2013 Bugatti SuperVeyron

1600 HP Bugatti SuperVeyron in the works

Anyone who thought the Bugatti speed legacy was going to quit at 1200 HP may be in for a big surprise once the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show gets underway. According to Automobilemag, the French manufacturer is working on a 1600 HP version of the Veryron and have dubbed it the "SuperVeyron."

The new Bugatti SuperVeyron is supposed to incorporate extensive use of carbon fiber, shaving off about 550 lbs from the Veyron Super Sport’s total weight of 4052 lbs. Under the hood, Bugatti will place an 8.0-liter (or 9.6-liter) engine that will deliver an amazing 1600 HP, and a power-to-weight ratio of one kg (2.2 pounds) per hp thanks to the amazing weight loss. With these additions, the new SuperVeyron will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 1.8 seconds, while top speed will be raised from the current 259 HP up to an impressive 288 mph.

Next to the extra power, the new supercar will also get new designs for the front and rear with even more sophisticated active aerodynamics.

If these reports are true, then all of this will come in at a not-so-bargain price of over $2.5 million.

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Kobe Bryant Scores A Ferrari 458 Italia For $329,000 wow!!

For "normal" folks like us, making a six-figure purchase is tantamount to being kicked out of the house and forced to sleep on the curb. But for people like professional basketball player, Kobe Bean Bryant, $329,000 is pretty much chump change.

Sure, his recent divorce cost him half his fortune, but Kobe’s still got plenty of Benjamins coming his way, which makes his recent purchase of a 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia not much of a big deal to the Mamba. He paid for it full, too, with a check, which pretty much tells you that this is like buying groceries for this guy.

The price Kobe paid for his 458 Italia is about $100,000 more than the MSRP price of the Italian supercar, which leads to speculation - at least from our end - that he probably tricked out his new toy with plenty of additional options.

Either that or Kobe just got hosed for 100 grand by the dude who sold him the car.

In deference to the man, we’d prefer to believe the former since Kobe has never been shy about his growing fleet of exotics, particularly those with Italian heritage to it.

After all, he did grow up in Italy.

gallery:2010 Ferrari 458 Italia

 

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2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Read More: Luxury Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Reviews, Test Drives

Test Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

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2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Click image to enlarge

Related links More Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG reviews on Autos.ca Manufacturer’s web site Mercedes-Benz Canada

Review and photos by Peter Bleakney

Photo Gallery:
2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG may have been the worst choice for our relaxed summer tour of Niagara wine country.

To clarify, this is by no means a slag on Mercedes-Benz’s brilliant reinterpretation of its legendary 1955 300SL Gullwing. In fact, this retro-modern projectile is worth every penny of its $198,000 asking price, in my opinion.

It’s just that my wife, Claire, bless her heart, has a slight aversion to sudden g-forces of the lateral and linear variety; and bellowing V8’s; and heavy right feet. She also has no problem expressing her distaste for hooliganism at the wheel by jabbing said offender in the right shoulder with great swiftness.

Thus my conundrum.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Click image to enlarge

You see, as soon as that gullwing door swung shut I discovered an additional passenger within. That would be the Devil, perched on my left shoulder and goading me towards all kinds of wickedness. “Come on you wimp, plant it! What’s a night on the couch?” It didn’t help that this car was jet black. Temptation, I know thy name.

While the SLS’s party trick is a pair of roof-hinged doors, it’s what lives under that long hood that gives Beelzebub such sway – an AMG-designed, 563-hp 6,208 cc, naturally-aspirated V8 that brings 469 lb.-ft. of torque to the party.

If ever a car could justify its price on sound alone, the SLS AMG might be the one. Pressing the start button on the centre console awakens the hand-built V8, bringing it to an ominous idle. Blip the throttle and the revs jump like there’s no flywheel. From there on it bellows like the hounds of hell, wailing to a metallic 7,250 rpm redline.

But it doesn’t stop here. On overrun, there is a cacophony of burbles, blats and pops spewing from the twin tailpipes that only a conservatively muffled large-displacement bent-eight can provide.

Hell yeah!

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Click image to enlarge

As we burbled our way along the bucolic roads of wine country, I told the devil to shut his cake hole, respected Claire’s wishes (and her left jab) and relied on my memory of past road and track experiences in the SLS AMG to enliven the drive.

Despite its appearance, sound and layout, the 2011 SLS AMG is not an untamed rear-drive beast waiting to bite you at the first opportunity. Sure, it’s not the dynamic equal of a Porsche Turbo S or Audi R8, but its brand of retro-brutish performance is easily accessible. It is neutrally balanced, shows astounding grip and very quick turn in. With the standard limited-slip rear differential, you can put the power down hard and early when exiting corners.

And that long hood is not just for show – the dry-sump V8 is nestled low and well back behind the front wheels. It connects to the new 7-speed dual-clutch rear transaxle (developed in conjunction with Getrag) via a 167 cm carbon-fibre drive shaft. The SLS brags a 48/52 front to rear weight bias.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Click image to enlarge

As might be expected, visibility from within is not great, but the simple cabin is exquisitely crafted with deeply bolstered Nappa leather seats, large rotary vents and silver-faced gauges that hark back to earlier times. This car benefited from a $5,100 extended interior carbon fibre trim package on top of the “regular” $5,000 carbon fibre upgrade. Yikes!

With the optional $1,700 AMG sport suspension, the ride is hardly cosseting, but neither does it punish. The steering is surely accurate, although not as tactile as in the Audi or Porsche.

Claire: “Aww, look at the new-born lambs.”

The Devil: “Hey loser. Here comes a big sweeper. I dare you.”

Me: “Shut up!”

Claire: “Pardon?”

And so it went.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Click image to enlarge

A rotary switch on the centre console gives the driver a choice of four shift maps. Controlled Efficiency (C) is the most relaxed – it starts in second gear – while Sport (S) gives 20 per cent faster shifts with rev-matching on downshifts. Sport Plus (S+) further sharpens shift time and Manual gives complete control over upshifting. There is also an RS (race start) launch control setting.

The ESP (electronic stability control) has three levels: normal, the more lenient sport mode and off. Once you’ve tailored the car to your liking, this dynamic cocktail can be stored and called up via the AMG button.

This tester was fitted with the optional $14,200 carbon ceramic brakes. Yup, you read that right. For track work, these lightweight units make sense, but compared to the standard steel units, they are grabby, harder to modulate and are prone to squeak.

After parking on the main drag in Niagara of the Lake, I popped the doors and started taking pictures. Within minutes it became almost a mob scene. The car was surrounded by gawkers and cell-phone snappers. One girl actually jumped in so her boyfriend could take a picture. Did the Devil make her do it?

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Click image to enlarge

Time for our getaway: I politely shoed them off, and cleared the crowd with a couple of jabs on the happy pedal.

And then, as I approached the on-ramp to the QEW, it happened. My right hand (involuntarily, mind you) reached down and selected Sport Plus. My left hand tickled the paddle and flicked down a trio of gears. My right foot… well, you know.

The SLS squatted for half a beat, the massive rear 295/30ZR20-inch Contis did a quick sidestep and then we bolted like a raging feral beast, powering through in a beautifully defined arc.

The only thing louder than the exhaust was a strange cackling in my left ear.

Pricing: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Base price: $198,000 Options: $37,500 (AMG 19-inch/20-inch 10-spoke forged alloys, $2,800; carbon ceramic brakes, $14,200; interior carbon fibre trim, $5,000; extended interior carbon fibre trim, $5,100, exterior carbon fibre trim, $2,200; carbon fibre engine compartment cover, $6,000; AMG performance steering wheel, $550; AMG sport suspension, $1,700) A/C tax: $100 Freight: $1,995 Price as tested: $237,645

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