Volkswagen has announced that the current head of Bentley, Franz-Josef Paefgen, will also add the Bugatti brand to his duties. Paefgen, a former head of Audi, will replace Thomas Bscher, who resigned from Bugatti after an apparent fallout with VW boss Martin Winterkorn. Bscher’s departure was the latest in a string of high-ranking executives to depart since Martin Winterkorn replaced former VW Group CEO Bernd Pischetsreider on January 1st.

Paefgen was the head of the Audi brand from 1998-2002, before moving over to Bentley.

## Source: Automotive News ##

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Thomas Bscher, head of Bugatti, has announced that he will resign from his position. Bscher had been vocal about his desire for a second Bugatti model and future expansion of the brand. When asked about Bscher’s plans for a second Bugatti model or whole product family, Volkswagen Group CEO, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, replied, “That is perhaps its desire. But some desires remain dreams.”

Porsche, the VW Group’s largest shareholder, has been vocal in its opposition to any expansion of Bugatti.

The departure of Bscher likely ends discussions about any future Bugatti model.

## Source: Der Spiegel ##

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It was inevitable. It was only a question of when someone would be the first to crash their Bugatti Veyron. That is has taken this long is a testament to the supercar’s capabilities.

Their name is unknown, but you can bet that the individual behind the wheel, will live in infamy as the first private owner to crash their Bugatti Veyron. Despite the car’s aerodynamics, all-wheel drive and massive tires (perhaps because of the car’s massive tires), this Bugatti is thought to have hydroplaned on a wet roadway before before losing control and heading off the road into a ditch.

The car behind the A-pillar looks unscathed, but there is no news on whether the car is total write off.

## Source: SportBilen ##

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During an interview with a German newspaper, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagon Group, indicated that Bugatti production models may end with the Veyron.

When asked about Thomas Bscher’s plans for a second Bugatti model or whole product family, Winterkorn replied, “That is perhaps its desire. But some desires remain dreams.”

There isn’t a much more direct way of saying “no” than that, which seems to go against recent reports that Volkswagen may keep its Bugatti and Lamborghini supercar brands.

## Source: ktsa.de via GermanCarBlog ##

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Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, has quelled recent rumors that suggested the automaker would sell its Bugatti and Lamborghini brands. Porsche’s CEO Wendelin Wiedeking has publicly stated his opposition to VW’s exotic brands, and has threatened to pressure VW into dropping Bugatti and Lamborghini.

Winterkorn said research and development done at the supercar brands can benefit the entire company. Winterkorn told German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung that “development in the upper segments undertaken by Lamborghini and Bugatti had been advantageous for all the brands.”

He added that Volkswagen’s engineers had gained a lot of technical experience, including aerodynamics from their work with Bugatti, stating “A jumbo jet takes off at 250kmh, whereas a Bugatti remains safely on the ground at 400kmh.”

Winterkorn, formerly head of Audi, which also placed him over Lamborghini, pointed out that the brand has enjoyed a ‘four-fold increase’ since Audi purchased it in 2001. He oversaw the final development of the Murcielago and Gallardo, and the Audi R8, which is based on the Gallardo.

## Source: Autocar ##

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In last night’s Top Gear episode, “the slowest man in the entire world”, James ‘Captain Slow’ May took a Bugatti Veyron around Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track facility located near the automaker’s home in Wolfsburg, Germany

May’s target was to reach the Veyron’s astonishing top speed of 407 km/h (252 mph). And he made it.

Captain Slow may be “the slowest man in the entire world”, but not on this day.

Video after the jump.

## Source: Top Gear ##

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In another classic Top Gear challenge, Richard Hammond and James May attempt to beat Jeremy Clarkson in a race across Europe from Northern Italy back to London. They have to use transport other than a car. While Clarkson gets to drive the Bugatti Veyron.

Check out the video for the results. The video is long but it is worth the time.

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Based on the number of video posts, it is quite obvious that we are in awe of the performance levels of the Bugatti Veyron. This clip provides a glimpse into what it must be like to be behind the wheel of the ultimate supercar.

Video after the jump.

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Here is one more video attempting to show how blisteringly fast a Bugatti Veyron truly is. And this video is likely the best we’ve seen so far.

Just last week we showed you a clip of a Veyron launch and its quick disappearance, but this video is truly amazing.

If you haven’t seen a Veyron launch in person, it’s nearly impossible to understand.

Video after the jump.

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Two videos of a race between a RUF CTR and Bugatti Veyron. The RUF CTR is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and 0-100 mph in just 6.7 seconds. But that is no match for the Veyron so the driver of the CTR was given a small headstart in the first race and a longer headstart in the second.

Still no match for the Veyron. Check out the video after the jump.

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Here is another video that attempts to show how blisteringly fast the Bugatti Veyron truly is. A few months back we showed a Veyron accelerating away from a Nissan 350Z. Before that, we showed the video of a Lotus Elise and Veyron on the track. While the Elise would close in on the Veryon in corners on the strength of its handling, the Veyron would run away once it started to put the power down.

Unless you’ve seen what the Veyron can do in person, you’ll swear that it can’t be real.

Video after the jump.

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Despite rumors and reports about Bugatti’s future, president Thomas Bscher insists the automaker will continue building cars. “There will be another car,” said Bscher.

Bugatti will soon wrap up production of the Veyron, which is limited to a production run of just 300 units. The ultra-luxury carmaker is then expected to build a small number of high-price, low-volume Veyron variants. Bugatti is rumored to be working on a Targa version of Veyron, which would sell for $1.9 million.

Later, Bugatti could move somewhat downmarket, according to Bscher. But Bugatti can’t go too low, since there is concern within the VW group about competing with Bentley and Lamborghini. On the other hand, sales and profitability of cars above $300,000 is extremely limited.

To top it off, VW’s top shareholder, Porsche, is reportedly pressuring Volkswagen to keep Bugatti out of its territory.

## Source: The Car Connection ##

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Back in July, we reported that Bugatti is moving foward on a targa version of the Veyron — and an illustration of what it might look like. As we reported, the Veyron Targa will have a removable glass panel roof, and because of lack of space will not be able to be stored onboard. Webasto — also responsible for the roof of the Volkswagen Eos — are developing a glass roof section.

The Veyron Targa will need some extra strengthening when it loses its roof, including stronger windshield pillars, and a beefed up chassis. To help bring the weight back down, the Targa will likely come with carbon fiber doors and hood. Bugatti will also make a few minor tweaks to the car’s appearance with a slightly restyled grille, and adaptive headlamps. The Targa’s top speed will be limited to 217 mph because of the altered aerodynamics.

## Source: World Car Fans ##

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Several months ago we posted a video of a Lotus Elise chasing a Bugatti Veyron around a track. And not too surprisely on the very tight track the Elise does a great job of keeping up, which is exactly what it was designed to do.

Now, we think we may have found the other side of the video, from inside the Veyron’s cockpit. It clearly is the same track and it is a red Veyron. And while the driver appears to be letting the Veyron do its thing on the straights, it really doesn’t sound like he is pushing it in the corners.

Video after the jump.

## Source: You Tube ##

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Since 99.999 percent (likely even a few more nines) of us are never going to ride in a Bugatti Veyron, let alone own one, hopefully this will give you some clue as to how impossibly fast the Veyron is. Filmed from a Nissan 350Z, which is not a slow car by any means, watch the Veyron launch and drop the 350Z like was standing still.

Video after the jump.

## Source: Streetfire.net ##

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