[63Bonneville]

I'm looking forward to reading more information on Bugatti, from Veyron special editions to the upcoming Bordeaux!!

Here is a report that recently appeared, and I've seen this elsewhere, too in the last couple of days. It appears to be some great news and even some relief for the supercars and low-volume builders, in fuel regulations and such. I certainly hope this goes through, even though much appears well under control via today's technologies and applivations (the top-tier, uber/super/hyper-cars are low and ultra-low volume as it is), and here's a link to a report on this, placed below:

http://www.motorauthority.com/foreig...gulations.html

[MCLAREN P_10]

UPDATE!!!!!

I almost forgot to update you all on Pagani news, Pagani is moving ahead with the new C9 and will reveal it to the public at an upcoming autoshow, possibly Geneva in March. This new model well feature a carbon fiber and titanium blend for it's chassis and body panels, that will make it light as well as structurally strong. The new Pagani re-engineered SLR 722 Edition supercharged 5.5 liter V-8 producing 700+ BHP, and will be mated to a new sequetial shift 7 speed transmission sending power to the rear wheels. This model will be lighter then the Zonda R racer.

My sources has also have revealed to me that Bentley's new twin-turbo 6.75 liter V-8 will be built form the ground up, this new engine will be made of aluminum and will feature direct injection, and flex-fuel, the only thing that will be carried over from the old V-8 will be the twin-turbo system, everything else will be new. Also my sources have revealed to me that Bentley has been planning a third model, this new model could be between 2 very diffrent concepts, the first is a new generation Blower Bentley, this model would be a front mid-engined sportscar, the body would be made of carbon fiber and aluminum, the cockpit will be a 2 seat arrangement. This model would use a aluminum spaceframe, based on the next generation Contential GT chassis, with a folding canvas roof. The second is a true mid-engine supercar powered by a 655 BHP version of the new twin-turbo 6.75 liter V-8 which will send power to all 4 wheels via a new ZF 8 speed transmission. Ths chassis is likely to be a version of the Lamborghini JOTA's aluminum spaceframe, but with a more refined ride.

My sources have revealed to me that Chrysler could be planning a pertrol version of the Dodge Circuit , if it gets the greenlight. This model would be a 2 seat true sportscar powered by achoice of engines between a 3.5 liter Phoenix V-6 with 330 BHP and the opther is a possible 5.7 liter HEMI V-8 with 400 BHP. My source also stated thiese models chassis could be a version of the out going F430 aluminum spaceframe, this is the case that has been made by FIAT AG's Abarth division which will build a sportscar of it's own ion the coming years, and this would be perfect for Chrysler to make a business plan for it's own sportscar version of the Abarth.


The Bugatti Veyron Grand Prix/ Louis Chiron is a great looking hypercar. As they told me I wouldn't be disappointed, and I'm not. This new model will be made completely of carbon fiber, the front fenders, bumpers and doors have all been switched over to carbon fiber, the engine has been re-worked to the tuneof 1200 BHP, thanks in part to direct injection, and the lose of weight. The cars styling has not been bothered at all, the cars styling will have the side fender vents, and as I told everyone, I am trying to get the pictures loaded to my laptop, so I can share it with you all. This lighter, faster and more performence engineered version of the Veyron is truly a new breed of hypercar. The painted fenders over the bare carbon fiber spine, truly looks great to me!!!

My sources also showed me pictures a odd looking prototype supercar from here in France, which leads me to believe it could very well be the new Bugatti Aerolithe. My sources have revealed to me that this model will be the much rumored baby Bugatti. In so many words Bugatti has opted to change the plan on the Aerolithe and focus on lightweight construction, with a high performing TSI supercharger fed twin-turbo direct injection LeMans bred V-8 that will produce as much as 1100 BHP The Aerolithe will be again produce in Molsheim's Atelier factory in place of th Veyron. The final assembly for the Bordeaux will be done in Molsheim after the chassis be built in Crewe, England while the engine will be built in Germany, as well as the body panels and then sent to Bugatti's Atelier facility in Molsheim, France where the interior and final assembly will be carried out. The price tag is rumored to be roughly $1,000,000 USDM, but my sources have also stated it could go cheaper as low as $700,000 USDM, which will price it above the new Grand Bentley it's based on. My sources have revealed to me that Bugatti will offer as many as 3 varients , namely a coupe, and cabriolet, and a Laundelet/ duel cawl phaeton cabriolet. amoungst these things we will see a Pur Sang, Sang Noir, Hermes, and a limited production alot like the Bleu Centenaire Edition. We won't see these models until about a year after production ramps up of the production version,

[63Bonneville]

MCLAREN, thank you for that latest, and thorough update, while in Europe!

There's one part of the update that I question, however, regarding the Bugatti part: the part which pertains to the odd-looking prototype, then goes on to mention the "baby" Bugatti. I had thought that there would be no baby-Bugatti produced, and, I understand, that it was announced in the past that a baby, or perhaps downmarket (if I'm perceiving this correctly) Bugatti would be produced. Also, the Areolith, which is essentially the Veyron successor (even though it had been indicated that two models are succeeding the Veyron, the Areolithe and the soon to be shown Bordeaux), but with the well engineered, race-bred V8 with the extensive applications such as TSI boosting, resulting as similiar output as the W16, but in a lighter package, would be a supercar/hypercar on-par with the Veyron. Or, with the stately, expansive size of the Bordeaux (and it's mentioned coupe and cabriolet variants, which I hope come to being), the Areolithe could be regarded as the "baby" (if this is the same as the prototype you've seen in the pics) for it will be dwarfed by the Bordeaux?

I had perceived the upcoming Areolithe to be sized towards the Veryon, but with a different design direction (as indicated up-thread), lighter materials and structure with aluminum space-frame, carbon-fiber and the like, and the ultra-powerful TSI and D.I. V8.

[SKYSONY]

Oh and MCLAREN I´m sorry to insist on the same car, but just to remember it, the Black Hammer is going to be version of the next SL isn´t it? something like an extrem version?. And just another question, Have you seen the new Audi A8? If yes is it pretty?.

[63Bonneville]

Here's something I wanted to bring up, and it's based on a report that recently turned up; throughout this thread, a supercar/hyper in development called Project 1221 has come up now and then, a turbine-powered car from Italy.

This report, just recent on www.roadandtrack.com covers a turbine powered car called an EcoJet, owned by Jay Leno. This one-off, and runner custom vehicle is from 2006; I had forgotten about this beautiful and unique machine, until I've seen this report surface. Being that this is a running car, with a gas-turbine engine, I'm now wondering if Projet 1221 will be anything like this. Here is a link to the report, posted below:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....rticle_id=8226

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by 63Bonneville

This report, just recent on www.roadandtrack.com covers a turbine powered car called an EcoJet, owned by Jay Leno. This one-off, and runner custom vehicle is from 2006; I had forgotten about this beautiful and unique machine, until I've seen this report surface. Being that this is a running car, with a gas-turbine engine, I'm now wondering if Projet 1221 will be anything like this.

EcoJet was styled by GM's Ed Welburn. It was built on a C6 Corvette chassis and was powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine. Project 1221's (assuming it is still alive) chassis will be built by Dallara and the engine by Williams International.

[63Bonneville]

Thank you, Stratos, for following up with the information.

I hadn't seen anything on the one-off EcoJet owned by Jay Leno in a little while, until last night, and it was initally linked through www.gminsidenews.com to www.roadandtrack.com, and I do know that it was designed by a different source, as well as a power-source by a different company from Project 1221, which, I too, am hoping that it's still alive and in development. I haven't seen, heard, or read anything pertaining to Project 1221 other than what's in this thread, and the Project 1221 website, which, I believe, hasn't been updated in a while. If my hopes are correct, then this must be a very covert development and operation.

Seeing that EcoJet reminded me of the reports I've seen of the Project 1221 in this thread. I hope this comes to fruition, and becomes inspirational, even in other segments. The turbine can show promise, and can also run on a multitude of fuels. On a sidenote, and I've indicated this before, a turbine like this could be a great candidate for a hybrid, with the electric power for stop & go and the turbine for high-way and power.

As it is, there is much to look forward to and ancitipate, starting with the upcoming Pebble Beach Concour d'Elegance and it's debuts, the Frankfurt Auto Expo and it's premieres, as well as Bugatti's event with the hotly anticilpated Bordeaux, and the private event which will launch the new-generation Audi A8, plus others along the line, which have been covered upon in this thread!

Also, I want to share this:
Last night (8/1/09) while coming home from the annual antique auto and swap-meet event in Macungie, Pennsylvania, USA, and heading home, eastbound on RT. 78 in New Jersey, and at night, up ahead I see the flashing lights of a police car off to the right side shoulder. As I get closer, I see he pulled over a speeder. What type of car was it - the vehicle pulled over was a pearl-white brand-new Audi R8!!!! One of a handful of R8s I've seen on the roads so far.

[MCLAREN P_10]

UPDATE~!!!!!!

Smart has offically started planning for a new sportscar, which will likely named ForThree, and it will feature a 1+2 seating arrangement and powered by a choice of Tesla's electric motor or a turbocharged in-line 3, which could also be added as a hybrid version of a jointly developed engine. There also plans for a roadsrsion of this model to come if this model gets the go ahead. Expect a new chassis to be developed for ths model either with Tesla or Renault, bot more then likely Tesla for a successor to the Tesla Roadsters chassis.

Since I have been here in France, and not to far from Germany, I have asked about plenty of new about Bugatti's Bordeaux, this model will be ultimate luxury liner, it will feature a 2+2 cockpit, which will be a mix of leather, suede carbon fiber and brushed and or turned aluminum. The new chassis has been developed by Bentley but will be reworked and engineered for performence by Bugatti Engineering team. The chassis will be a aluminum and steel spaceframe with a long wheel base and short overhangs. The engine bay will be stuffed with a reworked quad-turbo 8.0 liter W-16, that will likely carry direct injection and possibly flex-fuel and or cylinder deactivation system that will help with this models fuel economy. The body panels will be made of carbon fiber and aluminum . Expect the body panels to feature somestyling cues taken from the Veyron, but much will be unique and new to this model. The transmission has been reworked to handle the huge power out out. This transmission will be mounted to the rearwheel bell housing, making it a tranaxle, and this could also from the basis of a rear wheel drive Bugatti.

The Aerolithe has been seen here in France and it is slated to be a even more extreme supercar. The Aerolithe will be the rightful successor to the Veyron. The news here in France has been that the Aerolithe Programm was spawned by Project Lydia, which was slated to be a almost LeMans racer for the streets and Bugatti was looking to exploit the development cost of the Bentley Speed 8 LMP racers. This model was slated to use a 1175 BHP version of the quad-turbo 8.0 liter W-16, of which Bugatti desided not to build this model. The Aerolithe has reversed this concept and takes the Lamborghini JOTA's aluminum spaceframe and making use a enlarged TSI superchrger fed twin-turbo 5.0 liter V-8 that will produce 1100 BHP in base form and will grow as needed for special editions. This model will still feature the carbon fiber body panels and with a target weight of 2800 lbs. This is likely to be a greater car then they Veyron it will replace. There are rumors here in France of a new transmission for the Aerolithe, namely a 8 speed duel-clutch transmission that will allow forthis model to send all the power tothe road with ease.

[63Bonneville]

A couple of reports surfaced today (8/3/09) regarding the Smart ForThree, which appears to be in development. The articles included a couple of patent line-drawings.

From what you describe of the Bugatti Bordeaux, from all you have asked, it appears that the traditional and CGI renderings which more recently appeared in publications, such as Britain's CAR Magazine, and the like, appear to have some decent credibility. The Bordeaux, to my perception, would appear to be a stately, lengthy 4-door coupe, with a long wheelbase and a narrow greenhouse, and puncuated by a fastback design as is the Porsche Panamera (the Bugatti may not be a hatch, I'm not certain here), a long hood/bonnet housing a front-mid mounted engine, perhaps sitting behind the front wheels, and, short overhangs, particularly in the front. It will probably have Veyron themes starting with a horse-shoe like grill, and, of course, large wheels that could be anywhere from 20-22". It would likely sit lower overall than the Grand Bentley cousin, and especially the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

It also seems that the Areolithe will take things to a whole new level on many accounts, and truly be an imposing hypercar, and a benchmark!

Looking forward to the next update installment!

[MCLAREN P_10]

The Bordeaux is a saloon, likely to be alot like a shooting-brake style alot like the BMW GT5. The quad-turbo engine will be placed directly on the front wheel axle line. The engine will be placed up front and a transaxle sending the power to the rear wheels, and could be adapted for a all wheel drive system. The wheels are slated to be a 22-23 inch wheels thanks in part to the reduced topspeed of the Bordeaux. I will tell you all here and now the rear brake light between the split rear window is slightly raised to give it a almost spine liike to it! The picture that was on Motortrend.com, is very close to the design of the Bordeaux, be it with the head lamps closer in style to the Grand Sport/ Centenaire Edition, namely in part to the use of LED's in the head and rear lamps.