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donderdag 9 augustus 2007


Bugatti Veyron


The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the fastest, most powerful and most expensive production car in the history of the world. It has been a long time coming - Volkswagen boss Ferdinand Piech bought the rights to the Bugatti name in 1998 and in 2001 stunned the motoring fraternity by promising that the Veyron, the first product of the revived company, would have 1001 horsepower, be capable of 250 mph, and start deliveries in 2003.
For a while, it looked as if Piech's enormously ambitious targets would not be met. It was simply too difficult to make a car the size and style of the Veyron concept car, keep its immensely complex 8 litre 16-cylinder quad-turbo engine cool, and the car safe and stable in all conditions up to and including 250 mph. Especially since being part of Volkswagen meant that Bugatti would have to meet the same safety and durability requirements as a Polo or a Golf.
But in early October, two-and-a-half years behind schedule, the 21st century Bugatti was ready. The first car was due to be delivered a few weeks later, to France for an American customer, ?1,000,000 pre-tax price paid. Half a dozen examples in assorted two-tone colours were gathered together in Sicily at a hideaway in the hills. Over five days, some 48 motoring writers from around the world would have the experience of a lifetime: driving the fastest-ever road car on the mountain route of the old Targa Florio road race and along the spectacular motorways that sweep across the island.


Body: 2-door coupé
Engine(s): 8.0 L quad-turbocharged W16
Transmission(s): 7-speed dual clutch sequential manual
Top speed: 253 mph
0 - 62 mph: 2.5 seconds
Fuel consumption: 11.9 mpg






Land Rover - Range Rover Sport


The Range Rover Sport is supposed to be Land Rover's answer to road-biased SUVs like the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML, combining the ruggedness of existing Land Rover products with more tarmac-friendly driving dynamics.
Design is similar to that of the full-sized Range Rover, with a lower roofline and sleeker styling, although under the surface the Sport is more closely related to the Discovery. It certainly radiates plenty of road presence - it's no wonder the carparks at the training grounds of Premiership football clubs are full of them. Inside the cabin it stays broadly impressive too, thanks to the customary high seating position and plenty of space for both front and rear seat occupants. Many of the interior plastics feel cheap to the touch, though, especially the centre console and its switchgear.
On road it's soon clear that this Range Rover doesn't really live up to the "Sport" side of its moniker - it feels barely different to drive than the full-sized Range Rover, and it certainly can't match the dynamic attachment of a BMW X5. The steering is slightly vague and progress is always accompanied by a strong sensation of the vast momentum you're lugging around, a view reinforced by the crashy ride quality. The payback is genuine off-road ability, with a clever variable traction control system allowing you to select the right programme for pretty much any kind of terrain.
Three engines are available. Both V8 petrol motors provide strong performance, especially the supercharged 4.2 litre unit, but both also suffer from horrendous fuel economy. The 2.7 litre V6 diesel is considerably less rapid, but should at least be able to get over 25 mpg on a long run.




Body: 4 X 4
Engine: V8, 3630 cc
Transmission: 6-spd CommandShift
Driven Wheels: 4
Top speed: 130 mph
0 - 62 mph: 9.2 seconds
Fuel consumption: 25.5 mpg




Lotus Europa S



Lotus has long had ambitions of offering a rival for cars like the Audi TT and Porsche Cayman - and the Europa is meant to be that car. Based on the same chassis as the Elise, Lotus claim the Europa is comfortable and refined enough to be used as an everyday supercar.
At this point reality diverges dramatically from the PR script. By the standards of the Elise and Exige the Europa might be a comfortable long-distance cruiser - but compared to other cars in the segment it's cramped, uncomfortable and noisy - not to mention expensive.
Design lacks the fluency and grace of recent Lotus products (it's rumoured to have been originally conceived as a Proton-branded supercar). It looks ungainly and over-detailed. More importantly, it's bigger external dimensions haven't translated into any significant improvement in practicality over the Elise. It's still a two-seater and occupants still have to enter awkwardly through a narrow door aperture and over the fat sill. At least there's a proper boot accessed via a conventional tailgate, albeit a tiny one crammed in behind the mid-mounted engine.
On the road the Europa's case improves. It drives pretty much as you'd expect a slightly larger Elise too, with brilliant steering and an agile, adjustable chassis. Power comes from a turbocharged Vauxhall engine, as previously seen in the VX220 Turbo - performance is strong, at the expense of a unpleasantly loud exhaust note and lots of drone at cruising speed.


Body: Coupe
Engine: 4, 1998 cc
Power, bhp: 200
Transmission: 6-spd
Driven Wheels: R
Top speed: 140 mph
0 - 60 mph: 5.5 seconds
Fuel consumption: 30.4 mpg


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