[against the wall]

when can we expect a public debut?

[63Bonneville]

Yes, I'm hoping to see some official and studio pics as well as live debut shots of the Bugatti Bordeaux when it's shown at it's event around the timeframe of Frankfurt.

[MCLAREN P_10]

According to Bugatti the showing of the car will be around the time of Frankfurts Autoshow as I have heard since I have been here in France, the news suggest it will be the day that Frankfurt offically opens for press days. My sources have also stated that Bugatti will roll out the first special edition Veyron Grand Sport at Pebble Beach, this model is slated to be a Sang Noir version of the Grand Sport will feature the same paint scheme and interior as the Sang Noir. Since I have been here I have also hear news of a Grand Sport version of the Fbg par Hermes Veyron, which will offer a new two-tone paint scheme and interior.

[against the wall]

no Pur Sang Grand Sport?

[MCLAREN P_10]

According to my sources there was plans for Pur Sang, but this will likely be cancelled due to the fact that the Veyron Grand Sport has carbon fiber doors and fenders. Originally there would have been a Pur Sang had the fenders not been changed to carbon fiber. Theres still a chance for this model to make use of the fenders from the Centenaire Editions aluminum fenders. But thats in a perfect world this would happen, lord knows I wish it would happen too!!!!!


Bugatti will offer up a Pur Sang, Sang Noir, and Hermes Editions for the Bordeaux, and there will possibly be a even faster edition in due time. The Bordeaux's quad-turbo W-16 will produce 979 BHP in a car that will weigh in about the same as the Veyron. Thanks in part to the use of carbon fiber and aluminum for the body panels. According to my sources the Bordeaux's doors, roof, and front and rear fenders will be made of aluminum with the hood, and decklid being made of carbon fiber along with carbon fiber bumpers.

I am heading to Italy tonight, and I will be bringing you all up to speed on news from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Alfa Romeo, Project 1221, and Maserati.

I actually have heard news from Lamborghini and Ferrari, so here we go with the news update for Italy.

Lamborghini will have a full working hybrid running by years end and will be planning for a production run starting by 2015. According to my sources the hybrid drive system that lamborghini will use, will feature a small electric motor adding to horsepower in urban cruising. Expect horsepower rating to move towards 700+ BHP.

Ferrari will reveal there concept late this year, according to my sources this model will be revealed aftger Frankfurt, but no word offically of which show, possibly LA has been mentioned. I will be looking for clues while I'm in Italy. Thus far my sources have revealed to me that this hybrid drive system will feature a front mounted K.E.R.S. system that will send the power to the front wheels when needed. The engine will drive the rear wheel, and the concept that will be shown coiuld very well offerto the world a chance to see the new Ferrari twin-turbo direct injection 5.0 liter V-8. My sources have told that this model will preview the FX70 supercar.

[protocatcher]

@ MCLAREN:
have you heard anything about the upcomming "green" sportscar that BMW will show as a concept in Frankfurt?
Will it have front or mid-engine? And what about the size, smaller or more like a new 8-series ?

[MCLAREN P_10]

The concept that will be shown at Frankfurt, will be a small model, roughly the size of te Z8, my sources are unclear on what type of engine it will showcase, but many suggest a mid-engine layout thus far. One source suggest it will have a M Division twin-turbo V-8 mated to a K.E.R.S. system that will allow for the braking power to be used in accelerations. the chassis is slated to be a aluminum and magnesium spaceframe with the body panels made of RTM fiber glass and aluminum. The transmission will be a new 8 speed duel-clutch transmission that will send the power to the rear wheels. Expect this model to draw heavily on the Formula 1 and LeMans Racing Programms that will allow for new levels of performence for a car of this size. There are plans for this new BMW to make 2 versions of this model once it arrives, a coupe and a cabriolet.


UPDATE~!!!!!!

Pagani, is hard at work on the C9, but before this model arrives at the Geneva Autoshow, we should be seeing a new Pagani Zonda One-Off know as the Zonda Tricolore. This model will use the Zonda F styling with a unique exaust set-up housed in a new lipped rim surrounding the exaust tips. The transmission is the new ZF developed for Pagani C9 sequetial shift 7 speed transmission, mated to a version of the Cinque's 7.3 liter AMG V-12 producing 678 BHP. Expec this model to carry a bare carbon fiber spine done it's body work, there will also be a rudder that will split the rear window. My sources suggest hat Pagani could be planning a new light weight sportscar currently codenamed C10, this model is likely to carry a AMG developed supercharged 5.5 liter V-8 producing 570 BHP, this engine was used in the CLK DTM, while the the SLR 722 Edition's supercharged 5.5 liter V-8 will be placed in the C9, and will produce 700 BHP and 629 lb feet of torque.

My sources suggest that this new model could be a baby Pagani, that would take at at Ferrari's F458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo successor. This new Pagani C10 will arrive as a coupe and then a roadster. Pagani has opted to have a single AMG engine in it's line-up if the greenlight is given to the C10, by Horacio Pagani. Horacio Pagani has already stated that he would like to expand the Pagani line-up and this would be perfect to fit into the line-up. The chassis will be a version of the Zonda's carbon fiber monocoque chassis that will be smaller in size to the C9's carbon fiber monocoque. My sources suggest by early design sketches have revealed to me that this model will have a trunk up front and as mall storage area behind the seats in the cockpit.

My sources have also revealed to me that Pagani could be planning a deal with Mercedes-AMG. This new deal will see Pagani and Mercedes-AMG develop a new engine exclusively for future Pagani models. There were rumors that Pagani had looked into a AMG developed direct injection dry sump 6.0 liter V-10 that was good for 697 BHP. This engine was slated to replacethe SLR's supercharged V-8, but was cancelled due to Mercedes-AMG cancelling the McLaren Supercar Programms. Horacio Pagani has shown interest in this engine from the very beginning, but could not convince Mercedes-AMG to build the engine for the Pagani C9, this engine coulod see production as apart of this new deal between Mercedes-AMG and Pagani. This engine has plenty of room for more varients and can reach as high as 768 BHP if needed. I will give you all and update on this deal as more will be revealed to me by sources. I will however give you all a codename for this deal, we will call it NURBURGRING!!!!!

Project 1221 has plans to reveal the MF1 late this year as my source suggest, the company hit a snag early this year, with the development of the new gas turbine engine being carried out in Italy . The model is currently running development models in Dallara's wind tunnel, there has only been 1 road going development model and it was tested at a race track in Italy. The engine has formally been signed off on and will produce 1500 BHP and will have topspeed of 278 MPH. The tires have been developed by Pirelli, and will use racing tire compunds to help with development and high speed driving. The chassis has been tuned by Project 1221's very own engineering staff, and will be made of a mix of carbon fiber and titanium composites which are currently being used by Pagani, who happens to have supplied the carbon fiber to Project 1221 for both there MF1 and the Aellopous hypercars. The styling of the MF1 is very unique for a car of this size, the MF1 is roughly the size of the Koenigsegg CC8/CCR/CCX/ CCGT. The Aellopous will carry a gas turbine ebgine producing 750 BHP, and will use the sanme carbon fiber monocoque chassis, with a estimated topspeed of 230 MPH. The transmission of choice will be a new 8 speed duel-clutch transmission that can be added toa rear or 4 wheel drive system that has been developed by the engineering team. My sources have revealed to me that Project 1221 could very well be planning to reveal thesemodel in Italy at a party for the offical roll-put of the company and there models.

Maserati, has early plans to bring a third model line to production, this new model will be based on a Chrysler LY chassis that will underpin the Chrysler 300C/Dodge Charger/ Challenger and will offer 3 body styles, namely a coupe, saloon, andcabriolet and will be powered by a Maserati sources V-8 and Alfa Romeo V-6. the styling will be carried out by Pininfarina, and will give the Maserati a emotional Italian style to say the least. Beyond this Maserati is looking forward to bringing anew supercar to production with the help of Ferrari's FX70 supercar. The Maserati will make due with 748 BHP from the new twin-turbo 5.0 liter V-8 which will likely be mated to a K.E.R.S. system driving the front wheels. the new Getreg 7 speed duel-clutch transmission will put the power tothe rear wheels, while the small electric motors will use the Kinetic that has been stored from braking will be used in short burst during accellerations. The chassis will be reworked for Maserati's new styling. The Maserati is likely to be slightly heavier then the FX70. The current codename for this model is the MCX, but will likely wear the nameplate of Birdcage.

Alfa Romeo has plans for a new GTA version of the 8C Competizine coupe for early 2010, which will end in time for a new Alfa Romeo supercar currently being planned and developed with the help of Ferrari. The news as I have ehard it will see the Alfa Romeo could possibly be based on 1 of 2 chassis Ferrari has been developing over the past 3 years. The first would see it be a front mid-engine supercar powered by a twin-turbo 4.7 liter V-8 good for as much as 628 BHP, the second and more likely is being based around the mid-engine layout of theFerrari FX70/ Maserati MCX as well as offering a even more down market version of the twin-turbo 5.0 liter V-8 good for 692 BHP, this model would use a carbon fiber body with traditional Alfa Romeo lines and a emotional and very Italian style to say the least. My sources have revealed to me that they believe the 8C will be succeeded by the mid-engine layout model over the front mid-engine layout to make the Maserati and Ferrari pricing alot lower then previously thought.

[63Bonneville]

That's truly a thorough update from Italy!!!!

Just to add to this (and it was also covered in the Maserati report) a recent report which surfaced yesterday (8/4/09) indicated that Alfa-Romeo is now focusing on bringing a larger sedan/saloon as one of the earlier, or earliest offerings for it's foray into the USDM, that is the 8C aside, of course. This would me more than likely based upon the RWD-bias LX/LY chassis sourced via Chrysler - and, of course, this had been touched on way earlier on within this thread, before such news was hitting the other automotive-related sites! This was touched on here when the Fiat involvement with Chrysler was merely speculation. Here is a link to a report on this, placed below:

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/04/r...-new-american/

This was touched on with Maserati for the report in the previous post indicated that they may obtain the LX/LY platform for an additional vehicle line to slot below the Quattroporte and Grand Turismo.

Additionally, the recent report posted here and reported elsewhere, with Lamborghini developing a hybrid, also can prove that a hybrid application can be a boone not only to economy and efficiency, but can also boost performance and power, as well.

Here's an unrelated note (and a vehicle from another nation):

Reported and announced today (8/5/09) from Nissan/Infiniti, along with a teaser swoosh-type sketch, is the virtual unveiling of the next-generation M model. This is being unveiled in a new, unconventional, and innovative means at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and join the other great debuts such as the new Grand Bentley. I was wondering, and MCLAREN, you may already know, or have information from your sources; regarding the new-generation Infiniti M (USDM version), will this be influenced by the well-received Essence concept (which will also be at Pebble Beach), and will it be larger than the current, outgoing M, perhaps to fill the shoes of the now-defunct Q sedan/range-topper? I would figure, if this is the case, that the V8 version of the M, which should have the same mill as the FX50 crossover, would fit that flagship bill, which the M with the 3.7L D.I. V6 would be more of the volume seller. Also, will there be a successor to the Infiniti Q? There doesn't seem to be any final answers, current reports, and past reports did indicate that a model, or a rendering had been shown to dealers, which appeared to resemble a 4-door version of the Essence concept, and presented as a new-generation Q. Below is a link to one of the articles that appeared today, pertaining to the M's preview/premiere:

http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/08/05...-pebble-beach/

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by 63Bonneville

This was touched on with Maserati for the report in the previous post indicated that they may obtain the LX/LY platform for an additional vehicle line to slot below the Quattroporte and Grand Turismo.

Return of the Biturbo? I certainly hope not. In any case I hope its not a sedan but a fast, stylish coupe. See, Maserati is one of those brands that sell primarily on their image and mystique alone.

My BMW dealer has pointed me to a link: http://www.worldcarfans.com/10908052...details-emerge
He claims that this is very much what the next 3-series will look like. Turbo'ed 4-cylinders and hybrid models will finally arrive in the US market.

[MCLAREN P_10]

Maserati's new model will offer as a 2 door coupe and a CLS competitor 4 door coupe, that will showcase the Italian style while also showcasing a new range of scale. The Maserati V-8 will return, but there are rumors of a twin-turbo version fo the Maserati V-8 with as much as 500 BHP. This model will allow for Maseratgi and Alfa Romeo to bring a wider range of models, as well as offer up a chassis for Lancia, to build a new range ofmodels also, via a possible shortenedversion fo the LX/LY chassis.


My sources in Germany have revealed to me that Mercedes Japanese design wing could be designing the MCC Smart ForThree three seat sportscar. This model would use a hybrid turbo charged Smart 3 cylinder engine. This engine will displace 1.3 liters and will have a electric motor by Tesla that will allow for this engine to produce as much as 270 BHP at the rear wheels. This models body will likely be based on the next generation Tesla aluminum chassis that will allow for a rear engine layout. This models cockpit will be designed alot like that of the McLaren F1, but will feature a losking swiveling seat for the driver to enter and exit with ease. The wheels will likely grow in size thanks to the need for more power from this hybrid engine. The wheel size could grow to as much as 18 inches all around.