Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Production Under Way?

IN NEWS THAT should please millionaire convertible fans, Bugatti has begun production of the Veyron’s convertible sibling – the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - at the company’s plant in Molsheim, France.

Unveilled last year at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, the question of whether the car would see the road was answered when the first production slot was auctioned off on the day.

Sales of the convertible Grand Sport are expected to be limited, with just 150 examples to be built, and the first 50 slots to be made available exclusively to existing Bugatti owners.

Powered by the same 747kW W16 engine as its hardtop brother, the Grand Sport has undergone extensive development to ensure it maintains the same structural integrity and strength that has made speeds upward of 400km/h possible for the ‘regular’ model.

Despite its 1.4 million Euro price tag, 30 of the convertible Veyrons are already spoken for, and the happy owners should take delivery some time around July.

2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI BlueMotion Announced For Europe, Not Due For Aus Yet

VOLKSWAGEN HAS ANNOUNCED the addition of a BlueMotion model to the Touareg line-up in the European market, offering a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy.

Offering a fuel consumption figure of 8.3 l/100km, the Touareg TDI BlueMotion beats even the 9.05 l/100km of the Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid, revealed in February.

The petrol hybrid has it over the TDI BlueMotion in one area though, and that’s outright power. The TDI delivers a maximum output of 167kW, while the V6 TSI hybrid’s petrol and electric output weighs in at 279kW.

Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technology features an intelligent energy management system which charges the battery during the push phase of the vehicle, while 25mm lower suspension and low rolling resistance tyres contribute to the Touareg TDI BlueMotion’s fuel savings.

Despite its excellent fuel economy figures, we’re unlikely to see the Touareg TDI BlueMotion – or the rest of the BlueMotion range – in Australia any time soon.

TMR spoke with Volkswagen Group Australia’s Karl Gehling, who said that while the company is “eager to get the BlueMotion range onto Australian roads, it won’t happen until the [BlueMotion] technology can be offered with Volkswagen’s DSG transmission.”

According to Volkswagen’s spokesperson for Production Communications, Christian Haacke, that pairing may never come to pass, due to the extra cost and weight of the DSG transmission; suggesting such a combination would be contradictory to the aim of the BlueMotion technology.

Volkswagen already offers ten BlueMotion models in the European market, including the Golf, Jetta and Passat, featuring start-stop technology, low rolling resistance tyres and modified aerodynamics – including an enclosed underbody.

Subaru Sets Sights On 2012 Debut For Hybrid Model

IN RECENT YEARS Subaru has made it clear that it favours the development of diesel powertrains over investing in hybrid technology. But with global buyer sentiment shifting (and more manufacturers getting on the hybrid train), Subaru has now declared its intent to also bring a hybrid model to market.

Subaru’s hybrid is slated for a 2012 debut. At this stage though it’s unknown whether it will be an entirely new model or an addition to an existing product line.

Subaru has dabbled in hybrids before, unveiling the petrol-electric B5 TPH concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005 (above), however this is the first solid indication from the Japanese company that it is committed to the technology.

Toyota, which holds a 16 percent stake in Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), will provide technological assistance for the project - a coup for Subaru, considering Toyota’s reluctance to spread its hybrid know-how beyond its own brands.

Tougher environmental regulations planned for the United States are rumoured to be the primary motivators behind Subaru’s decision, however the company won’t be abandoning its diesel plans anytime soon.

The Japanese automaker is still working on a diesel powerplant that will satisfy the incoming US legislation, and FHI CEO and President Ikuo Mori says the new engine should arrive on the scene in 2011 or 2012.

The third prong in Subaru’s eco-assault will be all-electric, with the company currently engaged in testing its Stella EV and R1-e battery-electric (above), with the Stella to go on sale in Japan later this year and the R1-e possibly heading Stateside in the near future.

With hybrids, diesels and electric vehicles all in the works, could Subaru overtake Toyota as the most environmentally-friendly manufacturer? Watch this space.

F1: Button Makes It Five From Six In Monaco

BRAWN GP HAS continued its dominance of Formula 1, as championship leader Jenson Button led home teammate Rubens Barrichello to cap off a stunning performance at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Starting from pole position, Button was unstoppable, inching his way around Monaco’s notoriously tight street circuit with poise to coast home for a fifth victory this season, extending his lead atop the driver’s standings to 16 points.

Former World Champion Kimi Raikkonen secured the final place on the podium with a solid drive, while fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa finished fourth, as the Scuderia maintains its recent rate of progress.

However, the duo did come under significant pressure in the race’s closing stages from a rampant Mark Webber, who made a late charge for the podium on the temperamental super-soft tyres before finishing fifth.

Williams’ Nico Rosberg did little to dispel concerns over his ability to maintain a consistent pace throughout a Grand Prix, failing to capitalise on a strong start which saw him fourth before the first set of stops to slip back to sixth.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais completed the top eight, both making inroads from their starting positions.

The race wasn’t as successful however for Chinese Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel, capping off a poor weekend by crashing into the barriers at Sainte Devote while pushing hard after he was forced to pit earlier than expected with his tyres ruined.

Barrichello proved to be Button’s main rival early on, jumping past Raikkonen at the start before duelling it out with the Briton for the lead as the Brawn’s established an early advantage over the field.

The 37-year old’s challenge faded relatively quickly though, struggling for grip as the super-soft tyres quickly deteriorated to fall back towards the chasing Raikkonen.

Button meanwhile, driving with his trademark smooth and fluid style, was able to preserve his option tyres, enabling him to maintain his intended stopping sequence and minimise the time lost on the grained rubber.

Despite playing down the significance of winning in Monaco over the weekend, Button was overjoyed to secure his first victory in the principality, surpassing his previous best result of second to Jarno Trulli in 2004.

“Wow! Winning the Monaco Grand Prix is something that you dream about as a child and as a racing driver and the reality of taking that victory just feels awesome. To win in Monaco is truly a special feeling,” he said.

“With Rubens taking a superb second place, a one-two finish for the Brawn-Mercedes team in Monaco is fantastic.

“The race felt like it went on forever and you feel that the barriers are getting closer and closer as the end of the race approaches. But for the last couple of laps, I was able to relax and really enjoy the moment.”