All posts in “Luxury Rides”

The Bugatti La Voiture Noire Is A $19 Million One-Off Monster

When it comes to insanely-priced motor vehicles there’s no shortage of models that fit the bill. You have exotic beauties such as the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, Lamborghini Veneno, W Motors Lykan Hypersport, Ferrari F60 America, and so much more. However, it looks like we’re crowning a new king at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. With the arrival of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the list needs to change. It currently holds the title of being the world’s most expensive car at $19 million. What’s even crazier is that someone already bought it.

The La Voiture Noire commemorates the luxury carmaker’s 110th anniversary. Bugatti credits the elegant Type 57 SC Atlantic as the source of inspiration for this menacing beats. This bespoke beauty is a one-off model clad in a sinister black finish. It will soon be sitting in the garage of its affluent and lucky buyer. Meanwhile, Stephan Winkelmann, the president of the French car manufacturer reveals that “the Atlantic is one of the icons of Bugatti’s rich history” and we agree with him.

Everything about the Bugatti La Voiture Noire just screams awesome. Lurking deep within its stunning dark chassis is a monstrous 8-liter V16 engine that roars to life with 1,479 horsepower in tow. Sure, there are existing rides that far surpass its power, but let us remind you that this is a stock model. There’s no need for any after-market tweaks to enhance its performance. Swing over to its rear end and check out the unique six-tailpipe configuration. This remarkable design just goes to show that this devilish ride means business.

Images courtesy of Bugatti

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Pininfarina All-Electric Battista

Pininfarina has unveiled its all-electric ride, called the Pininfarina Battista. Launching in 2020, the Battista is poised to be the most formidable road-legal EV.

Boasting 1,900 ponies, the Battista rages from zero to 60 in less than two seconds, and is offers a top speed of over 217mph. That effectively makes it one of the fastests electric cars on the planet. Just quick enough to beat Ferrari’s own hypercar, and perhaps just as fast, if not faster than the Ferrari F1.

To make the all-electric powertrain possible, Pininfarina worked with Rimac. The result? A beastly 120 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that trails 279 miles easy in just a single charge. These are mind-boggling specs, especially for an EV. It blows any other car out of the road, without even using a drop of gas.

The car also boasts an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and carbon ceramic six-piston brakes. Custom Pirelli tires with 21-inch wheels prop everything up, coupled with a full carbon fiber monocoque structure for some flair.

Pininfarina will only produce 150 Battista units globally. Each will be developed, hand-crafted and manufactured in Turin, Italy. Yes, the country that gave birth to two of the most famous companies people associate with hypercars.

The release date is still a ways to go, of course, but that doesn’t keep us from being thoroughly impressed with Pininfarina’s first car. From now to 2020, however, it’s entirely possible something will come out that eclipses Battista’s numbers. The silver lining is that, if such ever happens, the ride’s price will likely drop. A win-win for consumers.

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Photos courtesy of Pininfarina

Hennessey Performance 2019 Lincoln Navigator

Depending on the shop, customization options can range from simple to insane. For example, taking a stock vehicle and boosting its power and performance. Just a couple of weeks ago, we featured a 2019 McLaren 600LT Spider that got a remarkable upgrade. The original engine was already generating around 592 horsepower, after several tweaks, we’re looking at an 800-hp monster. Now, the same remarkable team of tuners is back on point with the Hennessey Performance 2019 Lincon Navigator.

It looks like they’re holding back a little this time around with just a modest bump in power. Nevertheless, packing in more horses under the hood is always a good thing. The default 3.5-liter Ford EcoBoost V6 twin turbo goes from 450 to 600 horsepower. They’re calling it the HPE600 package and it also includes other modifications to improve handling and performance. Track tests show that the luxury-grade SUV can zoom from a standstill to 60 mph in less than five seconds.

Other than power and speed, the Hennessy Performance 2019 Lincoln Navigator gets a couple of other stuff. Modifications include a stainless steel exhaust system, a high-flow air induction system, and an air-to-air front-mounted intercooler. Owners can likewise avail of a set of 22-inch wheels wrapped with performance rubber alongside the lowering kit option. Despite the changes, the Jet Black vehicle still retains its stunning aesthetics. There’s no telling what the shop’s next project will be, but we are definitely excited to feature more of their work in the future. Perhaps we’ll see overkill items such as the 1,200-hp Jeep Trackhawk and others.

Images courtesy of Hennessey Performance

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1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Coupe

Did you know Ferrari actually used to produce a limited number of road cars? That’s right. The luxury sports car manufacturer put out a bunch of standard automobile for those wealthy enough to request for one. Everything changed when the Ferrari 250 came along, which would go on to become the first “mass produced” vehicle in Ferrari’s entire lineup. The photo you see above shows a 1960 250 GT Series II in pristine condition.

Production of the 250 GT ushered in many notable developments, including the original 128C three-liter engine being superseded by the twin-distributor 128D, which was then replaced in 1960 by the outside-plug 128F engine. That engine did away with its predecessor’s Siamesed inlets in favor of six separate ports. Then in 1959, Ferrari threw in four-wheel disc brakes, and followed that up with a four-speeds-plus-overdrive gearbox the following year.

The result, as shown above, is a “landmark model of historical significance,” as Bonhams puts it. This particular model was completed in 1960 then sold in Milan on the same year. If you purchase this, you’re getting an entire Massini Report listing its subsequent owners, all of whom are Italian. It also makes note of several alterations over the years. Like the change of exterior color to white, and a new interior trim in red leather done in 1981.

The exterior, it should be noted, is still in its original colors and the car overall is in good mechanical condition. You can place a bid over at Bonhams not only to own an upstanding Ferrari road car, but also keep one of the most important turning points in the company’s history.

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Photos courtesy of Bonhams