Guinness reconfirms Bugatti Veyron's world record top speed

After taking last week to review the record category for World's Fastest Production Car, Guinness World Records has reconfirmed that the holder of this hotly contested superlative remains the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

The Veyron Super Sport set the official record back in 2010 with a Guinness-verified speed of 267.8 miles per hour, but other interested parties have recently contested that record's validity because the Veyron used that day had its speed limiter removed. With the speed limiter in place, the Veyron Super Sport tops out at 258 mph.

Guinness rules state that a record-setting production car must be unchanged from what is available to customers. While some, particularly Hennessey Performance, have claimed that removing the Veyron's speed limiter violated that rule, Guinness has settled the matter by stating that "a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine."

This is a nice win for Bugatti on top of the news last week that the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse also set a record for the fastest open-top production car with a speed of 254.04 mph. That record, however, as far as we know, has not been verified by Guinness World Records.

For its part, Hennessey, whose claim against the validity of Bugatti's record didn't work this time, could potentially break the record outright if given enough road for its own Venom GT to run. The 1,244-horsepower Venom hit 265.7 mph earlier this year before running out of room on a two-mile runway, though those runs were not officially verified by Guinness. Nevertheless, there still remain questions about whether or not the Venom GT counts as a production car by Guinness standards. The world record authority defines "production" as building at least 50 examples and only 29 Venoms are supposed to be built, though Guinness does permit itself to grant exceptions.

Guinness World Records statement: Fastest production car

Following a thorough review conducted with a number of external experts, Guinness World Records is pleased to announce the confirmation of Bugatti's record of Fastest production car achieved by the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.

The focus of the review was with respect to what may constitute a modification to a car's standard specification.

Having evaluated all the necessary information, Guinness World Records is now satisfied that a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine.

When a Bugatti Veyron drag races against a Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra, we all win

Want to watch two of the fastest production automobiles in the world line up on an open runway to race? Want to see it happen a whole bunch of times?

We thought so. Featuring the well-known Bugatti Veyron in one lane and the less-well-known but just as impressive Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra – which is powered by the same 1,040-horsepower twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine as other Agera S models, but with some extra lightweight bits along with lots and lots of gold – in the other, you can rest assured that the video down below is full of carbon fiber, booming exhaust notes, turbo whine and asinine acceleration. And, though we won't spoil the results, we think it may be full of surprising victories for those who don't keep tabs on such important figures as power-to-weight ratios and the like...

Now for the disclaimers. Are both drivers aware of how to extract maximum performance from their machines? Are they both in perfect states of tune? Would the result be different from a standing start? Was the fact that the video was shot at Koenigsegg's home track a display of favoritism? Was there a full moon the night before? We have no idea. That said, watching well over 2,000 horsepower line up for a race is nearly always worth watching. So, without further ado, we present the video below.

UK Bugatti saleswoman sells nearly one Veyron per month

Selling cars is difficult enough without your company's only product being a $2.2 million supercar, but that doesn't seem to have slowed down Anita Krizsan.

As a sales representative for Bugatti, Krizsan sold 11 Veyron models to clients around the world last year, and her efforts have earned her the nickname "The $15 million woman." For comparison's sake, most of the company's salesmen are happy to move three of the ultra cars in a calendar year, and Krizsan's exploits mean she's the worldwide Bugatti sales leader. But getting there has been plenty of work.

The sales rep is available to clients 24 hours a day, and many times, potential customers call her in the middle of the night with questions about the car or its warranty. Krizsan even personally attends every delivery.

What's next for the sales star? She says she wants to see more female buyers in the near future. Right now, there are only four female Veyron owners worldwide. 

Bugatti to debut special Grand Sport Vitesse 'Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille' during Monterey Car Week [UPDATE]

Bugatti has announced that it will offer the Legend, a special-edition run of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse that pays homage to six heroes of the carmaker's long, storied past. Officially the world's fastest car with its top down (try keeping your toupee on at 254 miles per hour), Bugatti will enhance the special Vitesses visually with design cues from the cars that its heroes drove.

The first Legend honors Jean-Pierre Wimille, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice for Bugatti and was one of the company's longest-serving test drivers. He won in 1937, co-driving a 57G Tank with Robert Benoist, and in 1939, co-driving a 57C Tank with Pierre Veyron. Fittingly, the Veyron Legend dedicated to Wimille is blue, just like the 57G that he drove at Le Mans in 1937. In Bugatti's own words, it "now shines in blue clear-coated carbon fiber and a light Wimille Bleu paintwork." The 57G-based design language continues into the interior, with numerous details, such as materials and colors, that represent what Wimille would have experienced driving the Bugatti.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but if you have to ask, you can't afford it. It also should be noted that the Wimille edition Legend will be limited to a production run of three. As for the other five Legend editions? All we know is that they'll be launched over the next 12 months. Look for the Wimille Legend on display next month in Monterey, Calif., at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

In the meantime, scroll down to check out the history-heavy Bugatti press release. No photos of the Veyron Legend were provided, so feel free to visit the gallery we included of the Grand Sport Vitesse's record-setting open-top run.

UPDATE: We now have an official gallery of photos direct from Bugatti, so click above to see the special Veyron, as well as historical pictures of Jean-Pierre Wimille.

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Bugatti celebrates its heroes: "Les Légendes de Bugatti"

- Bugatti commemorates the names that have shaped its history
- Six key figures from the Bugatti annals lend their names to the exclusive Legend edition of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse
- The first Legend, named after racing driver Jean-Pierre Wimille, is to be presented at Pebble Beach

Molsheim, 24th July 2013

Bugatti, a brand with a rich history unique in the car industry, is celebrating its heroes. The French luxury marque will bring out an exclusive edition, "Les Légendes de Bugatti" (Bugatti Legends), to commemorate the renowned names which have played a crucial role in its history and which have helped creating its mystique. In the 90th anniversary year of the 24 Heures du Mans, the first Legend is dedicated to a personality who is central to the history of motor sports and intimately linked with the Bugatti company: Jean-Pierre Wimille, who garnered two victories for Bugatti at Le Mans. The Bugatti Legend "Jean-Pierre Wimille" will make its début in the eyes of the world during Monterey Auto Week in California next month, and be on display at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering (August 16) and The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (August 18). The next 12 months will see the launch of six individual Bugatti Legends based on the Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse.

Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.: "This brand has been in large part defined by outstanding personalities and historically resonant moments. We want to tell the story of the brand through these Bugatti legends, and at the same time create a link between its past and presence."

The Bugatti Legend "Jean-Pierre Wimille" relates to the successes of the eponymous racing driver who won Bugatti two victories at the 24 Heures du Mans: in 1937, driving a Bugatti 57G Tank co-piloted by Robert Benoist, and repeating the feat in 1939, this time supported by Pierre Veyron in a 57C Tank.

The winning race car, a 1937 blue 57G Tank, is the inspiration behind the design of the "Jean-Pierre Wimille" Bugatti Legend. During its the historic race, it appeared in the racing blue finish that habitually identified French racing cars.

Accordingly, this Vitesse now shines in blue clear-coated carbon fibre and a light Wimille Bleu paintwork finish.

The color scheme is continued in the supercar's interior, as Achim Anscheidt, chief designer at Bugatti, explains: "The materials and colors selected, as well as a host of details, all reference the essential characteristics of the classic models driven by those figures to whom our edition pays homage. In each case, this care has resulted in vehicles in which the authenticity of the past is combined with the modern design, the sportive superlative and the luxurious comfort of Bugatti as an icon of the present. With these Bugatti Legends we are giving history a modern makeover."

The six Bugatti Legends are all based on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. This super sports car, launched in Spring 2012, is officially the fastest series roadster in the world since achieving 408,84 km/h (253 MPH) with the top down in April 2013. Centred round an eight-liter W16 engine delivering 1,200 PS, the Vitesse produces unequalled maximum torque of 1,500 Nm (at 3,000 – 5,000 rpm), and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 MPH) in a lightening 2.6 seconds.

The production run for the Bugatti Legend "Jean-Pierre Wimille" will be limited to three vehicles.

About Jean-Pierre Wimille

Jean-Pierre Wimille was one of the longest-serving test drivers at Bugatti. The son of a journalist, he was born in Paris on 26 February 1908 and drove almost exclusively for Bugatti throughout his racing career. With a number of victories already under his belt, in 1933 Ettore Bugatti invited him to take up the position of official test driver for the brand. He joined Bugatti at a point when its last great racing triumphs lay a few years in the past, making the string of victories he brought home to Molsheim over the following years even more significant. In his very first year he came first in the Algerian Grand Prix, then in 1935 he collected the title in the then-famous hill climb at La Turbie near Nice driving a T 59, following this with a second place in the Tunisian Grand Prix and fourth place in Spain.

And it was Jean-Pierre Wimille who brought Bugatti what was to be its last ever racing number one, in 1947 at the Bois de Boulogne, behind the wheel of a 4.7 liter Monoposto Type 59/50 B. Wimille was a world-class driver, who played a key role at Bugatti, especially as the brand's racing era came to an end. His greatest racing achievement was without doubt his twin victories for Bugatti at Le Mans. He died in a car crash in 1949 in Buenos Aires.

About Bugatti

Unlike other automotive brands, Bugatti originated in the field of art. The company founder Ettore Bugatti succeeded in uniting this artistic approach with his technical innovations, thus creating the foundation of a design language that was to mould the Bugatti marque. The result has been a series of vehicles far ahead of their time, and which are today numbered amongst the most valuable classic cars in the world. The brand's central philosophy of "Art, Forme, Technique" is a description of its mystique.

Its history is marked by a host of dazzling automotive masterpieces but also by an unmatched racing record. Although the grand Bugattis such as the 57SC Atlantic or the majestic Royale, are still regarded as superlative, the lightweight, agile and temperamental Type 35, which won Bugatti so many titles, is just as representative of the Bugatti brand. The particular fascination of Bugatti's racing past springs however not only from the race cars themselves but equally from the great race drivers of yesteryear.

Jaguar Project 7

Jaguar's Project 7 concept car will debut at at Goodwood Festival of Speed this Friday.
Not very practical but I am guessing - a lot of fun.

Would you buy one if you had the money?

Check out the video of this high performance, single-seater roadster.

Ford: We didn't overstate C-Max Hybrid mpg, low numbers were a surprise

There's kind of a lot to digest in the news about the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid EPA label change. In fact, as we tried to really understand how and why Ford downrated the car's fuel economy from 47 miles per gallon across the board to 43 mpg (combined, with 45 city and 40 on the highway) we learned about the EPA's so-called "general label rule," how Ford is now claiming it didn't fully understand how hybrid fuel economy is affected by factors like driving speed, break-in miles and temperature and why the C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid – which get counted as the same thing in that general label – are actually two very different beasts. Oh, and that the C-Max Hybrid's fuel economy was never actually tested.

Aside from the $325 or $550 rebates Ford will send to lessees and buyers, we were curious if Ford plans on making any other apologies to C-Max owners for overstating the C-Max fuel economy by six mpg (if we use the pre-software update number, which is what the original mpg figure was based on. More on this below). Todd Nissen, Ford's manager of corporate communications told AutoblogGreen that, "We don't agree with the premise of 'overstating' the fuel economy. As confirmed by the EPA, Ford complied with EPA regulations in generating the C-Max's mpg figures. As you know, they were generated under the general label rule, which is a common industry practice." Let's clarify what that means below.

Let's start with what the general label rule, since that can be pointed to as one cause of the whole problem. Immediately following Ford's mpg update last week, the EPA released more information on the C-Max situation (PDF), including the answer to this question: "Why Did the Old C-Max Label Claim Higher Fuel Economy?"

Developed in 1977, EPA label regulations allow vehicles with the same engine, transmission and weight class to use the same fuel economy label value data, since, historically, such vehicle families achieve nearly identical fuel economy performance. Ford based the 2013 Ford C-Max label on testing of the related Ford Fusion hybrid, which has the same engine, transmission and test weight as allowed under EPA regulations. For the vast majority of vehicles this approach would have yielded an appropriate label value for the car, but these new vehicles are more sensitive to small design differences than conventional vehicles because advanced highly efficient vehicles use so little fuel. In this case, EPA's evaluation found that the C-Max's aerodynamic characteristics resulted in a significant difference in fuel economy from the Fusion hybrid.

Those mpg differences the EPA mentioned, how dramatic were they? The EPA provided a handy chart:



Of course, those are the numbers compared to the C-Max as it stands today, after Ford did a bunch of scrambling this summer in the wake of customer complaints and lawsuits and came up with a software update. That did indeed help the car's fuel economy, and the EPA says that, without it, the C-Max Hybrid would have been rated at 41 mpg (combined, with 42 city and 40 highway).



Let's keep these pre-update numbers in mind, since they are what the original mpg label was based on.

Last week, in a conference call with reporters to announce the mpg rating changes for the hybrid C-Max (which does not affect the plug-in model), Ford's Raj Nair, group vice president for global product development, said:

The C-Max Energi, our plug-in hybrid, and the Fusion Energi, the plug-in hybrid, are under the same general label. But in that case, the C-Max Energi is the high-volume variant, so the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid shares and carries the C-Max label. If we had actually tested the Fusion individually it probably would have had a higher number, but we carry a lower number because the C-Max is the high-volume variant, relative to the plug-in hybrids. (emphasis added)

The general label rule allowed Ford to determined the official C-Max mpg ratings using the Fusion Hybrid numbers (we all know that the EPA doesn't test the vehicles itself, but relies on automakers to conduct the tests and then conducts spot checks. For more, Automotive News has a timeline of the back-and-forth between the automakers and the EPA here). The line about the Fusion being more efficient is key here, since it shows that at some point it was clear to Ford engineers that, given the same powertrain, the Fusion was at least in some ways more efficient than the C-Max. This is confirmed by the EPA's discovery that "the C-Max's aerodynamic characteristics resulted in a significant difference in fuel economy from the Fusion hybrid." The question then becomes: when did Ford know that the C-Max was inherently less efficient than the Fusion, and why did it still use use the Fusion's mpg numbers? This was by all accounts totally legit under the rules, but it does seem to give credence to what Automotive News calls – in an anonymous editorial, no less – a "deception" and "a gross violation of customers' trust."

Apparently, the details of just how different the C-Max Hybrid performs in the real real world is all brand new to Ford, despite almost nine months of the car being on the market and lots and lots of promotion of the 47 mpg as a Prius-buster. Last week, Nair also said:

We've been working with the EPA, recognizing hybrids are seeing a lot more variability than gasoline engines against the label. [They have] much more sensitivity to speed, sensitivity to environment, much more sensitivity to even break-in miles. So, we've been working with the EPA and this test procedure is not a very quick test, there's a lot involved in preparing vehicles for tests and then actually doing the tests and working hand-in-hand with the EPA, we just came to this conclusion fairly recently.

Here's the chart Ford used to illustrate the differences:



We asked Ford about the EPA's numbers and the apparently surprising hybrid discoveries, which struck us as odd since the company has been making hybrid vehicles for years. Nissen told AutoblogGreen:

The results of the EPA certification test of the 2013 C-MAX by itself (outside of the general label) were generated in the last couple of weeks. Those results were the new label values of 45 city, 40 highway and 43 combined. Regarding prior hybrids, the new generation C-Max Hybrid is a very different vehicle than the previous generation Escape Hybrid.

So, that's the backstory and they're sticking to it, but there will certainly be more to come. There have already been class-action lawsuits against Ford over the C-Max Hybrid's fuel economy (and the Fusion Hybrid), but Nissen said, "We are not commenting on the lawsuits or how they may affect owners. Regarding the payments, I can tell you that all 2013 C-Max owners are eligible for the goodwill payments." Nissen also said Ford will not provide any numbers for how many C-Max Hybrids were sold vs. leased, but we did learn the other day that 32,000 C-Max Hybrids are in customer hands. 32,000 chances to learn more.

The Future of Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz

The future of Aston Martin after Mercedes-Benz AMG. Many people may not have heard the recent business deal with the Mercedes-Benz AMG and the Aston Martin. The news is Mercedes-Benz AMG made business agreement with Aston Martin to provide electronics, telematics systems, engines and other things. 

I mentioned about this future marriage in my blog couple of weeks ago. And it is not a surprise at all, there was rumour of Mercedes and Aston Martin business deal for nearly half a decade and now they finalise it. 

Why Aston Martin needs +Mercedes-Benz? Very simple! +Aston Martin does not have enough cash to improve their cars and offer new technology and comfort features. You can easily understand this from the technological features of any Aston Martin, they are old! Aston Martin cannot offer seat ventilation, radar guided cruise control, pre-crash technology, seat massage, and new engines. However, Aston Martin offers the most authentic brand in automotive industry.

On the other hand Mercedes can offer any type of technology you can imagine or you cannot even imagine. However, the problem with Mercedes, their craftsmanship is not as close as to Aston Martin, their design is a bit boring, and Mercedes is not cool at all. When you add all these issues together and the sum is, Mercedes cannot offer a competitive vehicle for Bentley and Rolls Royce. And Maybach brand was failed really badly. So, Mercedes needs a British brand to find a place at the ultra luxury segment and this can be achieved only by engaging with Aston Martin. 

In future, Mercedes may buy the whole Aston Martin and it can be placed under the Daimler AG! And after that, we will see cars that never existed before. Can you imagine the Aston Martin Rapide with the new Mercedes S-Class technologies! I mean that would be fantastic, you have all the technology you need in a car and it is packed with a state-of-art craftsmanship with a way better design.

Don’t be shocked if Mercedes buy the whole Aston Martin and that’s not a bad idea either.