INSIDE BUGATTI’S DREAM FACTORY AT MOLSHEIM

Molsheim is an idyllic location in Alsace, north-eastern France, and it’s been the home of the Bugatti since it was founded in 1909.

Here, the luxury marque is making automotive dreams come true with the Chiron – its latest stunning supercar.

As series production of the Chiron gathers pace, Bugatti plans to complete up to 70 cars in 2017 out of a total production of 500, of which more than half are already accounted for.

On average, six months pass between start of production and delivery.  A total of 20 employees assemble the Chiron from more than 1,800 individual parts in the ‘Atelier’ where the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car is completely hand-built.

Personalisation is key to the process and customers can choose from 23 colours for the exterior.  For the interior there are 31 different colours or Alcantara in eight colours, as well as 30 stitching, 18 carpet and 11 seatbelt colours.  In addition to this basic range, thousands of other colours are possible and they can even be created to match a favourite handbag or the label on a customer’s preferred brand of mineral water.

Only when the customer has signed off the configuration does production planning start.  The many small wheels of a complex process that runs to a strict time schedule are then set in motion.  When a production slot has been assigned to a customer’s vehicle, the parts that are needed are ordered.

One month before the start of production in Molsheim, the bodyshell is assembled with the monocoque and chassis substructure for the first time to ensure that everything fits together perfectly.

Each part is assigned a kit number and is then transferred to the paint shop and it takes about three weeks to apply the various coats of paint.

The production building for the Chiron, which Bugatti calls “Atelier“, has a floor space of more than 1,000 square metres.  It was inaugurated in 2005 and has an oval configuration, based on the French brand’s logo, the Bugatti “Macaron”.

It was designed by the renowned architect Professor Gunter Henn from Munich and for more than 10 years, the legendary Veyron 16.4 and its derivatives were built there.

At Bugatti, there are no conveyor belts or robots.  Staff work at 12 stations where various stages of the Chiron’s production are carried out.

The rolling dynamometer, or rolling road, is perhaps the most impressive stage of the process.  Here, tests take between two and three hours, during which time the vehicle covers about 60 kilometres.  The unit is so powerful that it can produce electricity with a current of up to 1,200 amps during operation and Bugatti feeds the excess power generated to the local grid in Molsheim.

Another key stage is the water test where the Chiron is exposed to monsoon rain of varying intensity for 30 minutes to show that there are no leaks.

After the cars have been tested at speeds of up to 250km/h (155mph) on the runway, followed by a more leisurely road run, the Chiron is transferred to the paint booth, where it is prepared for the finish.  All the protective foils are removed and the vehicle is then cleaned and polished, but it can take up to three weeks before the paintwork is finally signed off.

Then it’s over to the customer who will probably already have seen the car several times during the production process.

Named after race ace Louis Chiron (1899-1979), the most successful Bugatti works driver, the car packs 1,479bhp and is all about numbers.

Two in particular stand out:

1. The basic price is around Euro 2.872.200 (£2.4 million) (U$ 3.078.900).

2. It has a top speed of 420km/h (261mph)  “limited for road travel” (so expect a speed record attempt anytime soon).

bugatti.com/chiron

Our 10 Favorite Grilles for In-Production Luxury Cars

Although a car’s grille serves a functional role in cooling and airflow management, its purpose is cosmetic as well:

Automakers like to put a pretty face on their cars and increase brand recognition by using distinctive styling cues up front. Some luxury brands prefer to stick to a classic look that evokes their automotive history—even going so far as to trademark their grille designs, like Rolls-Royce and its long-standing signature Pantheon grille. Other automakers like Lexus and Lincoln have recently opted to give their models a facelift with brand new grille designs, hoping to draw in new buyers with fresh, modern styling choices up front. From the classic to the controversial, these are our favorite grilles from in-production luxury cars.

Alfa Romeo 4C

Alfa Romeo’s signature “trilobo” grille debuted in 1950 on the Alfa Romeo 1900, sporting a v-shaped central shield and side whiskers. While all of the automaker’s current lineup features this same style of grille, none of them look quite as sleek and mean as the “deep V” on the 4C. The car’s styling is inspired by the 1967 Tipo 33 Stradale—a classic Italian beauty in its own rite—so after a nearly 20-year hiatus from North America, Alfa Romeo’s return with the 4C is bound to draw some stares. (alfaromeo.com)

Maserati GranTurismo

The centerpiece of Maserati’s grilles has always been the classic trident logo—originally created by the Maserati brothers in 1920 as an homage to the statue of Neptune in Bologna because of its connotations of strength and vigor. The GranTurismo’s macho styling lives up to that sentiment, right down to its prominent oval radiator grille. The car’s trident badge is surrounded by concave, vertical strakes, three air intakes on each side, and LED day lights that blend into the fenders. (maserati.com)

Acura NSX

The prominent grille on the Acura NSX is thanks to what the automaker calls its “Interwoven Dynamic design,” which is an effort to blend form and function. The NSX’s exterior was carefully designed for total airflow management and tested in Acura’s wind tunnel facility in Ohio, so the grille’s mean design was not only created to give the NSX a supercar look, but to provide optimal downforce distribution and cooling as well. The crown jewel—or jewels—of this grille are the Acura Jewel Eye LED headlights, designed to improve efficiency and complement the car’s low, wide exterior. (acura.com)

Bentley Mulsanne

Bentley recently gave the Mulsanne a total facelift for the 2017 model year, including a completely redesigned grille. The new version is 80 mm wider than its predecessor and the traditional Bentley matrix grille is topped with stainless steel vertical vanes. Surrounding the new grille are redesigned LED headlamps with better night vision and a lower grille section that mirrors the vertical vane styling above it, featuring bright chrome finishes. Bentley says the new front end is inspired by classic models like the Embiricos and R-Type Continental, and we think this inspiration has done wonders in making the Mulsanne’s face look more distinguished and high-end. (bentleymotors.com)

Aston Martin V12 Vantage S

Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman has described the V12 Vantage S as a car that delivers sports performance in a “gentleman’s suit,” and we think the car’s understated yet unique carbon fiber grille lives up to that description. The grille—inspired by the CC100 Speedster concept and Vantage race cars—reflects the shape of the car’s dramatic hood louvers and is designed to maximize air flow to the engine bay. The grille can even be customized with surrounding “lipstick” in a variety of colors thanks to Aston Martin’s Q customization program, like the V12 Vantage S shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013 that featured vibrant yellow around the painted carbon fiber grille. (astonmartin.com)

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rolls-Royce is very protective of its classic Pantheon grille design—so protective, in fact, that the grille is one of the few features on the automaker’s cars that isn’t optionally customizable.

The logo, the Flying Lady ornament, and the grille were purchased as trademarks by BMW Group in the late ’90s when they acquired the rights to produce Rolls-Royce motor cars, so as Gerry Spahn, head of communications for Rolls-Royce North America put it:  “They are the core of the Rolls-Royce brand.” The Phantom features one of the most traditional takes on this grille design in the Rolls-Royce lineup, reflecting the original version, which was made from polished nickel steel with hinged vertical vanes that could be opened and closed for better cooling. The seventh generation Phantom will be ending production later this year, but it’s a pretty safe bet that the new version will maintain the classic elegance we’ve come to expect with the model’s grille design. (rolls-roycemotorcars.com)

Unlike Rolls-Royce, Lexus decided to throw caution to the wind when it came to recently redesigning its grilles. The controversial new spindle grille design was part of an effort to attract younger buyers, gain a competitive edge over German competitors like BMW and Audi, and—according to global chief of Lexus Tokuo Fukuichi—an attempt to get Lexus out of a conservative styling rut. While the design is controversial, it seems to be working: sales for Lexus in 2015 increased by 5 to 26 percent in markets across the globe and are projected to increase this year as well. We like the spindle grille best on the RC F, which has the lowest and widest application out of the Lexus lineup and comes available in bright, youthful paint colors like Molten Pearl (bright orange) and Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0. (lexus.com)

McLaren 650S

McLaren’s design director Frank Stephenson said that he wanted the brand’s cars to evoke “visual drama,” and we think the front end on the 650S does just that. With LED headlights inspired by the P1 that taper down into the front air intakes in a shape evocative of McLaren’s signature speedmark logo, the 650S looks like it’s built for speed—and it certainly is, right down to the choices for the grille. The front bumper, air intakes, and splitter (available in either palladium gray or carbon fiber) were designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in greater steering feeling and 24 percent increased downforce levels. (mclaren.com)

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

The Bugatti Veyron’s traditional horseshoe-shaped radiator grille is about the only design element carried over from the brand’s historic models. Everything else is all about excess, whether it be the wide variety of custom design choices (over 100 different colors for paint finishes and unique materials like porcelain, crystal, gold, and platinum) or the ludicrous performance (a world record speed of over 267 mph). The Veyron’s speed is so intense that the original grille—which was made out of aluminum—shattered during testing due to bird strikes, so it was redesigned using titanium. While all 450 examples of the Bugatti Veyron sold out as of last year, the supercar’s successor—the Chiron—will carry on the brand’s signature horseshoe grille. (bugatti.com)

Lincoln Continental

Lincoln recently revived its ultimate luxury sedan after a long hiatus, and we think it hasn’t looked this good since the 1960s, when it was coveted by celebrity owners like Elvis Presley and James Brown. The new Continental is more reminiscent of a Bentley or Jaguar, with a brand new one-piece signature mesh grille that replaces the split-wing grille in the outgoing Lincoln lineup. The polished aluminum grille features Lincoln Star mesh that reflects the brand’s logo, and we think it fits well with the Continental’s more elegant, modern styling. The new Continental hits dealerships this fall and only time will tell if Lincoln can win back the luxury audience it has slowly lost over the years, but we like the direction the brand is heading with its new styling. (lincoln.com)

10 Luxury Cars in Black for a Night in the city

Arriving in style is the perfect way to set the tone for a night out on the town, and we think black cars set the standard for class and style.

While most automakers offer their high-end models in a choice of black, some have taken it a step further, creating limited-edition black versions with stunning custom details. Whether your perfect night out starts with sharing a glass of Champagne in a sumptuous backseat, impressing your date with a premium sound system, or turning heads at the valet with supreme styling and performance chops, these 10 black cars should fit the bill.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Black Bess

Nothing turns heads quite like a Bugatti, and the ultra-limited-edition “Black Bess” version—the fifth in Bugatti’s Legends series—is sure to knock a valet’s socks off. Built from the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, this nearly Euros 2,8 million ($3 million), 1,200 hp stunner is limited to only three models worldwide. The black carbon body is accented with 24-karat gold features like the Bugatti horseshoe, hubcaps, and rear EB logo, and the Black Bess is unmistakable thanks to gold-painted stripes and name engravings on the exterior.

Inside, the car pays homage to its namesake—the Type 18, nicknamed “Black Bess”—which was one of the first street-legal supercars and owned by French aviation pioneer Roland Garros. The leather-covered door panels and the cover for the rear storage compartment feature hand-painted scenes that mimic how luxury cars were hand-painted in the early 1920s and depict the original Type 18 and Garros’ airplane.

Lamborghini Aventador

Exiting a car is never quite as dramatic as it is when the doors open upward like they do in the Lamborghini Aventador. Powered by a 6.5-liter V-12 engine, the Aventador also makes an impression thanks to its super performance: The LP 700-4 achieves 700 hp and a zero to 100kmh (62 mph) time of 2.9 seconds, while the LP 750-4 Superveloce is upgraded to 750 hp and a zero to100kmh ( 62 mph) time of 2.8 seconds. Whether you go for a coupe or roadster version, the Aventador comes standard with a multimedia and navigation system, as well as options like a premium audio system and reversing camera. The full leather interior of the Aventador’s carbon-fiber monocoque can be customized in two-tone or a single color with contrast stitching, and if you really want to show off, you can opt for the transparent engine bonnet. (lamborghini.com)

Aston Martin DB9 Carbon Black

It’s only fitting that a James Bond car be outfitted in black for a night on the town, and Aston Martin’s DB9 Carbon Black edition takes the black theme and truly runs with it. Aston Martin debuted the special DB9 Carbon Black at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2014, and the special-edition car—available in either a coupe or volante body style—features a host of black-on-black and carbon-fiber exterior accents like the intake meshes, diamond-turned wheels, window surrounds, and rear tailpipes, which are coated in a dark “graphitic” finish.

The interior is dark as well, outfitted in black leather and piano black trim, although optional accent stitching in red, silver, or yellow can provide a single pop of color. The color scheme may seem stealthy, but the car still effortlessly draws attention thanks to its AM11 V-12 engine, which delivers 510 hp and a zero to 100kmh (62 mph) time of 4.6 seconds. (astonmartin.com)

Bentley Flying Spur

If being chauffeured is more your style, the Bentley Flying Spur has a range of new custom features perfect for a night out thanks to Mulliner, the automaker’s in-house coach-building division. The rear seats feature a refrigerated bottle cooler, a bottle stopper, and two champagne flutes hidden behind frosted glass. The base of the champagne flutes even mirrors the design of Bentley wheels, and they can be secured in specially designed flute holders in the center console. Passengers can get extra refreshment from sterling silver atomizers in the doors, which spray a fine mist of either water or perfume. While the passengers enjoy themselves, the driver can still have a little fun, too:  the 4-liter V-8 or 6-liter W-12 engines offer performance that complements the car’s luxury. 

Ferrari California T

Valets might be tempted to take the Ferrari California T for a Ferris Bueller-inspired joyride thanks to its sporty, dynamic handling. The relatively compact grand tourer has a turbocharged V-8 engine that goes from zero to 100kmh (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds, but despite its smaller size, the California T still has ample cabin space and can even fit two passengers in the backseat.

The retractable hardtop is quick and nimble like the car itself, opening and closing in a mere 14 seconds with the cover and top moving simultaneously. The handcrafted interior has been upgraded with a new infotainment system, USB ports, and a premium audio system to set the perfect mood for a night out on the town. 

Maserati GranTurismo

We’re obviously advocating black tie when it comes to exterior paint colors, but the Maserati GranTurismo offers a wide variety of color choices inside thanks to the automaker’s personalization program. Exclusive Poltrona Frau leather upholstery is offered in 10 different color choices for the seats, dashboard, and other interior features, and the cabin can be further customized with a range of choices for contrast stitching, carpet, and wood moldings. The sleek, muscular styling matches the impressive performance specs: The car’s naturally aspirated V-8 engine variants achieve anywhere from 405 hp in the regular GranTurismo to 460 hp in the GranTurismo MC Stradale. The GranTurismo can also seat four adults comfortably, so it’s a great choice for arriving in style on double dates.

Mercedes-AMG GT S

If the Mercedes-AMG GT S’s distinctive looks aren’t enough to turn heads while pulling up to the valet, the AMG performance exhaust system—which allows the driver to vary the sound of the engine based on the dynamic select mode—should do the trick. The track-ready two-seater packs 503 hp and a cockpit designed to feel like a fighter jet, with a host of interior trim and color combinations in high-end materials like Nappa leather, carbon fiber, and silver chrome. A speedometer topping out at 354kmh (220 mph) and AMG Performance seats add to the race car feel. If you’d rather wow your date with music instead of exhaust notes, the GT S has you covered with a standard Burmester surround sound system. 

Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge

The Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge has the distinction of being the blackest of the black cars on this list.  The Wraith’s “dark alter ego” has the most intense black ever seen on a production car thanks to an intensive, multilayer paint and hand-polishing process. Exterior touches and badging on this special edition are darker as well, including the brand’s “Flying Lady” hood ornament, which the automaker describes as a “black vamp, proudly scything through the nighttime cityscape.” Like her, you’ll be dying to take this black beauty out for a night on the town. The cabin of the car continues the dark, edgy ambiance with a black-on-blue color scheme and with surfaces that have been darkened through physical vapor deposition. The Wraith is also the most driver-focused car in the Rolls-Royce lineup with 623 hp and taut handling—so whether you’re driving yourself or being driven, you’ll be sure to enjoy the ride. 

Porsche 911 Carrera Black Edition

Like some of the other automakers on this list, Porsche has filled the black-on-black design niche with its 911 Carrera Black Edition. Based on the standard model, the Black Edition—available in coupe or convertible versions—sports a 3.4-liter V-6 engine with 350 hp and can come with standard black or optional Jet Black Metallic paint. The Black Edition has received some special enhancements, including 20-inch 911 Turbo wheels, LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus, and a Bose sound system. The all-black interior has heated four-way sport seats, Black Edition logos on the door sill guards, and handy features like coat hooks and 12-volt plugs to charge your electronics before a night out. 

Acura NSX

There’s no question that the Acura NSX is a head-turner, but it’s also one of the most unique cars on this list because of its one-of-a-kind Sport Hybrid Super Handling AWD system, composed of a twin-turbocharged V-6 engine and three electric drive motors. While Acura has focused heavily on the performance aspects of this car, it hasn’t left comfort and luxury in the dust.

The sport seats—offered in materials like leather or faux-suede Alcantara—have been designed to offer better comfort than other high-performance competitors. Audio and connectivity features include compatibility with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, and Pandora, as well as the AcuraLink system for convenience features like traffic information and 24/7 concierge service. An optional Technology Package also includes a premium audio system designed in collaboration with Grammy- and Emmy-winning recording engineer and music producer Elliot Scheiner.