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Bugatti Test Driver Andy Wallace Explains How to Use Your Chiron

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Bugatti’s official test driver Andy Wallace has been with the company since 2011 and now explains how to use your Chiron including the drive modes, launch control, and speed key.
Bugatti Chiron Test Driver Andy Wallace Explains How To Drive The Chiron

If there is anyone that knows a thing or two about the Bugatti Chiron and is qualified to explain its nuances, it’s Bugatti’s official test driver Andy Wallace. Having been with the company since 2011 he’s already covered 150,000 km’s in the Chiron over the last few years, taking the car through its paces in the testing phase as well as demonstrating to clients the full extent of its capabilities.

Bugatti Test Driver Andy Wallace

Before joining Bugatti, Wallace spent the last 30 years of his career racing around tracks as a professional race driver, competing in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Daytona a combined 21 times (taking home the winners trophy on four occasions) and driving the 12 Hours of Sebring 19 times (and winning twice).

Andy Wallace with Le Mans 2006 team mates
Andy Wallace with team mates at 24 Hours Le Mans 2006

When Bugatti was looking for an official test driver back in 2011, former race engineers remembered Andy Wallace as a reliable and precise driver.

 “Actually, when my racing career ended I thought that would be the end of me sitting in powerful cars. But then Bugatti came up with an offer I couldn’t refuse,” recalled Andy Wallace.  “I’ve been mad about cars since I was five years old. I watched my first race at the age of eight, and then I drove in races myself for 33 years. And now I have the opportunity to drive such fantastic cars, with all that incomparable acceleration incorporated into a true luxury car. As a racing driver, it goes without saying that I love speed and lateral forces.”

Nowadays, Wallace has by no means slowed down the pace – in fact he was the driver of the record-breaking Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ which was the first series-production car to break the elusive 300 mph barrier – hitting a top speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h).

Bugatti Test Driver Andy Wallace Drives The Record Breaking Chiron Sport 300+

So it seemed a no-brainer to have Andy Wallace share a few thoughts and tips around how to use the Chiron given his extensive experience in the car. Below are 5 short clips with a summarized version or reference purposes if you don’t have time to watch the videos.

Episode 1 – A Few Fast Facts About the Bugatti Chiron
  • The Chiron is powered by a large W16 8-liter engine capable of producing 1500hp. As it is so incredibly fast, it also needs massive brakes capable of bringing it to a halt safely
  •  The Chiron has four large turbochargers that take a while to spool up but the Chiron’s unique two-stage system activates by closing off two of the turbochargers at low RPM and forces 8 cylinders on each side through only two of the turbocharges – thus they spin up very quickly and you reach maximum boost with only two turbocharges. As the revs rise and you need more volume the other two are engaged
  • The Chiron needs 1000 liters of air a second for combustion
  • The forces acting on the wheel when the car is at top speed (420km/h) mean that the outer edge of the wheel is subjected to 3000x gravity, making a tiny valve cap that weighs 2.5grams is equivalent to 7.5kg at maximum speed
Episode 2 – The Interior of the Bugatti Chiron
  • Despite the staggering performance of the car it’s still designed to be comfortable and all materials used are high quality
  • The Chiron does not have a center screen but all of the information you would find there is included on the dashboard.
  • The aircon dials can display extra information regarding driving performance but need to be activated (and viewed preferably after driving for safety reasons)
Episode 3 – How to Use the Bugatti Chiron Drive Modes
  • There are three normal modes in the Bugatti Chiron plus the top speed mode
  • Bugatti Chiron EB Mode: Is the standard automatic driving mode that you can drive in all day long from 0 – 380 km/h but when you reach 180km/h it will automatically switch to the autobahn mode without you doing anything
  • Bugatti Chiron Autobahn Mode: The drive will drop the ride height and rake the car 20mm at the front and 1mm at the back. Suspension will be stiffer, steering program stiffer and the wing will deploy to 10 degrees. What that does is drop the center of gravity and gives you more downforce, more stability and sharpens the reaction of the controls
  • Bugatti Chiron Handling Mode: Even more downforce and more stability than the autobahn mode
Episode 4 – How to Use the Bugatti Chiron Launch Control
  • How to launch control in the Bugatti Chiron
  • Have the pressure on with your left foot on the brake and push the launch control button. Done.
Episode 5 – How to Use the Bugatti Chiron Speed Key
  • The Bugatti Chiron Speed Key lets you override the standard 380km/h top speed to achieve a maximum speed of 420km/h.
  • All you need to do is slot the key into the holder and turn the key. Once the Chiron has gone through a series of checks to make sure it is safe to drive 420km/h it will show a new top speed limit of 420km/h on the dash and you’re free to go.

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Lamborghini Reveals Countach LPI 800-4 Revival

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Lamborghini is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Countach with a special edition LPI 800-4 model debuting at this year’s Monterey Car Week.
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Aerial
The new Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4. Credit: Lamborghini

In celebration of the Countach’s 50th anniversary, Lamborghini has unveiled a special limited edition Countach LPI 800-4 as a futuristic tribute to the poster car of the 1980s.

While sharing the same name and drawing on the visual legacy of its predecessor, the new Countach LPI 800-4 is powered by Lamborghini’s aspirated V12 engine combined with new hybrid supercapacitor technology initially developed for the Sian.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Side 1
Powered by Lamborghini’s V12 engine with hybrid supercapacitor. Credit: Lamborghini

Delivering 802hp maximum combined power (rounded to 800 for the sake of its model name), the LPI 800-4 can reach 0-62mph acceleration in just 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 220mph.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Front Side
The Lamborghini Countach has a top speed of 220mph. Credit: Lamborghini

“The Countach LPI 800-4 is a visionary car of the moment, just as its forerunner was,” says Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann. “One of the most important automotive icons, the Countach not only embodies the design and engineering tenet of Lamborghini but represents our philosophy of reinventing boundaries, achieving the unexpected and extraordinary and, most importantly, being the ‘stuff of dreams.

“The Countach LPI 800-4 pays homage to this Lamborghini legacy, but it is not retrospective: it imagines how the iconic Countach of the 70s and 80s might have evolved into an elite super sports model of this decade. It upholds the Lamborghini tradition of looking forward, of exploring new design and technology avenues while celebrating the DNA of our brand. It is a Lamborghini that innately expresses the marque’s enduring and emotive power: always inspirational and thrilling to see, hear and most of all drive.”

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Front
Inspired by the Quattrovalvole edition with low rectangular headlights. Credit: Lamborghini

Inspired by the Countach’s distinctive silhouette, sharp angles, and wedge shape, the Countach LPI 800-4’s exterior inspiration was taken specifically from the Quattrovalvole edition in the bold lines of the front bonnet with long, low rectangular grille and headlights, as well as in the wheel arches with their hexagonal theme.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Rear Side
Futuristic hexagonal rear lights like those of the Sián. Credit: Lamborghini

Unfortunately for fans of the Wolf of Wall Street Countach, there’s no fixed rear wing on the latest model. However, there are still air scoops integrated fluidly into the car’s shoulders and the distinctive Countach slatted “gills” and famous scissor doors.

The rear of the Countach LPI 800-4 still features a distinctive inverted wedge shape, with the rear bumper featuring a lower, sleeker line and the hexagonal rear light design similar to that of the Sián.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Side
The famous scissor doors still remain. Credit: Lamborghini

Lamborghini has revealed only 112 models of the new Countach LPI 800-4 will be produced (a number chosen in honor of the internal project name “LP 112” used for the original Countach development) with allocations already fulfilled prior to the public launch.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 Front Side
Only 112 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4’s will be produced. Credit: Lamborghini

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Porsche & Manthey Racing Collab on Limited Edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25

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Porsche Motorsport celebrates 25 years partnership with Manthey-Racing and reveals the limited edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25.
The new Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25. Credit: Porsche
The new Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25. Credit: Porsche

Porsche Motorsport is celebrating 25 years of collaboration with Manthey-Racing GmbH and has unveiled the limited edition 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 to commemorate.

Founded by racing driver Olaf Manthey in 1996, Manthey-Racing GmbH is responsible for running the Porsche 911 RSR of the factory squad in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and has made a name for itself in both the motor racing world and as a GT road car specialist.

Celebrating 25 years partnership with Manthey Racing. Credit: Porsche
Celebrating 25 years partnership with Manthey Racing. Credit: Porsche

The basic concept and technical ideas for the new special edition was provided by Manthey and based on the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport with Porsche providing the final design. 

Developed specifically for track days and circuit racing, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is powered by a 3.8-liter flat-six twin-turbo engine and produces 515 HP directed to the rear wheels through Porsche’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (PDK). 

Green and yellow design accents inspired by "Grello". Credit: Porsche
Green and yellow design accents inspired by “Grello”. Credit: Porsche

Taking inspiration from Manthey’s 911 GT3 R, known as the “Grello” because of its distinctive green and yellow livery, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 sports a similar green and yellow color scheme to highlight functional areas of the vehicle and adopts many vehicle components and elements from future Porsche racing cars. 

Limited to 30 vehicles worldwide. Credit: Porsche
Limited to 30 vehicles worldwide. Credit: Porsche

“The design of the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 expresses the long-standing collaboration between Porsche Motorsport and Manthey,” emphasizes Grant Larson from Style Porsche. “It amalgamates the respective strengths of each partner into one racing car, and at the same time bridges the gap between the 991 and 992 model generations of the 911.”

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25 is limited to 30 vehicles in total (only six are allocated for North America) with deliveries expected to begin in early 2022.

To order, customers will need to email 911GT2RSClubsport25@porsche.de directly and have a spare $620,00 on hand. 

2021 Porsche 991 GT2 RS Aerial

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Pagani to Reveal Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta at Monterey Car Week 2021

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The new Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta is set to make its debut at this year’s Monterey Car Week and celebrates ten years of the Huayra supercar.
Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta Front Side View
The new Pagani BC Huayra Pacchetto Tempesta. Credit: Pagani Automobili

This year at Monterey Car Week, Pagani celebrates ten years of the Huayra with the world premiere of the new Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta.

Based on the Huayra BC, the new Pacchetto Tempesta package means the Huayra BC’s high-performance platform can be equipped with a range of “state-of-the-art technical and artisan solutions” to maximize the car’s racing abilities and achieve an 8% power increase to deliver 827 hp and 1,100 Nm torque.

Pagani has only teased several introductory images of the green carbon fiber bodied beauty ahead of the premiere, and although full details are yet to be shared, Pagani has noted that the Pacchetto Tempesta features a new front splitter, dedicated air intake, rear wing with an integrated central fin, and six-pipe exhaust system to maximize aerodynamic efficiency.

Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta Rear Aerial
New rear wing design with an integrated central fin. Credit: Pagani Automobili

A tweaked suspension system and the addition of an all-new “Soft Driving mode” also ensure drivers are afforded maximum comfort in the aggressive Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta.

The Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta will make its debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering event on Friday 13th August at Monterey Car Week 2021 and will be seen alongside the Huayra R project and an up-close-and-personal look at the all-new Pagani V12-R engine, six-speed sequential gearbox.

While no prices have been revealed yet, the Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta will no double start above the $2.25 million price tag of the Huayra BC.

Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta Rear
New six-exhaust design (four central and two below). Credit: Pagani Automobili

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