Bugatti’s more exclusive Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport enters production

Bugatti Veyron, known for its ultra-high price tag, outstanding automotive solutions, artistic designs and driving dynamics, always attract people’s attention and make surprise for who love it. Now Bugatti is offering an even more exclusive ‘roofless’ version labeled the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport.

First launched at last year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is now go into production at the company’s high-tech assembly facility in Molsheim, France. The production will be extremely limited to a total of 150 units over lifetime, and the first 50 will be made available exclusively to existing Bugatti owners. The very first build slot for the car was auctioned off at the Pebble Beach event to a wealthy buyer who paid $2.9 million for the privilege. The other 149 cars are priced at €1.4 million (approximately $2 million).

Despite being labeled a roadster, the Grand Sport actually features a removable targa style roof that must be stored away manually before setting off for a drive. According to Bugatti’s communication chief, Georges Keller, the roofless targa option was the only one available because there was no other solution which could fit with the Veyron’s safety cage. Most low-volume supercars use targa panels because of the low cost of development and to retain the structural integrity of the chassis.

With the roof in place, the Grand Sport will reach speeds of up to 252mph (407km/h) just like the hard-top. Speeds of up to 224mph (360km/h) are possible with the roof stowed away, which will ensure the Grand Sport remains the world’s fastest roadster for some time to come.

The interior comes with moisture-resistant, backstitched leather, a slew of new equipment which includes a reversing camera with 2.7-inch monitor inbuilt in the rear view mirror, and a sound system with digital signal processor from Puccini.

Despite its 1.4 million Euro price tag, 30 of the convertible Veyrons are already spoken for, and the happy owners should take delivery some time around July.

Corvette Grand Sport is back

The Grand Sport name last appeared on the Corvette in 1996, commemorating the end of the C4 era. Only 1,000 copies were built, all painted Admiral Blue. It also pays homage to five hand-built racing Corvettes from 1963 ordered up by chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov .Now, the Corvette Grand Sport is back!!

Set to roll in later this year as a 2010 model in both coupe and convertible bodystyles, the new Grand Sport combines the standard Corvette LS3-based powertrain with widebody styling and a race-bred suspension, and gives Corvette fans a new performance option between the standard model and sexy Z06.

The Grand Sport replaces the Corvette's previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires, revised shocks, new stabilizer bar and spring specifications and new gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of up to 1.0g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60mph acceleration versus the standard LS3-powered models.

The engine’s output has been kept at 430hp (321kW) and 424lb-ft (575Nm) of torque, however, an optional two-mode exhaust system boosts output to 436hp (325kW) and 428lb-ft (580Nm).

Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery. The manual transmission also comes with specific gear ratios, while automatic models get a modified rear axle ratio.

Specific modifications for the Grand Sport coupe and convertible include wider front and rear fenders with unique badging, a Z06-style front splitter and rear spoiler, new brake ducts, unique 18in wheels with 275mm tires up front and 19in units shod with 325mm rubber in the rear, Z06-spec brakes include 355mm rotors with six-piston calipers up front and 340mm rear rotors with four-piston calipers.

All of the Corvette's exterior colors are offered on the Grand Sport and an available ‘Heritage’ package adds iconic front fender hash marks offered in four colors, as well as two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery.