Want a dealer-maintained...
Want a dealer-maintained car? Then go for a Japanese model, as you’re most likely to get a franchised service history with a second-hand Honda or Toyota. A survey by research firm You Gov found Honda owners most regularly go to the official network (44 per cent), with Toyota drivers second at 29 per cent. Ford garages finished second bottom, with only 19.5 per cent of owners using them.
It"s the Veyron for...
It"s the Veyron for all the family! This is our best look yet at the stunning Bugatti Royale ò€“ a four-door four-seater thatò€™s set to take the famous firm into a new market.
With the Ò£900,000, 253mph Veyron 16.4 already crowned the worldò€™s most expensive and fastest supercar, Bugatti is seeking to go a step further: it will celebrate its 100th anniversary by unveiling this hyper-saloon at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Inspired by the legendary 1927 Type 41 Royale, the new model would be as expensive as its brother and be available in a very limited production run for the companyò€™s most loyal customers. As you can see, the exterior echoes the Veyronò€™s, while inside the cabin will offer unparalleled luxury, with the finest leather, suede and metal trim in addition to seating for four people and a luggage compartment at the rear.
Bugatti wonò€™t be embarking on the project alone, though. Itò€™s rumoured that the firm will team up with fellow VW Group luxury manufacturer Bentley in developing a new front-engined limousine platform. As well as underpinning the Royale, the chassis would be used on the next Arnage. However, the new Bugatti will keep much of the technology seen on the Veyron, such as its four-wheel-drive set-up and 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine, although this will be mounted at the front.
With the same 987bhp and 1,250Nm of torque, the Royale should cover 0-60mph in three seconds and hit a 250mph top speed, making it the fastest four-seater in the world. It will also feature the same seven-speed twin-clutch transmission ò€“ developed by UK firm Ricardo ò€“ along with that Haldex clutch-equipped all-wheel drive. There will be active aerodynamics, a Veyron-style hydraulic rear wing that rises at speed, huge carbon composite brake discs and adaptive dampers, too.
The current economic downturn means the Royale is still some way off. But with McLaren Automotive boss Ron Dennis predicting a return to growth in 2011, just in time for the launch of his companyò€™s P11 supercar (see Issue 1,060), expect the four-door to go on sale in three yearsò€™ time.
In further celebration of its 100th birthday, Bugattiis also planning to launch a 1,350bhp ò€˜superò€™ Veyron later this year, along with additional special editions.