Author: Park Place

Bugatti has transformed a virtual project into tangible reality. The virtual concept Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo, which it developed in cooperation with Polyphony Digital Inc., creator of the Gran Turismo video game franchise, as a real show car. The design of the virtual race car is celebrating Bugatti’s racing history and is based on state-of-the-art motor sport technology. The project is the brand’s tribute to its great racing tradition of the 1920s and 1930s and its victories in Le Mans 24-hour races.

“The Bugatti design team normally works only for the exclusive and very distinguished circle of the brand’s customers. Now Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo has given us the opportunity, for the first time, to do something special for our fans as well,” explained Achim Anscheidt, the head of Bugatti Design. “When the target group suddenly grows from 450 Veyron owners to several million fans, gamers and high performance aficionados, it is a very exciting matter. We had a lot of fun with this project.”

Bugatti design team

The designers drew their inspiration from the brand’s successful racing tradition. Bugatti enjoyed great success in racing in the 1920s and 1930s. The historical theme for the design of the Vision Gran Turismo virtual modern race car was, in particular, the Bugatti Type 57 Tank and its victories in the 24-hour Le Mans race in 1937 and 1939.

Consequently, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo makes its appearance in the classic blue two-tone finish of the Type 57 G Tank, the winning car in 1937, simultaneously evoking the colors of the historical French race cars of that period. Since then, blue has also been Bugatti’s brand color.

The designers have unmistakably transferred the most important characteristics of Bugatti’s design DNA into the styling of the virtual race car.

“We are taking Bugatti back to its roots,” Anscheidt added. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo’s expressive form language is dominated by large convex surfaces in contrast to concave transitions and strong lines. This lends the vehicle styling precision and surface tensions of the highest quality.

“In the Bugatti Veyron, we have developed a super sports car which unites two characteristics, the beauty and the beast,” explained Anscheidt. “The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo embodies the performance beast. It has a more radical and extreme style. This is a thorough-bred Bugatti for the virtual race track, not for the street.”

An interesting detail on the roof is the NACA air intake, which, with its contrasting light blue finish, not only has a strikingly beautiful shape but also makes a crucial contribution to the control of the aerodynamic conditions on top of and at the rear of the car without compromising the effectiveness of the impressive rear wing.

Digital design rendering of the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo: Top view showing the NACA air inlet which is both an essential aerodynamic element and iconic feature of the virtual Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo concept.

“We wanted to develop a virtual race car for our fans which is a genuine Bugatti down to the last detail and radiates the unrestricted values of the brand,” the designers said. “We hope that the gamers will have just as much fun racing the car as we did in developing it.”

The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo show car will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show 9.17-9.27.

Rolls-Royce is pulling back the curtain just a little on its new upcoming model. The exciting and sensuous drophead, will be known as Rolls-Royce Dawn. The British automaker revealing only the name, keeping pictures and any drawings of the new drophead under wraps. The new Rolls-Royce Dawn will revive another famous and rare Rolls-Royce name first used in 1949, but only ever applied to 28 very special drophead bodies between 1950 and 1954.
“Our new Rolls-Royce Dawn promises a striking, seductive encounter like no other Rolls-Royce to date,” said Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Executive Officer.

“Dawn is a beautiful new open-top motor car with a name that suggests the fresh opportunities that every new day holds – an awakening, an opening up of one’s senses and a burst of sunshine. It will be the most social of super-luxury motor cars for those beautiful people who wish to bathe in the sunlight of the world’s social hotspots.”
Rolls-Royce Dawn is the next step in the renaissance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars which began in 2003 with the launch of Phantom and subsequent introductions of Ghost and Wraith.

A new beginning for Rolls-Royce at the time, the original Silver Dawn was the first Rolls-Royce to be offered with a factory-built body.

‘Dawn’ perfectly expresses the character of the new Rolls-Royce. In its tentative, inchoate, anticipatory state, dawn is the world coming to light from the ethereal dark of the night. The early-day chill of dawn provides an erotic tingle on the skin, awakening the senses and passions as the day begins. Like Eleanor Thornton, thought by many to be the inspiration behind the Spirit of Ecstasy, the Rolls-Royce Dawn will also prove itself to be the muse that leads its owner to believe that at the start of the day, anything is possible.

The new Rolls-Royce Dawn is beguilingly visceral. It excites both men and women – they want it, they need it and they want to immerse themselves in it. It is languid and beautiful, fresh and fragrant and awakens the passion of your life.

New life, new possibilities, fresh horizons – a tingling, anticipatory ambience in the air – all signified by a new Dawn.

Check out the Rolls-Royce line-up at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas.

Rolls-Royce has contributed to the myth and legend of the contemporary music scene since the birth of Rock & Roll. Today, the long-standing love affair lives on, with some of the world’s most celebrated artists choosing Rolls-Royce as the ultimate affirmation of their success. In this spirit, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’.

Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’, blends the finest components with the skill of the most eminent experts in their field. These characteristics, and the precious materials used in the Bespoke Audio system, create ‘the most exclusive music venue’ that delivers an unrivalled aural experience.

A book matched copper finish features for the first time on Wraith’s fascia, boldly extending the car’s theme. The same copper tone extends to Wraith’s signature seat bullets.

The chaplets on the clock have been designed and meticulously crafted with a combination of warming copper and silver, whilst the radial lines of the outer bezel playfully emulate the look and feel of vinyl records.

The extraordinary clarity of sound and dynamic range is delivered via a 1300W, 18 channel system comprising two highly powerful bass speakers, seven tweeters and seven mid range speakers. Two ‘exciter’ speakers hand-fitted in the car’s headlining play a vital role in bringing the sound to the listener at ear-level; ensuring the output perfectly imitates the way music is experienced in a live setting.
Microphones constantly monitor ambient and exterior noises and will adjust volume and tone settings automatically to ensure no external agent detracts from the user’s listening pleasure.

Wraith ‘Inspired by Music’ completes a trilogy of striking and distinctive Bespoke Collections.

The first, Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ celebrates Rolls-Royce’s long association with the silver screen.

Rolls-Royce Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’

Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’ allows customers to commission a true piece of automotive haute couture inspired by the materials and motifs of cutting-edge high fashion.

Rolls-Royce Wraith ‘Inspired by Fashion’

Check out the full Rolls-Royce line-up at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dallas.