Bugatti Galibier leaks out after private unveiling in Molsheim

After months of speculation, Bugatti has finally pulled the wraps off its new four-door supercar concept just ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show at an event for past customers and Bugatti-intenders. Up to this point, we've been referring to the French uber-sedan as the Bordeaux, but it seems the actual car's moniker will be Galibier – the name of a difficult Alpine pass along the Tour de France.

One of the Galibier's most striking features is undoubtedly its two-tone outer shell, which is comprised of both polished aluminum for the doors and front fenders and a unique dark blue carbon fiber weave that shines through when illuminated. We also note a prominent center spine that recalls past Bugattis like the Type 35 and the classically beautiful Type 57.

Powering the Galibier concept will be a version of Bugatti's ridiculously powerful eight-liter W16 powerplant. Unlike the mill propelling the Veyron to ludicrous speed, this version is mounted up front and is capable of running on ethanol fuel, which may or may not allow the automaker to squeeze a few more ponies out of the engine... not that it needs it, of course.

Current reports peg the Galibier's top speed at 217 miles per hour (350 kilometers per hour), which, while slower than the Veyron's epic terminal velocity, is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

[Source: Net Car Show]

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Bordeaux one of three Bugatti concepts proposed for next model

For some time now speculation about Bugatti's next megacar has been running rampant. The car world got nice and teased recently when a "teaser" shot of a new Bug got itself "leaked." Named the Bordeaux, very little is known about the concept past the point that it has eight tailpipes. However, Dr Franz-Josef Pfaegen, lord of Bugatti's Molsheim manor, sat down with Autocar and spilled some high priced beans.

Turns out that the Bordeaux is in fact most likely a four-door, and Bugatti will be showing the car to existing customers to gauge their reaction and make sure the Bordeaux is the type of vehicle the company should be building. That said, Pfaegen wants to crush rumors that the Bordeaux will share parts with the new Bentley Mulsanne into dust. Says Pfaegen, "A Bugatti saloon will have different dimensions and be a completely different concept. In fact it's hard to find any similarities at all [with the Mulsanne]."

However, as both high end marques are owned by Volkswagen, we wouldn't be surprised if a bit of platform sharing took place beneath the surface. Whatever it is, the eight pipes lead us to speculate that high performance is the Bordeaux's raison d'etre. Especially as it will probably be packing the Veyron's quad-turbo, 8.0-liter 1,000+ hp W16.

We don't have any info on the other two concepts at this time, except that one of the three will indeed be Bugatti's next model. We'll go ahead and guess that one of the remaining two is Veyron 2.0. Especially as the Grand Sport Sang Bleu is the last of the special edition Veyrons. Plus, with 250 out of the 300 total Veyrons already built and sold, mega-performance hypercars might just be Bugatti's preferred niche. As for the possible third concept, we don't know. Though, if we were in charge of conceptual Bugattis, a new Royale would be in the works. If you have any guesses as to what the third Bugatti concept might be, shout it in the comments below.

[Source: Autocar]

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Bugatti Grand Sport Sang Bleu the last special edition Veyron?

That's it, ladies and gents. The seemingly endless train of special edition Bugatti Veyrons has ended. Allegedly. After taking the wraps off the Sang Noir, Pur Sang, Fbg by Hermes, Grand Sport, Bleu Centenaire and the quartet of individual Centenaire tribute editions, to say nothing of the individual specials in between, Auto Motor und Sport says that the Sang Bleu edition of the Grand Sport which Bugatti unveiled at this past weekend's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be the last special edition Veyron that Molsheim will build. With a reported 250 out of the 300 Veyrons initially earmarked for production now built and sold, Bugatti's moving on to its next project, tentatively dubbed Bordeaux. At which point the whole shpeil will presumably start all over again.


[Source: Auto Motor und Sport – translated]

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Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport "Sang Bleu" unveiled in Monterey

How many special edition Bugatti Veyrons are there? There's the Pur Sang, the Bleu Centenaire, the Sang Noir and Fbg by Hermes, not to mention the countless examples that have either been painted gold or chrome by bored sheiks who've spent too much time in the sun. The targa-fied Veyron, otherwise known as the Grand Sport, has been around a lot less time than its closed roof counterpart, but it's about time the open roof Bug got a special edition of its own. Enter the Grand Sport "Sang Bleu" that's being unveiled by Bugatti this weekend in Monterey.

The "Sang Bleu" is set off by its unique two-tone color combination that isn't the result of opening a couple new cans of paint back at the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, France, but rather combining two materials: carbon fiber and aluminum. The shiny parts are, of course, the al-yoo-mini-um of which we spoke, but the royal blue you see is a specially tinted carbon fiber. The only other differences between the "Sang Bleu" and a normal Grand Sport are that the rear airscoops are also body color, and the wheels are a unique design with a Midnight Blue and Diamond Cut finish.

Only 20 standard Grand Sports have been ordered and far less actually delivered, so the "Sang Bleu" stands as the rarest Veyron of them all right now. There's only one and Bugatti doesn't mention anything about it going into limited production, but considering the brand's penchant for making special editions, we expect the "Sang Bleu" will be available for anyone with anyone with a couple million bucks to trade.

[Source: Bugatti]



PRESS RELEASE

A new Bugatti piece of art for Pebble Beach

The « Sang Bleu » to honour the 100th anniversary of the marque Carmel, California, 14th August 2009. – Continuing this year's 100th anniversary celebrations Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. has chosen the prestigious Pebble Beach weekend to present a further highlight to pay tribute to this legendary brand : The company proudly unveils the Bugatti « Sang Bleu » - an exclusive, one-off Grand Sport, honouring the marques precious heritage.

Innovation and Harmony

The « Sang Bleu » has ventured into new areas. Instead of applying two paint colours or paint and material to highlight the two tone design the « Sang Bleu » exclusively concentrates on materials - carbon fibre and aluminum - an innovative combination never realised before. This unique approach opens a new dimension of « Art – Forme – Technique », the company's core alues.

The colour combination commissioned for the Pebble Beach car is blue carbon fibre with polished aluminum. The visual carbon fibre is tinted in royal blue to emphasize the refined volumes and surfaces of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. The rear airscoops are tinted in the same nightblue – offering a dramatic view from above – and thus fluidly integrate into the overall design philosophy of this unique model.

The rims are inspired by the Grand Sport Roadster and are highlighted in a Midnight Blue and Diamond Cut two tone finish. The interior, specially and tastefully selcted for the Pebble Beach event, is trimmed in a newly developed Gaucho leather which blends with the intriguing and pure exterior materials creating an elegant and harmonious overall appearance.

Featured Marque

In the year of its100th anniversary Bugatti has been selected to be one of the featured marques at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Ettore Bugatti started his business in the Alsacian town of Molsheim in 1909. The name of the company: „Ettore Bugatti Automobiles i. Els.". In 1956 the company ceased its activities. Exactly 50 years later, in March 2006, the first Bugatti Veyron built by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. was delivered – after the Volkswagen Group had aquired the rights of the Bugatti marque in 1998 and started the re-launch of this famous brand. To date over 250 of the planned Bugatti Veyrons are sold, 215 of them have been delivered to customers worldwide. In June 2009 Bugatti started production of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, the open roadster. The sales results are encouraging over 20 Grand Sports have been sold, with first deliveries already started.

The Bugatti « Sang Bleu » is the latest in a line of centenary Bugatti models which have won worldwide acclaim in 2009. This unique car stands – like the others - for the commitment of the Bugatti of today to carry the values and the philosophy of Ettore Bugatti, the founder of this unique marque, into a successful future.

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