year

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, Bugatti

We've known as much for a while, but according to a Georges Keller, a Bugatti spokesperson quoted by Automotive News, a drop-top Veyron is in the works and is due to launch sometime next year. Details are scarce, but according to an unnamed ex-Bugatti executive, the targa-topped hypercar will feature a removable hardtop, but its overtly wealthy owners will have to plan ahead, since there won't be any room in the Bug to store the roof on the go. According to the anonymous exec, the decision to go with a hard top instead of some kind of cloth piece was due to the design of the Veyron's safety cage. Certainly a good call considering the Veyron's potential.

Gallery: First Drive: Bugatti Veyron

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Bugatti Veyron targa confirmed for next year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron Targa details coming slowly, unlike car

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Supercars, Bugatti

It's been a while since we got a fresh batch of Bugatti Veyron Spider/Targa rumors, but Autogespot has ended the lull with inside sources claiming that a prototype of the open-air supercar is already on the road and that sales will begin next year. Apparently, the only downside to lopping off the roof on a car capable of hitting 400 km/h (248 mph) is that aero restrictions are going to limit the speed to a pedestrian 340 km/h (211 mph). We can sense your disappointment, but that's not even the worst of it. The removable roof won't be able to be stored on the go, so if the sky opens up mid-jaunt, you'll be forced to construct a makeshift roof out of the spare $100 bills lining your pockets.

[Source: Autogespot]

Bugatti Veyron Targa details coming slowly, unlike car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron Targa planned for 2008

John Neff — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Supercars, Bugatti

Perhaps Bugatti got a little open-air envy after seeing the t-tops on Richard Losee's Ferrari Enzo, as we've just learned the Veyron will be shedding its roof in 2008 when the company introduces a targa version of its superlative exotic with a laminated glass roof panel developed by the same firm responsible for the Volkswagen Eos's folding hardtop. Since the Veyron's packaging is so tight, Inside Line reports that the roof panel cannot be stored on board. To compensate, Bugatti will develop a fabric panel that can be pulled in place to protect the car's interior from the elements if need arises.

Developing the Veyron Targa will involve strengthening the windshield and other structural modifications, so Bugatti will use carbon fiber for the car's doors and hood. The grille and the headlights, which will now turn with the wheels, will also be restyled. These changes should also be ported over to the coupe eventually.

The Veyron Targa's top speed of 217 mph will be lower than the coupe's upper bound of 253 mph, but that should be enough to keep it ahead of Losee's T-Top Enzo.

[Source: Inside Line]

Bugatti Veyron Targa planned for 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jul 2006 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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