Himafagy

Did you think the Porsche Turbo with the camouflage paint job was strange? Then try this on for size. Japanese streetwear brand Bathing Ape (think Fubu or Marc Ecko from the land of the rising sun) seems to have a knack for taking the most expensive, exclusive high-end automobiles on the market and giving them a "different" paint job.

This repainted Veyron at least remains faithful to Bugatti's two-tone rule: the side panels get a rather unique pink and purple camo job, while the hood and rear panels are in solid Pepto pink. Just as well, 'cause you'll probably need a bottle of Pepto after seeing this, anyway.

Glutton for punishment? There's an almost as revolting image of a camouflaged Rolls Royce Phantom after the jump. Don't think the camouflage will keep it hidden with all that blingin' chrome, though.

[Source: Ed Spivak viaGerman Car Blog]

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While there probably is one or two of you reading this who do actually own a Bugatti Veyron, the other 99.9999999999 percent of us don't and never will. Lots of new car buyers, however, turn to leasing when they want to drive what they can't afford to own. This month's issue ofAutomobile mag reveals what costs are associated with leasing the most powerful andunofficially fastest production car in the world fromPutnam Leasing.


First, if you want to lease a Veyron you'll need to take the college fund you set up for your kids, empty out your 401-K and get an advance on your parents' will to afford the car's $400,000 down payment. Then you'll have to figure out how to scrape together $23,595 for your first month's payment. And then you'll have to repeat that feat another 60 times, as the Veyron is only offered with a five-year lease. You are afforded 2,500 miles a year, which means if you're planning on using the Bugatti as a daily driver you'll be taking the bus a lot. There's no word on what the penalty is for going over that limit, but expect to forego a 50-inch plasma TV for every mile over.


When all is said and done you will have shelled out $1,815,700 for the privilege of driving a Bugatti Veyron without the hassles of ownership, which happens to be over $400,000 more than the car's $1.4 million Buy-it-Now price. D'oh!


[Source: Automobile]

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This came as a bit of a shock to us, but the Bugatti Veyron is not actually the fastest production car in the world according to that authoritative tome of useless and wonderful knowledge, the Guinness Book of World of Records. It seem Bugatti just never got around to scheduling an official high-speed run that could be officially considered by Guinness. In late October, Bugatti plans to rectify that and make an official top speed run at the Ehra Lessien test track near VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. The track has an unbroken straight of 9 km (5.6 miles), which should offer ample room to reach the Veyron's "unofficial" top speed of at least 253 mph. Currently the Veyron only holds the record for the Most Powerful Production Car.


If the official fastest production vehicle isn't the Veyron, then what is? The answer is the Koenigsegg CCR, the 806-hp super Swede that has been officially clocked at 245 mph. The Veyron may not be king of the hill for long, however, as the CCX that Autoblogger Frank Filipponio got to pilot can theoretically reach 258 mph.


[Source: Motor Authority]

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New U.S. airbag rules going into effect in September could be a disaster in the making for supercar maker Bugatti. Apparently complying with the new rules will require a redesign of the Veyron, increasing the price of the car more than $125,000.


In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency, Bugatti president Thomas Bscher said the requirement for "smart" airbags "could well put Bugatti out of business," citing the domino effects of costly redesign of the current car, cuts in production and delay in the introduction of its next model.


A number of low volume automakers have applied for an exemption to the rule, including Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Spyker, Lotus and Morgan.


If the NHTSA grants Bugatti's requested two-year exemption, it will only affect the 150 cars it hopes to build for the U.S. market before introducing its next version, which presumably will include smart air bags. Lamborghini is similarly affected only for its current models - the next-gen Murcielago, due out in 2009, will comply with the new rules.


[Source Financial Times via MSNBC]

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Perhaps Bugatti got a little open-air envy after seeing the

t-tops on Richard Losee's Ferrari Enzo, as we've just learned the Veyron will be shedding its roof in 2008 when the company introduces a targa version of its superlative exotic with a laminated glass roof panel developed by the same firm responsible for the Volkswagen Eos's folding hardtop. Since the Veyron's packaging is so tight, Inside Line reports that the roof panel cannot be stored on board. To compensate, Bugatti will develop a fabric panel that can be pulled in place to protect the car's interior from the elements if need arises.



Developing the Veyron Targa will involve strengthening the windshield and other structural modifications, so Bugatti will use carbon fiber for the car's doors and hood. The grille and the headlights, which will now turn with the wheels, will also be restyled. These changes should also be ported over to the coupe eventually.



The Veyron Targa's top speed of 217 mph will be lower than the coupe's upper bound of 253 mph, but that should be enough to keep it ahead of Losee's T-Top Enzo.



[Source: Inside Line]

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