Continuation Cars: Are They Resurrecting Heritage or Trading on Brand History?

Bentley’s Speed Six Revival: A Thoughtful Tribute or a Commercial Exploitation of Racing Legacy? Bentley’s Speed Six Revival: Honoring History or Stuck in the Past?” The most successful Bentley racing car ever, the Speed Six is regarded as one of the most important Bentleys in history. The newest Speed Six – Car Zero – will … Read more

The ultimate service for the ultimate coachbuilt car: Lotus Type 62-2 Coachbuilt By Radford

  In many ways, it’s a real challenge creating a tribute to a historic car – because nothing is quite the same as on a contemporary car. Inherently, the wheels are bigger, the overhangs are longer, and the cockpit and engine position are different. Engineered using Lotus technologies, Type 62-2 Coachbuilt By Radford will be … Read more

Ferrari 488 converted by Touring Superleggera into this striking Arese RH95 anniversary edition

    Arese RH 95: Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera 95th Anniversary Car. Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera celebrates nine decades in the tuning business with Arese RH 95 supercar, a new model based probably on Ferrari 488 Pista. The name is reflecting 95 years of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera heritage and the company’s commitment to the future at … Read more

Configuration Made To Order on Request: The High Art of Coachbuilding Perfected by Bugatti

    Bugatti Divo Configuration Made To Order on Request The high art of coachbuilding has been perfected by Bugatti and its partners in the 1920’s and resumed by Bugatti in recent years with the Divo, whose individuality is pervading into each element of this unique hyper sports car. Bugatti Divo is undoubtedly one of … Read more

Curtains up for the Bugatti Divo at The Quail – a modern interpretation of Bugatti’s coachbuilding tradition

 

The good and beautiful automotive news is that Bugatti unveiled its latest Divo model in California. But the strictly limited small series of 40 vehicles is already sold out.

Bugatti DIvo supercar
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti

At the exclusive automotive event “The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering“ in Monterey, California, Bugatti has presented its latest model as a world premiere. Divo is powered by Bugatti’s iconic eight-litre W16 engine with a power output of 1,500 PS. Upon the start of presentations to selected customers, the strictly limited small series, with a net unit price of €5 million, sold out immediately.

“When I took up my position at Bugatti at the beginning of the year, I soon learnt that our customers and fans were waiting for a special vehicle which would tell a further story for the brand in addition to the Chiron,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “The Bugatti team was also very eager to implement a project like this.”

It was therefore decided to build a super sports car with a different character from the Chiron which would still be immediately recognizable as a Bugatti.

With the Divo, Bugatti is also reviving its coachbuilding tradition. In its first few decades, the French luxury brand had considerable success with bodies built to its own design and installed on existing chassis.

Bugatti DIvo
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti

“The feedback from our customers was overwhelming,” the Bugatti President reports. “We showed the Divo to a small group of selected Chiron customers. All 40 cars were sold immediately – this was fantastic confirmation for the Bugatti team which had put so much dedication and passion into the project.”

“The Divo is a further project intended to thrill people and the world,” Winkelmann adds. “Our fans are very important to us.”

The supercar is named after Albert Divo, a French racing driver who was a two-time winner of the famous Targa Florio race on the mountainous roads of Sicily with Bugatti in the late 1920s.

The newly-designed, wide front spoiler provides higher downforce and guides more air to the front air inlets. The cooling system therefore receives a higher mass flow and overall cooling performance is improved.

Bugatti DIvo wheels
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti
Bugatti DIvo - interior
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti

The main objective of chassis development work was to improve cornering dynamics; the Divo was to be sharper, more agile and more nimble. For this purpose, the camber was increased. As a result the maximum speed of the Divo is limited to 380 km/h. In contrast to the Chiron, there is therefore no Top Speed mode. As regards lateral acceleration, the Divo reaches 1.6 g. These changes alone ensure a perceptibly different
driving experience on winding roads.

The two-tone colour scheme also intensifies the forceful impression created by the rear. The fenders are painted in “Titanium Liquid Silver” with a matt finish and are optically distinguished from the parts which control airflow at the rear end. Air outlets, rear spoiler and diffuser have a carbon finish.

“Divo Racing Blue”, a bright turquoise blue shade developed especially for the Divo, underlines the three-dimensional character of the three surfaces leading to the air inlets and outlets on the front, sides and rear, creating dynamically contrasting effects.

Another stylistic link between interior and exterior is created by the door trims and seat areas, which feature an embroidered three-dimensional rhomboid structure with an algorithmic configuration, reinterpreting the structure of the grille and rear lights.

Technical innovations in the interior include the seats, which not only feature a new design but offer greater lateral support. The steering wheel is partly covered with Alcantara and has larger paddles fitted firmly on both sides of the wheel. Thanks to larger armrests and calf supports, the central console ensures greater comfort.

Bugatti DIvo supercar from above
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti
Bugatti DIvo lateral
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti
Bugatti DIvo Front
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti
Bugatti DIvo details
Bugatti Divo supercar; photos: bugatti

MV Agusta F4Z super motorbike – Zagato’s digression beyond the car universe

The MV Agusta F4Z presented by Zagato at this year’s international Concours d’Elegance Chantilly  Arts & Elegance, goes beyond traditional customization to become a collectible Atelier motorbike.  The starting point was the notion that a motorbike expresses its owner’s lifestyle a lot more than a car. MV Agusta has attained international renown for its advanced … Read more