All posts in “the quail”

Bugatti Bolide will be built

It seems the several customers for hypercars are ready for the next step, track-only versions of their street-legal dream cars, we’ve seen it with the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, an extreme version of the Aventador, but also with the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, the track-only version of the already limited edition Valkyrie … and now Bugatti joins this exclusive club with their Bolide.

Similar to Lamborghini’s Essenza SCV12, Bugatti will be offering only 40 units of a production version of their Bolide, built in 2020 as a one-off concept, the Bolide was an experimental car created as a test-bed for future technology from Bugatti, as the ultimate driving machine in terms of power, lightness, and pure acceleration … the most extreme version of the famous Bugatti 8-Liter W16 engine.

Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti, explains why they will build 40 units of this car that was never meant to be sold to customers: “The Bolide generated a great deal of enthusiasm and intrigue last year. Following its presentation, a significant number of enthusiasts and collectors asked us to develop the experimental Bolide as a production vehicle. I was absolutely amazed by the reactions and feedback from customers from all over the world. We therefore decided to make the Bolide a few-off in order to give 40 customers the opportunity to experience this incredible vehicle. Our team has now been developing a production model – the ultimate driving machine for the track.”

The Bugatti Bolide was created with the idea of ‘what if?’ … what could we do with the existing W16 engine if there were no restraints … and that is how the Bolide’s minimal bodywork was designed around the 1,850 PS engine (on 110-Octane racing fuel) … but for the Bolide production version the engine will be configured for 98 RON fuel, that will reduce the power output to 1,600 PS but still offer a massive 1,600 Nm of torque as low as 2,250 rpm, with a modified rev setup for use on the race track, together with an intake and exhaust system, this car will achieve faster, more spontaneous, and very extreme responsiveness.

The impression from the front of the Bugatti Bolide is unmistakenly that of a Formula One car, thanks to the elaborate number of air ducts and aerodynamics, the Bolide also boasts an extremely low ride height, and you can’t have a hypercar like this without a big roof scoop that runs into a massive rear wing and equally impressive rear diffuser.

While clients will most likely not be able to enter their Bugatti Bolide into any official racing class, the car is being developed with FIA rules in mind when it comes to safety and driving experience, among the safety features developed by Bugatti for the Bolide are a HANS system compatibility, an automatic fire extinguishing system, pressure refueling with a fuel bladder, central wheel locking, and a six-point safety belt system.

The Bugatti Bolide production version will come in at 1,450 kg, a weight-to-power ratio of 0.9 kilograms per PS when 98 RON gas is used, but the car is still being developed at Molsheim at the moment of writing, this will take another three years according to Bugatti, with the first customer cars ready for delivery by 2023 … at a net price of €4,000,000 each, or about US $4,680,000, but you should be quick as only 40 units will be available worldwide.

August 20, 2021 / Comments Off on Bugatti Bolide will be built
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Lamborghini unveils the Countach LPI 800-4

The return of the Lamborghini Countach, probably the best-known supercar of all times, the ultimate ‘spaceship’ design from the Seventies, with the bright yellow prototype being unveiled at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, over five decades ago today, and while Lamborghini created a rather timid Miura Homage of the Aventador back in 2016 by just using a special paint scheme and some logos, to celebrate 50 years of the legendary Lamborghini Countach they took a totally different approach …

Automobili Lamborghini SpA has a habit of unveiling new cars during Monterey Car Week, held in August in California, and more precisely at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, this event was canceled in 2020, but in 2019 Lamborghini brought the Aventador SVJ to the USA, in 2017 it was the Centenario Roadster that took center stage … and for the return in 2021 we get the Countach LPI 800-4, a new limited edition homage to the car that introduced scissor doors to the world on a production car.

Check out the actual unveiling of this commemorative model at The Quail:

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This event was also the first time the new Lamborghini Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae was shown on US grounds for this 18th year at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club, and Lamborghini also took along the Huracán STO and a stunning, white Essenza SCV12, all posed next to the new Countach LPI 800-4.

Back in 1971, when the Lamborghini Countach was being developed starting with the yellow prototype using the 5-Liter V12 engine, it came with the internal code LP 112, that is why the new Countach LPI 800-4 will only be made 112 times for its fortunate customers, and according to Stephan Winkelmann, all of them are already spoken for, at a cool €2,000,000 before taxes and options (that’s $2,360,000), so it seems a lot of people have been eagerly awaiting this Countach homage.

Lamborghini is using their Aventador carbon fiber tub as a base for the Countach LPI 800-4, just as they did on the Veneno, the Centenario, and their first hybrid model, the Sián … and it’s the latter that has now evolved into this new Countach model, complete with the 34hp Supercapacitor fed electric motor, the ICE V12 engine is taken from the Ultimae version, so 780 hp for a total power output of 814 hp, but LP814 just doesn’t sound right, so it’s LP800 … oh, let’s not forget the ‘Ibrido’ part from the Supercapacitor, so the official name is LPI 800-4, with the -4 for a four-wheel-drive just like any Aventador model since 2011.

The top speed for the Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 is 355 km/h or 221 mph, and while this car does come with the help of electric motors, it is only marginally faster than the Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae when accelerating, but it’s all about the experience and the legacy that comes with this car while being larger than the original Seventies car, this is a top-of-the-line V12 powered Lamborghini after all, and it does show a lot of Countach inspired design elements:

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“The Countach LPI 800-4 showcases the next chapter of Lamborghini in an electrified world while celebrating one of our most iconic models,” said Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “At The Quail, our customers will be the first to see this new masterpiece in person alongside the final Aventador and Essenza SCV12 – each of which will hold its own place in automotive history.”

As mentioned, Lamborghini also showcased some of their more regular models at this event, like the Huracan STO (Super Trofeo Homologata), of which the first units are being delivered to those early adopters, and while some might think the STO is a bit wild-looking, with a complex design and air vents and intakes all over the place … this really is a street-legal race car.

Which can’t be said about the next car on the podium, the track-only Essenza SCV12, another North American debut by the way, and while I do like the original green and orange finish of the presentation car, this white one in the US looks absolutely stunning with her black parts … an aggressive beauty for sure.

This limited-edition track-only hypercar is the most powerful V12 from Lamborghini. Developed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse and designed by Lamborghini Centro Stile, it is a direct descendent of the notable Miura Jota and Diablo GTR. It is also the first GT car developed to respect FIA prototype safety rules and only 40 units will be produced.

For this 50th anniversary celebration of arguably the most important Lamborgini model ever together with the Miura, a rally was organized to bring as much classic Lamborghini Countach to Monterey as possible, and while the 25th Anniversary edition was present more than the other models, it’s also the most recent, and most produced version from the Eighties, still, there were older Countach there too, some S models, but also the early LP400 models, also known as the ‘Periscopio’ models thanks to the rearview mirror showing through a small ‘periscope window’ on the roof.

As a final add-on to the Countach LPI 800-4 information, take a look at an official video from Automobili Lamborghini Spa in which we find out how the original 1971 Countach transforms into the 2021 Countach LPI 800-4:

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August 15, 2021 / Comments Off on Lamborghini unveils the Countach LPI 800-4
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Virtually attend ‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering’ via our high-res photo gallery

While the description of the yearly “Motorsports Gathering” at the Quail may sound a bit odd to many of our readers at first blush — it’s basically a huge garden party for wealthy automotive enthusiasts to get a look at vintage and newly available vehicles targeted at their healthy checking accounts — there’s no arguing that the vehicles on display are worthy of attention. And since most of us either weren’t invited or couldn’t afford to attend (or both), the next best thing to being there is scrolling through our high-res gallery of live photos taken at the event.

Visitors to this year’s event were treated to the usual grade of high-end machinery that we’ve come to expect, which is to say the best, most desirable and most expensive in the world. Our gallery is filled with vintage racers from Ford, Ferrari and Jaguar, classic Trans Am competitors and even a gaggle of Volkswagen-based dune buggies. More modern machinery was also on display from Lotus, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Pininfarina and Acura.

Electric vehicles are becoming more commonplace at high-end events, and this year’s gathering at The Quail was no exception. In addition to a strong showing from Rimac and Lotus we mentioned earlier, Lucid was in attendance as was Gateway Bronco (see here for more on that). We also got shots of things you may never have heard of like the Delage D12 and Radford Type 62-2. Oh, and the return of the Lamborghini Countach, too.

For those who keep track of such things, this year’s Best of Show winner was a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster. You’ll see all that and more in our high-res gallery above. Enjoy!

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August 14, 2021 / Comments Off on Virtually attend ‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering’ via our high-res photo gallery
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Bugatti reveal for Monterey rumored to be inspired by EB 110 SS

In June, The Supercar Blog heard that Bugatti had a special edition planned for reveal during Monterey Car Week. At the time there were zero details on what we might be in for; the only iota of news was that part of the production run had already been sold. TSB just picked up on this Instagram post from June 4 by Girardo & Co, a classic-car sales company, that could point to the answer:

This is a touch self-serving on Girardo’s part, seeing that the company is selling a Bugatti EB 110 SS — and has been since at least March of this year, when we wrote about it. However, that doesn’t mean the suggestion isn’t true. For those who don’t know, Italian businessman Roman Artioli bought the Bugatti brand in 1987. The only product to leave the company’s Campogalliano factory was the EB 110 in the early 1990s, an alien-looking coupe powered by a quad-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V12 putting out 553 horsepower and 456 pound-feet of torque. The even rarer EB 110 SS juiced proceedings up to 603 hp and 479 lb-ft. On a side note, if Girardo & Co really does have the last one built, it would be an improved version engineered by German firm Dauer, one of only five made.

Circumstantial evidence lends credence to Bugatti interest in the EB 110. Road & Track writes that Artioli visited the carmaker’s Molsheim headquarters this year, marking the first visit by the Italian to his former charge. Then, last week, Bugatti released a paean to the EB 110 and Artioli, applauding the coupe as “The first modern super sports car,” and praising the man with, “Because of his initiative and thanks to his efforts, Bugatti has been revived in the modern age.”

Bugatti has verified something new for Monterey. Whether or not it pays respects to the EB 110 SS, it has apparently already been shown to prospective clients. A supposed run of just 10 examples is planned, some of them sold, each retailing for 8 million euros, or about $9 million. The wraps will come off at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, on Aug. 16. Until then, the Bugatti Instagram account is posting breadcrumbs with video highlights from the brand’s history, with 1909, 1911, 1924 and 1926 accounted for so far.

July 24, 2019 / Comments Off on Bugatti reveal for Monterey rumored to be inspired by EB 110 SS
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2018 Quail Motorsports Gathering in photos

While the main event of Monterey Car Week may be the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it’s not the only major car show of the week. A few days before the Concours, there is the The Quail Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California. The event hosts many classic sports cars and race cars, as well as the latest and greatest from sports and luxury car manufacturers. Each event also has a few special classes. Among the featured vehicles this year were classic Ferraris, Lancia race cars, including a number of Martini-liveried rally cars, the Lamborghini Espada, and RUF sports cars.

New car manufacturers also come out to show off their new stuff, such as the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Bugatti even chose the Quail as the location to reveal its handling-oriented Divo, a limited-production car worth nearly $6 million. Porsche kicked off its 70th anniversary celebration by bringing out the very first Porsche prototype sports car, the first one badged with the name. Other companies brought their concepts that will also be displayed at Pebble Beach, like the Audi PB18 E-Tron and Infiniti Prototype 10.

Of course, there were many other fascinating cars on display. There was a large contingent of Datsun and Nissan race cars, which was unsurprising since Nissan is the featured marque for the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. A whole section of Paganis was also on display. Check out the photos above for a visual tour of the show.

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August 25, 2018 / Comments Off on 2018 Quail Motorsports Gathering in photos
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Bugatti Divo teased again ahead of Monterey reveal

There are four days to go until Bugatti unveils the track-focused Divo this Friday at The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week. Until then, we have this last teaser of the complete vehicle under a blue veil to try and draw out details. Bugatti once used the Vision Gran Turismo to tease aspects of the Chiron, and here it appears as though the French carmaker has returned to some elements of that concept while, at the same time, clearly evolving Chiron design language.

The rear wing is clearly toned down from the Vision GT concept, but a fin runs from the back of the greenhouse to the wing. The wheel arches stand out under the sheet, much punchier than the arches on the Chiron, and the rear fender contains a sharp edge. A clear departure from both the Vision GT and the Chiron, though, is the side line. The relaxed arc around the roof to the back of the cabin and down to the sills, a feature we’ve known since the Veyron, has been redone. On the Divo it looks like the roof line takes a shallow dip to a point, then makes a hard reverse to form a shoulder line that intersects the front wheel arch. Above that, a milder shoulder line descends from the cowl to underline the greenhouse.

“We’ve kept and further developed our Bugatti design DNA features, but on top of that have also taken the opportunity to exercise our freedom and create a completely new form language,” said Frank Heyl, the exterior design chief. Bugatti obviously wanted us to notice all of this, because the Divo example under the silk doesn’t have a side mirror.

Built by the company’s just-revived coachbuilding department and advancing the capabilities of the Chiron Sport, the Divo will bring “enormous downforce and G-forces.” Other than the top stabilizer fin and large rear wing, the additional feature we’ve seen to support its track mission is a vertical fin ahead of the front wheels. Cosmetically, it looks like the taillights will be LED or OLED with highly contoured shapes. We’ll have to wait until Friday for word on whether the 8.0-liter, quad-turbo W16 has undergone any changes.

Bugatti will make just 40 Divos, each with a price starting at 5 million euros, about $5.8 million in U.S. dollars, and nearly double the price of the Chiron Sport. Those numbers might be moot if every Divo is already spoken for. After brand CEO Stephan Winkelmann said “the Divo is made for corners,” and that it represents brand DNA “in terms of agile, nimble handling,” the number we’d really like to see is a Nürburgring lap time.

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August 20, 2018 / Comments Off on Bugatti Divo teased again ahead of Monterey reveal
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Rimac C_Two California Edition gets drunk on its power at Monterey Car Week

The Rimac C_Two made landfall in the United States last week, popping in for a guest appearance at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It left the building at the close of business on August 19, but electric supercar supporters will get a chance to see it again during Monterey Car Week. Going the extra EV mile, instead of merely shipping the silver Geneva Motor Show reveal model to various viewings on the West Coast, Rimac created a vogue California Edition to rejoice in the “vibrant atmosphere” of the imminent week-long automotive celebration.

The “captivating color” goes with a name in Rimac’s press release, but we’d call it Grabber Blue if that weren’t already taken. A new wheel design gets center caps in the same hue. Rimac plans to host private events in the lead-up to the big weekend, and attendees will want to hang out around the California Edition’s trunk: Rimac tailored the cargo hold to fit two six-liter champagne bottles, and crystal flutes. Our only question is how many flutes Rimac thinks one would need for the equivalent of 16 traditional bottles of champagne.

Rimac’s trip to Monterey seems like a brand enjoying its own success and making new friends, since it doesn’t have a car to sell at the moment. The C_Two, which costs $2.1 million and will be limited to 150 units, sold out three weeks after its Geneva launch. Buyers who managed to make the list will get a coupe using a 120-kWh to power four electric motors worthy of 1,888 horsepower and 1,696 pound-feet of torque. Getting from zero to 60 miles per hour takes 1.85 seconds, practically teleportation, while 100 mph comes in 4.3 seconds on the way to a top speed of 258 miles per hour. The 404 miles of claimed range comes on the European cycle, but that should still convert to plenty of U.S. range to get to the corner office, the club, the heliport and back. Private preview invitees will get a chance to make sure they don’t miss out on the next Rimac offering.

At the end of the week, the California Edition C_Two will go on show at The Quail — A Motorsport Gathering on Friday, then at Exotics on Cannery Row the following day.

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August 20, 2018 / Comments Off on Rimac C_Two California Edition gets drunk on its power at Monterey Car Week
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Highlights from the 2017 Quail, A Motorsports Gathering (champagne not included)

One of the highlights of the annual automotive extravaganza that occurs every August on the Monterey Peninsula is the Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Yes, the comma is officially part of the name. And yes, it really is that pretentious. But look beyond the complementary champagne and gourmet food stations, and you’ll see an exquisite array of exotic automobiles – classic, new and concept – trampling the 18th fairway of the Quail Lodge & Golf Club. It’s basically an extremely fancy cars and coffee.

Though we poke fun at it a bit, it’s nevertheless one of those things that’s worth experiencing. Then again, admission runs a cool $600, which is basically twice the price of the actual Pebble Beach Concours. Of course, you don’t get the champagne and fois gras with that.

Check out our ace photographer Drew Phillips’ photographic evidence of the 2017 Quail. As always, it was quite the collection.

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August 19, 2017 / Comments Off on Highlights from the 2017 Quail, A Motorsports Gathering (champagne not included)
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Ken Okuyama’s Kode 0 brings classic ’70s design to the Quail

Ken Okuyama designed this, the Kode 0, to invoke memories of such classic ’70s supercar designs as the Lancia Stratos Zero, Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari Moduro. But its retro-futuristic looks are only skin deep. The Kode 0 sits atop the guts of a current Lamborghini Aventador, including its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine.

Due to its full carbon fiber bodywork, the Kode 0 weighs just 3,417 pounds. That’s more than 600 pounds lighter than the Aventador upon which it’s based. With 690 horsepower and 507 pound-feet of torque, the Kode 0 can hit 60 miles per hour in just 2.9 seconds.

The Kode 0’s dramatic wedge-shaped design is inspired by the works of Marcello Gandini and flows seamlessly from front to rear. Its almost impossibly short rear overhang and slanted roofline draw the eye toward the acute crease that makes up the rear portion of the passenger compartment. It’s certainly striking, especially when the doors open to reveal bright green highlights hiding behind the bodywork.

The Kode 0 is radically different but equally as stunning as the Kode 57 that Okuyama unveiled at the Quail last year. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery above.

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August 19, 2017 / Comments Off on Ken Okuyama’s Kode 0 brings classic ’70s design to the Quail
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Kode 0 is a new one-off supercar from Ferrari Enzo designer Ken Okuyama

Ken Okuyama is famous for his time as lead designer at Pininfarina, and specifically known for penning the Ferrari Enzo. He now has his own design house in Japan. Last year, he wowed the world with a one-off supercar, called the Kode57, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. That car will return to The Quail this year, but will be joined by a new stablemate, a wedge-shaped supercar called Kode 0.

We don’t have a lot of details about the car yet, but what we do know is enough to excite us. The Kode 0 is powered by a V12 situated amidships. We’re not sure what the output is, but the 6.0-liter V12 in the Kode57 produces about 600 horsepower, if that’s any indication. The Kode 0 features a carbon fiber monocoque, which helps the car save weight and provides structural rigidity. The photo of the car in a magazine ad posted to Okyuama’s Facebook page says the Kode 0 is inspired by Italian supercars from the 70s, like the Lancia Stratos Zero and Lamborghini Countach.

In addition to the magazine photo, Okuyama has posted the following teaser shots of the car:

According the Ken Okuyama Design website, the Kode 0 will be unveiled at The Quail on Friday. We can expect to learn more details then.

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August 16, 2017 / Comments Off on Kode 0 is a new one-off supercar from Ferrari Enzo designer Ken Okuyama
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