All posts by Francis Mitterrand

Auctions

2015 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is up for auction

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show Bugatti revealed the targa top version of the Veyron Super Sport, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. It is a limited edition that was produced until 2015 and only 92 cars left the factory. One of them, the 2015 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is up for auction.

This rare car is powered by a quad-turbo W-16 engine with 1,200 hp (882 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 1,100 lb⋅ft (1,500 N⋅m) at 3,000–5,000 rpm. That’s enough power to propel the car to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.6 seconds with a top speed of 254 mph (410 km/h), making it the fastest roadster in the world at the time. To ensure that the car can handle the massive power, Bugatti’s engineers strengthened the chassis.

The car is finished in light blue with contrasting blue carbon fiber trim, and in order to make it stand out from other examples, the owner decorated it with details inspired by the movies “Transformers”. The same theme continues in the interior of the car with matching two-tone blue and black leather with Bugatti’s Sport Comfort seats and blue contrasting stitching throughout. A Transformers logo is inlaid between the seats.

This Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has been well maintained and is in mint condition with 5,163 km on the odometer. In August 2022, the car was sent to Bugatti Munich for an annual service. It should also be noted that the current owner elected to enroll his car in Bugatti’s Passport Tranquillité program in December 2022 for a two-year duration, ending in December 2024. This is a pre-paid comprehensive service program that includes the appropriate annual services for the car . This program remains tied to the car rather than the owner, and the next service will be free of charge if undertaken prior to August 31, 2024.

The auction will take place from 1-3 May 2024 and the car is currently located in Madrid.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

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2015 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is up for auction
Tuning

Retro RR1 based on the Porsche 911 (992)

American automotive designer and manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, Rezvani Motors, has revealed its new project based on the Porsche 911 (992), the Retro RR1. It is a combination of modern and classic, inspired by the race cars of the 70s, and only 50 cars will be produced.

The car is 4,700 mm long, 1,296 mm high, 1,888 mm wide at the front and 1,962 mm at the rear. It is equipped with a new carbon body panels, new bumpers, new headlight housings, extended rear fender connected to a fixed spoiler, as a reminder of the racing Porsche 935 Kremer that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979.

All three versions get adjustable suspension while Ohlins Motorsport TTX-Pro Coilovers are optional (+ $6,500). Customers can choose upgraded Brembo brakes (+ $7,500), steel roll cage (+ $5,500), racing harnesses (+ $750), lightweight polycarbonate windows (+$2,700) and custom livery graphics in Martini Racing colors (+$2,500) as options.

The car will be offered in combination with the Carrera S (RR1 550), GT3/GT3 RS (RR1 565) and Turbo S (RR1 750) versions. RR1 550 is powered by a 3.0L Flat 6 Turbo engine with 550 hp/410 kW (track) and 520 hp/388 kW (street), paired with a 7 speed manual or PDK transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. It reaches 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.1 seconds.

The RR1 565 is powered by a 4.0L Flat 6 Naturally Aspirated engine with 565 hp/421 kW (track) and 535 hp/399 kW (street), paired with a 6 Speed manual or PDK transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. It reaches 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.0 seconds.

The RR1 750 is the most powerful option powered by a 3.8L Flat 6 Turbo engine with 750 hp/559 kW (track) and 715 hp/533 kW (street), paired with a PDK transmission that sends power to all wheels. It reaches 60 mph (97 km/h) in 2.0 seconds. All versions are mounted on a set of 20″ and 21″ wheels wrapped in 275/35 R20 front and 335/30 R21 rear tires.

Source: Rezvani Motors

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Retro RR1 based on the Porsche 911 (992)
News

A two-year-old boy hit his mother by starting a Tesla Model X

In early April, Tesla reached a settlement with the family of Walter Huang, who was killed in a 2018 accident caused by autopilot in a Tesla Model X. Tesla is now facing another lawsuit related to this model.

According to Mallory Harcourt, her two-year-old son started a car and hit her while she was pregnant. She described arriving home that day and realizing she had forgotten the keys to the front door at the chiropractic clinic. Since she had to change her son’s diaper, she decided to set up a changing table in the garage before heading back. She left the driver’s door open and the boy, without her supervision, entered the car, pressed the brake, then touched the gear lever, and then the accelerator pedal. The car started moving and at a speed of 12 km/h hit Mallory.

In the lawsuit, she stated that she did not have time to react, and that she only heard her own bones crack. The neighbor called an ambulance, and in the hospital they found that she had suffered a broken pelvis. Due to the accident, she was delivered prematurely and the total cost of treatment was $73,000. Time has passed since the accident, but the lady still feels pain.

The lawyers claim that the child is not to blame for the accident and that it is impossible for a two-year-old to start a car. They claim that Tesla’s system is responsible for the accident, which the company rejects by claiming that the mother is to blame, because she was not paying attention to the child.

Source: The Miami Herald; Photo: Tesla