Bugatti brings Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse "Gris Rafale" to Brazil

 by: Seyth Miersma

Bugatti's Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse is downright well-known around these parts. Not only have we reported on the 1,200-horsepower Veyron selling for a pretty penny at Pebble Beach, we've seen a funnyman Leno take one for a pleasure cruise in SoCal.

Apparently, Bugatti believes that the Grand Sport Vitesse is likely to be just as popular in South America as it has been elsewhere in the world, as the company has officially announced that it will be bringing the model to Brazil. Not wanting to merely send out a press release, the French supercar maker has gone and created a one-off Grand Sport Vitesse "Gris Rafale" to mark the occasion.

The new car has been finished in a fetching light shade of gray called Gris Rafale (French for "Gray Burst", with accent pieces done in striking blue carbon fiber. The interior treatment is a reversal of that motif, with blue leather and gray stitching. A special edition that only features a new colorway might seem like a weak effort for any other car, but on one of the most expensive, highest performance road-going vehicles of all time, we'll take it.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport "Sang Bleu" unveiled in Monterey

by: John Neff

How many special edition Bugatti Veyrons are there? There's the Pur Sang, the Bleu Centenaire, the Sang Noir and Fbg by Hermes, not to mention the countless examples that have either been painted gold or chrome by bored sheiks who've spent too much time in the sun. The targa-fied Veyron, otherwise known as the Grand Sport, has been around a lot less time than its closed roof counterpart, but it's about time the open roof Bug got a special edition of its own. Enter the Grand Sport "Sang Bleu" that's being unveiled by Bugatti this weekend in Monterey.

The "Sang Bleu" is set off by its unique two-tone color combination that isn't the result of opening a couple new cans of paint back at the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, France, but rather combining two materials: carbon fiber and aluminum. The shiny parts are, of course, the al-yoo-mini-um of which we spoke, but the royal blue you see is a specially tinted carbon fiber. The only other differences between the "Sang Bleu" and a normal Grand Sport are that the rear airscoops are also body color, and the wheels are a unique design with a Midnight Blue and Diamond Cut finish.

Only 20 standard Grand Sports have been ordered and far less actually delivered, so the "Sang Bleu" stands as the rarest Veyron of them all right now. There's only one and Bugatti doesn't mention anything about it going into limited production, but considering the brand's penchant for making special editions, we expect the "Sang Bleu" will be available for anyone with anyone with a couple million bucks to trade.

Mansory builds mysterious Bugatti Veyron Vincero

By: Drew Phillips

We're convinced the Bugatti Veyron has to have the highest ratio of variants per total production -- Ford Mustang included. There's the Sang Noir, a first and second version of the Hermes, Pur Sang, Grand Sport, and now the Vincero built by Mansory. Not much is known about the car since no information is listed on the Swiss tuner's web site, but United Arab Emirates exotic car dealer Prestige Cars has posted the car for sale, listing it as one of three built. Looking at the photos, the Vincero features a carbon fiber hood and engine cover, new black wheels, and an interior that has been reupholstered in black and white with carbon fiber trim. It's not everyone's taste, but we definitely wouldn't kick it out of the garage.

2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme: 'True Grit - Epic Feats of Endurance'

By: Frank Filipponio

The Earl of March has announced that the theme of the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS) will be "True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance." Think monumental drive and determination from motor racing legends like Jackie Stewart, who won the 1968 German Grand Prix with a broken wrist. That sort of thing. The Festival will take place July 3-5 and hopefully we'll be there to cover it for all of you. The 1.16-mile hillclimb is always a delight, with some of the most famous drivers in motorsports history driving the cars (and bikes) that made them household names.

The 2009 FoS will also celebrate 100 years of Bugatti, Audi and Morgan, 60 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Motorcycle World Championship, 50 years of Mini and the Daytona Speedway, and the 40th anniversary of Jackie Stewart and Matra's dominant pairing. Like last year, festival attendees will also get to see another edition of the Cartier 'Style et Luxe' mini concours d'elegance, the BP Ultimate FoS-TECH technology pavilion, the Forest Rally Stage and the Junior Festival of Speed. We can't wait.