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Bugatti Veyron Car Review

Posted by Duckeldannys Money Blog under: Cars; General; Reviews; Technology .

bugatti veyron car review moneybugatti veyron car review moneyThe Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is a mid-engine sports car produced by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS introduced in 2005. It is the quickest accelerating and decelerating road-legal production car in the world, and it was the world’s fastest car until it was beaten by the SSC Ultimate Aero TT in 2007. Powered by a 1,001 PS (987 hp/736 kW) W16 engine,[2] it is able to achieve an average top speed of 408.47 km/h (253.81 mph).[3] The car reached full production in September 2005, and is handcrafted in a factory Volkswagen built near the former Bugatti headquarters in Château St Jean in Molsheim (Alsace, France). It is named after French racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm.

bugatti veyron blog

Manufacturer
Bugatti Automobiles SAS

Parent company
Volkswagen AG

Production
2005-present
(approx. 300 to be produced)

Assembly
Molsheim, Alsace, France

Predecessor
Bugatti EB110

Body style(s)
2-door coupe

bugatti moneyblog

Layout
mid-engine, all-wheel drive

Engine(s)
8.0 L quad-turbocharged W16

Transmission(s)
7-speed DSG sequential manual

Wheelbase
2710 mm (106.69 in)

Length
4462 mm (175.67 in)

Width
1998 mm (78.66 in)

Height
1204 mm (47.4 in)
at normal position

Curb weight
1888 kg (4162.33 lb)

Fuel capacity
100 L (26 US gal/22 imp gal)

Designer
Hartmut Warkuss, and Jozef Kabaň

bugatti duckeldannys money blog

Technorati Tags: bugatti, car, review, veyron


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Used Ford Fiesta - Don't Miss The Deals

Written by AutoHugger

Whilst all the fuss surrounding the brand new Ford Fiesta is going on, the savvy and economically minded amongst us have spotted the ideal opportunity to bag ourselves a recession-busting bargain. Anybody who is considering buying a Ford Fiesta in the not-too-distant future is automatically going to hone in on the brand new model. These people are missing out on one of the greatest money-saving bargains available on the car market, but it’s certainly not one that I am going to turn my nose up at.

Now that the entire population are clamouring over themselves to get hold of the new Fiesta, you will find a whole host of the previous model at unbelievable discounts, especially if they are ex-demo or nearly new. The 04-08 model Fiestas are going to have trouble shifting off the forecourts with the brand new model available, so the dealerships are going to start slashing prices like they were in some kind of low-budget 70’s horror film.

This is extremely good news if you want a Ford Fiesta, but aren’t overly bothered about remaining on the cusp of fashion at all times. As a man with no sense of fashion, I firmly fit into this category.

The previous model Fiesta was an almost perfect combination of form and engineering that looked and performed akin to a slightly scaled down Ford Focus. With a veritable wealth of engines and trims available, there is bound to be a used Ford Fiesta to suit everyone’s tastes. The only issue is which Fiestas are available at which dealers? That, my friends, is where the bargain hunt begins.

After routing around the web briefly, I found a huge amount of nearly new Ford Fiestas with discounts that almost made my hat fall off. For around £5,000 you can get a 2 year old Fiesta Zetec 1.4litre, with less than 13,000 miles on the clock. Just a matter of months ago this very model would have been worth almost double that, or maybe more!

If you’re looking for a vehicle to just get you around the town on a weekend, how about a 1.25Litre Zetec Climate, with less than 15,000 miles on the clock for less than £5,000? The offers you can take advantage of if you look in the right places are amazing.

This is a great time for first-time car buyers as well. A Used Ford Fiesta is the perfect car for new drivers as it combines, safety, practicality, economical driving and looks the part as well. With the initial cost-effective outlay of being a used Ford Fiesta, you can concentrate on using the rest of your cash upgrading the stereo, or paying the ridiculously high insurance rates for new drivers.

Whilst all the posers and trendy-types are queuing up and joing mailing lists for the new Fiesta, you could get one today, at a fraction of the price, which has practically the same engine and specification as the new model. So unless you are highly concerned about the exterior aesthetic of your car, can you really afford to ignore these bargains.

So I guess I’ll see you down the dealerships then!

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GM Sales Decline Improves; Toyota Tanks

GM, Ford and Honda post lowest sales declines this year, while Nissan and Toyota record steepest slides.

By Chrissie Thompson of AutoWeek

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon (© General Motors)

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Ford, Honda and General Motors posted their lowest sales declines of the year in April, while Nissan and Toyota had their largest, as the industry improved from depressed levels of February and March.
Drops of 33 percent at Ford and GM were in line with analysts' forecasts, as was Honda's 25.3 percent slide. Nissan's 37.8 percent fall and Toyota U.S.A.'s 41.9 percent tumble were steeper than forecasts.

For the second straight month, no automaker posted a sales increase. The April total slipped to 819,817 U.S. light vehicles, a 34.3 percent decline from a year earlier and the smallest drop since October. Autos sold at a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 9.5 million units, below analysts' projections but another increase from February's 9.1 million rate, which was a 27-year low.

"Reports that the light-vehicle sales rate could reach 10 million units turned out to be somewhat exaggerated," Ford sales analyst George Pipas said today during a conference call.

Daimler AG's sales fell 30.7 percent, including a 49.9 percent plunge for smart minicars. That marked the first decline this year for the smart brand, introduced in January 2008. Subaru, one of the few automakers to post a sales increase through March, fell 6.7 percent in April for its sharpest decline this year.

Ford Outsells Toyota
Ford's sales had dropped more than 40 percent in each of the first three months of the year. Its April decline included a 36.9 percent slide at Volvo. Sales of its traditional Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models fell 31.3 percent. Ford outsold Toyota for the first time since March 2008.

Ford executives said the sales pace degraded in the final week of the month. Pipas attributed the slowdown in part to the "CNN effect." He said uncertain customers stayed away from showrooms in the wake of reports about turmoil at Chrysler and at General Motors.

Chrysler posted a 48.1 percent decline for April, a day after filing for bankruptcy. General Motors is at risk of filing within a month.

The month's results "fell a little short of our expectations, and we believe it was because of more turbulence in the minds of the consumer as to what was going on," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of U.S. sales and marketing.

April marked the 18th straight year-over-year sales drop. Analysts predict a sales recovery in the second half of the year, as the United States struggles to climb out of a recession that's also in its 18th month — the longest since the Great Depression.

Sales to individual customers "continued at about the same selling rate as February and March," said Mark LaNeve, GM's North American sales chief, in a statement. GM's better results were "largely driven by a return to more normal volumes of fleet sales," the company said in a statement.

At Chrysler, co-President Jim Press said a 66 percent decline in fleet sales was the biggest drag on April numbers. Retail sales fell 39 percent, he said.

Consumers Poised?
Sales that have hovered between a 9 million- and 10 million-unit rate this year are signs of stability, said GM sales analyst Mike DiGiovanni.

"Consumers could be poised to start spending some money," he said. "They're taking a wait-and-see attitude."

Earlier this week, the Conference Board, a market information group, reported that its consumer confidence index had increased to 39.2 in April from 26.9 in March. That's still down from 62.8 in April 2008. As a reference, the board says the level of consumer confidence in 1985 was 100.

Six analysts surveyed by Automotive News and three dozen economists in a Reuters poll had predicted an average April sales rate of 9.8 million units.

The rate rose in April despite incentives declining about 4 percent from March levels to $3,031 per vehicle, according to Edmunds.com data. That's still up almost 30 percent from April 2008. Of the biggest automakers, Chrysler spent the most on incentives: $4,288 per sale.

Among GM's eight brands, the smallest declines came from the four it said this week it would keep: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. Chevrolet declined the least: 26.7 percent.

Richard Truett, Jamie LaReau and Amy Wilson contributed to this report.

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Volkswagen’s World Car of the Year Shows Important Trend

Written by TalentZoo

Volkswagen drivers must be proud of the carmaker’s latest achievement. The newest version of the VW hatchback, or Golf MkVI, has been named the 2009 World Car of the Year.

The top three contenders for the annual title were the Ford Fiesta, Toyota iQ, and the Golf. Others that were shortlisted included the Audi A4, BMW 7-series, Citroen C5, Fiat 500, Honda Jazz, Jaguar XF, Mazda6 and Nissan GT-R. The WCOTY jury consists of 59 prominent motoring writers from 25 countries.

Now I know what you’re thinking.

1. All three front-runners were compact and fuel-efficient cars.
2. Cars such as the legendary GT-R and the ultra-luxurious 7-series were beaten by a freakin’ Fiesta.

This is yet another sign in the automotive industry that consumers are increasingly veering away from the more powerful and established vehicles in exchange for cheaper and more convenient alternatives. Let’s take a look at the previous winners of the WCOTY.

2005 - Audi A6
2006 - BMW 3-series
2007 - Lexus LS460
2008 - Mazda2/Mazda Demio

The trend is especially apparent between ‘07 and ‘08, where the winner went from a luxurious sedan to a 3-door hatchback. This is certainly not to say that the WCOTY will be favoring smaller cars from now on, but the winner most definitely reflects the current direction of the automotive industry as well as the mindset of consumers.

Some of you may remember my past entry on GM and Chrysler and their need to adopt a more specialized approach towards their products. No, I’m not talking about risking their brand identity by joining the compact/fuel-efficient party. Specialize by getting down the whole electric motor technology first, then worry about the rest later — that’s if GM and Chrysler still have a “later.”

Jon Leung is a blog warrior with a passion for brand marketing and digital media due to his experience in related fields. He now plans to enroll in the Management program at the prestigious Cass Business School in London this fall. Catch his ramblings on Beneath the Brand and Digital Pivot or stalk him on Twitter.

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Hang On For Dear Life

New Mercedes E63 is a clear alternative to BMW M and Audi S models.

By Bob Gritzinger of AutoWeek

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG (© Mercedes-Benz USA)

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance division chief, Volker Mornhinweg, offers this procedure for those who want to get the most out of the all-new 2010 E63 AMG:

Step 1. Fully depress brake pedal.
Step 2. Shift transmission to D.
Step 3. Switch electronic stability program to sport mode.
Step 4. Switch transmission to race-start mode.
Step 5. Click upshift paddle to confirm.
Step 6. Fully depress accelerator pedal.
Step 7. Release brake.

To that process, we might add a precautionary Step 8, "Hang on for dear life," because this version of the all-new E-class sedan looks like a rocket just waiting for someone to light the fuse.
Set for its global debut at the New York auto show, the high-performance E63 AMG will arrive in November, following the midsummer release of the 2010 E-class sedan and coupe. And while the new E-class is a surprise in itself, the E63 is more of a shocker — a statement that the E-class is leaping well beyond its staid past to establish itself as a clear alternative to BMW's M sedans and Audi's S models, among others.

Completely restyled sheetmetal — along with powertrain, suspension, interior and safety-equipment improvements — highlight the 2010 model. The E63 picks up much of the reborn E-class styling, taking it to an extreme level with wider fenders, side skirts, AMG-specific front and rear fascias and quad rectangular tailpipes. Inside, sport seats and a four-spoke AMG steering wheel with shift paddles and a center-console-mounted shift lever are among the special features.

Under the hood, the 6.3-liter V8 continues from the previous model, with improvements that increase horsepower by 11, to 518 hp (torque remains at 465 lb-ft). At the same time, fuel economy is up by 12 percent (to more than 17 mpg combined) thanks to more efficient engine management and reduced cylinder-wall friction, along with the shift to the multidisc wet-clutch AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed automatic transmission. It's that tranny, previously offered only in the SL63 AMG, that promises the largest jump in the E63's fun-for-the-money ratio, featuring the race-start option, which provides maximum possible acceleration, along with four other settings: controlled efficiency, sport, sport plus and manual.Chassis upgrades include AMG's newly developed electronic ride and damping control, which uses air springs in the rear to maintain constant height and variable shock settings to reduce body roll. A new front axle, with a wider track and a design that migrates from the C63 AMG, improves grip, while a 22-percent-quicker steering ratio adds responsiveness and precision.

An optional AMG Performance Package adds 19-inch wheels and tires, a stiffer suspension, a partially locking rear differential and a three-spoke AMG steering wheel. Oh, and a revised top speed of 186 mph (up from 155 mph).

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Chevy Camaro Gets Super-Tuned

Motor magician John Hennessey increases this new muscle car’s power to 562 horses.

By Dale Jewett of AutoWeek

Hennessey Performance HPE550 Camaro (© Hennessey Performance)

Hennessey Performance HPE550 Camaro

The 6.2-liter V8 in the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS cranks out 426 hp or 400 hp, depending on the transmission choice.

But there are some people out there who want more. With a higher-performance Z28 Camaro from the factory on the back shelf as General Motors battles for survival, aftermarket tuners are ready to fill the void.

Among the first out of the gate is Hennessey Performance Engineering of Houston, Texas, with its HPE550 Camaro.

Bolting a Magnuson/Hennessey supercharger and Corsa stainless-steel exhaust system onto GM's LS3 V8 enables Hennessey to crank up the output to 562 hp at 6,200 rpm and 557 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm.

Hennessey says that powertrain will rocket the Camaro from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, compared with runs in the 5.0-second range in the stock Camaro SS with a manual transmission. Hennessey says the reworked Camaro will cover the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds with a top speed of 119 mph.

How much damage does this do you to bank account? Hennessey says the parts for the HPE550 Camaro — which include high-flow fuel injectors, air induction, aluminum wheels and an aerodynamics package — will sell for $18,950 plus shipping charges, but that leaves the installation up to you.

Hennessey will create the HPE550 for you for $24,950 plus shipping (plus the $31,000 base price of a Camaro SS.) Buyers also get a half-day class at the Lonestar Motorsports Park drag strip, next door to Hennessey's facility. There also is a menu of upgrade options, which include brake and suspension changes and an automatic transmission. Hennessey plans to build a maximum of 500 units for the 2010 model year.But wait! You say the HPE550 still isn't enough? Then Hennessey will steer you toward dropping in a 705-hp version of the LS9 V8 from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. The company hired racer and retired GM engineer John Heinricy as developer and test driver. The LS9 upgrade will set you back a mere $39,500.

And it gets even crazier from there. Hennessey offers 850-hp and 1,000-hp twin-turbo upgrades, for $54,500 and $59,500, respectively.

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Although the EPA rates the 2010 Fusion Hybrid at 42 mpg in the city, you can almost double that with a little effort and a light foot.

By Greg Migliore of AutoWeek

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (© Ford Motor Company)

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid gets up to 41 mpg — officially. But with a little effort, you can easily double that.

That's what a team of Ford engineers, a hypermiling legend and NASCAR star Carl Edwards managed to pull off this week, registering an average of 81.5 mpg in a 1,445.7-mile journey designed to show off the eco prowess of the new hybrid sedan.

The crew left Mount Vernon, Va., on Saturday morning and finished on the George Washington Parkway in Washington, running out of gas just before dawn. They clicked off the 1,000-mile mark — the original goal — Monday morning, with Edwards at the wheel.

The EPA has rated the Fusion Hybrid at 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway, besting other hybrids including the Toyota Camry. By using hypermiling techniques, such as accelerating smoothly and coasting to red lights, the Fusion drivers were able to considerably increase the car's fuel economy.

Its official estimated range is 700 miles on a tank of gas, which the hypermilers doubled. The car was not modified and drove around Washington nearly continuously for 69 hours.

The drivers had hoped to get 57 mpg, but were able to easily better that. Other mileage tricks included closing the windows to reduce drag, shutting off the heater and air conditioner to cut the strain on the engine, and using momentum to help carry the car up and down hills.

They broke up the drive into two- and three-hour stints. Edwards, fresh off a dramatic crash Sunday at Talladega that saw his No. 99 car get airborne, said he was excited to be a part of the drive. He noted that he owns a Fusion Hybrid.

Hypermiler Wayne Gerdes also was part of the team, which raised $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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Fiat, Magna in Rival Bid for Opel

A bidding war over GM subsidiary Opel has emerged between Fiat and auto parts supplier Magna International.

By John Revill of AutoWeek

2009 Opel Insignia (© Rod Hatfield)

2009 Opel Insignia

Fiat S.p.a. and Magna International Inc. are emerging as rival bidders for a significant stake in General Motors' Opel/Vauxhall subsidiary.

Magna International and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska are considering taking a 50 percent share in Opel, Canada's Globe and Mail reported on Monday.

Magna would purchase about 20 per cent of Opel and Deripaska would possibly combine with Russian banks to pick up another 30 per cent, the newspaper said.

German politicians and Opel's union bosses say Fiat wants a controlling stake in Opel.

Italian sources told Automotive News Europe that Fiat and Magna are rival investors in Opel.

Fiat is sweetening its bid by offering to build its Punto hatchback in Opel's plant in Eisenach, Germany, to help maximize the plant's production capacity, German daily Handlesblatt reported Tuesday. The Punto shares its platform with the Opel Corsa, which is built at Eisenach.

Magna Plan for Opel 'Interesting'
Opel's union chiefs and some German politicians have spoken out against Fiat taking a stake in Opel. They fear massive job cuts, plant closures and believe a partnership would not work because there is too much overlap between the brands.

Fiat has pledged to maintain all of Opel's four German production sites should it acquire the company, Der Spiegel reported at the weekend.

Fiat's reported offer to build the Punto in Eisenach and keep open Opel factories did not impress union representatives.

"It changes nothing," Opel's works council chairman Klaus Franz told Handlesblatt.

German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg met senior representatives of Magna on Tuesday to discuss its possible investment in Opel. After the meeting, Guttenberg said Magna had presented an interesting initial rough plan to invest in Opel.

Guttenberg added that the government still needed hard facts and figures from GM to back up Magna's plans for Opel.

Cash-strapped GM is carving out German-based Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall into a separate unit and is seeking outside equity investors to give Opel a major cash infusion.

GM must sell a significant stake in Opel to convince German politicians to provide billions of euros in loan guarantees to the carmaker and, with an election due in September, the government is anxious to find a way of saving jobs at the company.

GM Favors Single Bidder
GM favors one major investor rather than a combination of bidders but wants to retain a stake in a new independent Opel, a company source familiar with the negotiations told ANE.

GM wants to agree a memorandum of understanding with a bidder in the next two to three weeks, the source said.

GM CEO Fritz Henderson told news conference Monday that talks between Opel and several parties interested in investing in the automaker will continue until mid-May.

Henderson said GM would retain a substantial interest in Opel's European business.

A GM Europe spokesman said: "We continue to aggressively work to secure third party investment. Time is of the essence. It is a complex situation with several parties in the mix and this is going to take some time."

Douglas A. Bolduc and Reuters contributed.

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