Daihatsu Terios
2007-06-24 22:30:00
The first thing you notice about Daihatsu’s new Terios SUV is that it is much bigger than its predecessor - and all the better for it.How much bigger? Well, it’s 230mm longer and 190mm wider. It looks smarter too, with a new purposeful front end featuring a deep front bumper topped by a flat but curved bonnet. The rear end has a side opening door with a rear-mounted spare wheel and a window line that appears to wrap around into the main body of the car. It has a hint of RAV4 about it, which is not surprising considering Daihatsu’s parent company is Toyota.The company is so confident in the Terios that they are already warning of restricted numbers worldwide because it is so popular at home.The Terios looks fun and capable. It has a fairly long wheelbase coupled with a wide track and short overhangs at each end, making it suitable for off-road excursions. It has a full-time 4WD system, complete with an electronic differential-lock for sticky situations. Although the nearest most o
Daihatsu Sirion
2007-06-24 22:10:00
Daihatsu's second-generation Sirion is a deceptively spacious supermini, ideally suited to drivers looking for a compact city package at an affordable price. There's a more European flavour to this Sirion over the old one; the styling is sharper, the drive has been improved and it's well packaged inside. What Daihatsu hasn't changed is its value for money; standard equipment is impressive for such a small car - every Sirion has air con, a CD player and electric windows - and list prices are enticing, too.
1935 Ford Type 48 German Cabrio
2007-06-16 00:50:00
This is a 1935 Ford Type 48, with a custom coach-built cabriolet body. Little was known about the car's past until the body panels were stripped to bare metal for restoration. It was evident from the modifications and previous damage that the car had been confiscated for use by the German
military during World War II.The current owner located the car in March of 2005, in Portland, Oregon, through an ad on E-bay. The auction reserve hadn't been met, but a subsequent phone call resolved the situation amicably and the car relocated to Jacksonville, Florida.The bodywork is from Drauz of Heilbrunn, Germany, and the chassis was built by the Ford Werks A.G. Koln, Germany. This is proven by the red Ford/Koln emblem and the German data plate. Notable European features include suicide doors, louvered hood sides, landau irons and German instruments. This is one of two examples known.This is one of four known 1935 custom coach built Fords. The body is 'metal-over-wood' construction and is the
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V8 for '08: Chevy Colorado engine lineup expanding
2007-06-09 00:59:00
The addition of GM's 5.3L V8 to the HUMMER H3 Alpha for 2008 has resulted in some trickle-down goodness for the SUV's pickup truck platform-mate, the Chevy
Colorado
. PickupTruck.com is reporting that the smaller Chevy truck will indeed receive the same infusion of V8 power in 2008. We've driven both the Silverado and the GMC Sierra with that engine, and we liked it a lot in the big trucks. Imagining it in the Colorado has grins spreading across our faces, as it will certainly add a good amount of pop, and with the 5.3's cylinder deactivation system, it should also be respectable at the pump, considering it'll have a lot less truck to move around than with the GMT900.The addition of the 295-horse V8 will catapult the Colorado to the top of the heap in the midsize pickup segment in terms of power, edging the new Dodge Dakota (290 hp), and putting it well beyond the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger (numbers 1 & 2 respectively on the sales charts). GM's been teasing everyone with V8
Read more: lineup
, expanding
Jeep Liberty
2007-06-02 08:11:00
Jeep has an all-new Liberty ready for the 2008 model year, but you can easily spot some familiar lines in its exterior styling and interior layout. Most obvious of the changes is the exterior shape and size: Replacing the rounded curves of the 2007 model are sharper body angles, especially evident in the rear, where the box-like tail replaces the rounded forms of the current model. Here’s a rundown of the major features: * new independent front suspension and revised rear suspension for a better ride without sacrificing Jeep’s off-road capability; * two four-wheel drive systems—one part-time, the other-full time; * improved fuel economy of 16/22 mpg for city/highway based on 2008 EPA standards; * two transmissions—the six-speed manual and four-speed automatic; * 3.7-liter, 210-hp V6 (the only engine choice); * new “Sky Slider” fabric roof that opens full length or partial length at the push of a button.Included in the list of safety equipment are side curtain ai
Buick Enclave: Top-of-the Line Crossover with High-Tech DNA
2007-06-02 08:03:00
The new Enclave takes Buick
back to the brand's roots with a quiet ride, striking style and smooth performance. The Enclave shares a platform with both the Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia, but because it's a Buick, this eight-passenger crossover is more about pampering. Power comes from the same 3.6-liter, 271-hp V6 as the GMC and Saturn models and comes paired to a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is on the options list—as is a choice of 18-inch or 19-inch wheels. If you want some serious bling, there’s a 20-inch wheel available as a dealer-installed option. Fuel economy is rated as 16/24 (city/highway) for the front drive Enclave, and two less in each category for the all-wheel drive model.But Enclave is more about style and ride than simple raw numbers. Of the three GM crossovers built on this chassis, Enclave offers the most appealing—“sensual,” the company calls them—bodylines and quietest ride. Showing off Buick’s luxury ou
Buick Riviera Concept
2007-06-02 07:53:00
Believe it or not, Buick
-one of America's oldest car brands-actually sells more units in China than in the States. Of course, Buick also has a wider product line in China, with everything from a rebadged Suzuki Reno hatchback to a minivan. To show its love for its loyal Asian buyers, Buick decided not only to have its Chinese studio design this new concept, but also to debut the car in Shanghai.The Riviera concept revives a name that hasn't been seen since the last generation car died in 1999, and it's a very important nameplate for Buick. When the original Riv' was unveiled in 1963, it blew the world away with its elegant, timeless design. It is still looked at as one of GM's best designs of all time, and the car was even on our "25 Most Beautiful Cars" list in September of 2006. This new design is meant to bring some excitement back to the Buick brand, not just in China, but around the world - the Riviera demonstrates a new design language that will be used on all future models.
Read more: Concept
BMW CS Concept Photo Gallery
2007-06-02 07:46:00
Read more: Concept
, Photo
, Gallery
Maserati GranTurismo Photo Gallery
2007-06-02 07:37:00
Read more: Photo
, Gallery
, Maserati
, GranTurismo
, Maserati GranTurismo
Audi Cross Coupe Quattro Concept
2007-06-02 07:27:00
Audi calls it a coupe, but we'd say this concept is a four-door crossover. An Audi USA spokesman insisted that this is not the upcoming Q5 SUV (which we should see early next year), but is instead an exploration of a sportier blend of car, wagon, and SUV. You could throw in convertible too, what with the Cross
Coupe
's huge, power-operated canvas sunroof. Mechanically, the Cross Coupe is based on the Audi A3, with a transverse-mounted 2.0-liter, 204-hp TDI (with Bluetec exhaust cleansing technology) mated to Audi's S-tronic gearbox and, naturally, all-wheel drive. The concept rolls on 20-inch wheels and is slowed by ceramic disc brakes. The suspension, of damper struts in front and multiple links in the rear, also features magnetic, adjustable dampers. In this car, Audi's MMI (Multi Media Interface) supplements its familiar knob controller with a touch pad for mo
Read more: Concept
, Quattro
2008 Porsche Cayenne Transsiberia Rally SUV Photo Gallery
2007-06-02 07:09:00
Read more: Photo
, Gallery
, Porsche
, Rally
2007 Jaguar C-XF Concept
2007-06-02 07:01:00
For Jaguar
sedan design, time stopped in the 1960s. Today's X-type and XJ sedans both follow in the tire tracks of the first XJ, which debuted in 1968, while the S-type apes the even older, early-'60s Jaguar Mark II. Design chief Ian Callum is determined to drive Jaguar styling out of its cul-de-sac, and the Concept
XF is the first indication of where he plans to go.Interiors will use wood as both a structural and a decorative element. Jaguar cabins will be styled so as to emphasize their width, and technology will be discreet. The RD-6 and R-coupe concepts--as well as the new XK--follow this philosophy, but the C-XF is the first Jaguar sedan to do so.Jaguar has announced that the S-type will be replaced in spring 2008 with a car called the XF, so the C-XF clearly points the way toward that production model. How close is the C-XF to the XF? "It's that styling direction, but it's not that car," says Callum, adding that "it's a less radical version of that shape." He characterizes t
Mazda Goes Miller Cycle With Demio for Japan
2007-06-02 06:52:00
Watch out, diesel. Mazda
says it's developed a Miller
-cycle engine for the new Demio
(Mazda2) in Japan
that gets around 54 miles per gallon. The new JDM gas sipper goes on sale in July, sporting a 20 percent improvement in mileage over the current model, in combination with a continuously variable transmission. So what's this Miller cycle we speak of? Let's ask Wikipedia: "In the Miller cycle, the intake valve is left open longer than it would be in an Otto cycle engine. In effect, the compression stroke is two discrete cycles: the initial portion when the intake valve is open and final portion when the intake valve is closed. This two-stage intake stroke creates the so called "fifth" cycle that the Miller cycle introduces. As the piston initially moves upwards in what is traditionally the compression stroke, the charge is partially expelled back out the still-open intake valve."That's lovely. Problem is, the engines trade power for efficiency, which is usually compensated with a
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General Motors’ Branding Fiasco Part Five - Buick, Fading Fast
2007-06-02 06:05:00
Buick was the special child in the GM family: the beautiful and temperamental second-oldest daughter that somehow always got the most attention from Daddy. Sure, oldest daughter Caddy got to wear the family jewels and formal gowns, but Buick was lavished with style. Whether it was Harley Earl or Bill Mitchell, GM’s top stylists always blessed Buick with their best efforts. For decades, Buick was maintained in the style to which she had become accustomed, and remained America’s fashion-conscious upscale buyers’ wheels of choice. And then, not.Scotsman David Dunbar Buick founded his eponymous automobile company in 1903. The following year, the inventor of the overhead valve engine sold the struggling concern to James Whiting, an ambitious wagon builder. Whiting turned to William Durant to help jump start Buick.With an excellent product to sell (the Model C), Durant’s energy, affability and marketing genius ensured Buick’s ascension to profit and glory. Durant used Buick’s rev
Read more: Buick
, General
, Motors
, Branding
, Fiasco
, Fading
, General Motors
2009 Ford F-150
2007-06-02 05:44:00
The master cladders at Ford Motor Company have left almost everything to the imagination with this spy shot of the next-generation F-Series pickup, which is expected to debut for the 2009 model year.But as the truck moves into final confirmation prototypes, a number of them were caught road testing—in three cab configurations. Spotted in Detroit have been standard short cab, extended cab (like the one pictured here), and four-door crew cab ’09 versions, suggesting Ford will be ready to rumble with a full lineup when the trucks launch next year.The few glimpses through the cladding reveal a large three-bar grille, and it appears the headlights of the new F-150 will not share the tall, stacked treatment given the new Super Duties.We admit, we were surprised last October when Ford, in delivering the grim news of layoffs and plant closures in its updated Way Forward restructuring plan, added fairy dust with the announcement it was redoing the pickup.The current generation launched for
Future BMW X3: Made in the U.S.A.
2007-06-02 05:14:00
BMW AG has made it official: It will build the next generation of the X3 SUV in-house, at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, when its current contract runs out in 2010–2011.While not unexpected, it is a blow for Magna International which currently assembles the X3 for BMW at its Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria. In preparation for the addition of the X3, which launched in January 2004, Magna purchased its next-door neighbor, Chrysler’s Eurostar plant that was making minivans and PT Cruisers. Once Magna owned the whole complex, minivan production moved to Magna’s original plant; PT Cruisers were consolidated at the Toluca, Mexico, plant; and the vacated Eurostar space was prepped to set Magna up as the sole source for the new BMW.In 2006, the X3 represented about 45 percent of Graz’s total vehicle output. But the writing has been on the wall since BMW officials began suggesting the next X3 could share underpinnings with the Z4—and both could end up adopting the new 3-
Read more: Future
Chrysler CEO Sees Rosy Future
2007-06-02 01:33:00
Tom LaSorda, president and CEO of Chrysler
present and future, spent his first day back on American soil filling in the blanks and debunking misinformation following the surprise announcement May 14 that the 83-year-old automaker had been sold and will soon be a standalone private company.LaSorda was still bleary-eyed and jet-lagged from the flight back from Stuttgart, Germany, where the news came out that a deal had been reached to sell Chrysler. New York equity firm Cerberus Capital Management will own 80.1 percent of Chrysler while former parent DaimlerChrysler AG will retain 19.9 percent.The new Chrysler will consist of the Chrysler Corporation—the name it had prior to its 1998 merger with Daimler-Benz—which will design, engineer, build, and sell Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler brand vehicles. Chrysler Financial Services will be a separate entity. Both will report to Chrysler Holding, which is majority owned by Cerberus.The 20-member supervisory board of DaimlerChrysler today approve
Read more: Future
Chevrolet Corvette Coupe and Convertible
2007-05-29 07:38:00
Chevy’s mad scientists have been hard at work tweaking the C6 Corvette
for its fourth model year, and the results are finally in. The most important figures: 6.2 liters of displacement, 430 hp, and 424 lb-ft of torque from its V-8 engine, which now carries the LS3 moniker. (For those without Corvette statistics tattooed to their brains, the C6’s previous LS2 V-8 displaced 6.0 liters and pumped out 400 ponies and 400 lb-ft of twist.)Besides the bump in displacement—achieved through increasing the bore from 101.62mm to 103.25mm—the aluminum-block LS3 gets better-flowing, LS7-style heads; new cam and camshaft timing; and an easier-breathing intake. Updates to the valvetrain (bigger cylinders mean bigger valves), fuel injectors swiped directly from the 505-hp LS7 V-8, and revisions to the block for more strength round out the changes between the Vette’s shapely front fenders.The LS3’s power and torque curves faithfully mirror those of the LS2, so power delivery is not much diff
Read more: Coupe
, Chevrolet
, Convertible
, Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Aveo
2007-05-29 05:27:00
Small cars have been with us for five decades. But sooner or later - more likely sooner, if California and the greens have their way - we'll all be driving smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, whether we like them or not. Fortunately, we're more enthusiastic about small cars at TheCarConnection.com than we have been in a long time, and that's thanks to a host of new vehicles in the class - vehicles from the MINI Cooper to the Chevrolet
Aveo. After a week of trying out a stick-shift Aveo four-door sedan for some 400 miles over every kind of driving Southern California offers, I came to a few conclusions - mostly Aveo-centered, since the MINI has a cultish following and the Aveo is arrowed right at the mainstream, nearly all cuteness excised. My conclusions? Ford, which has announced it will offer a B-car in the U.S. within the next year, will have to hustle to come up with a car as good as the Aveo. If Chrysler expects to have a credible B-car entry here, it better work fast - an
Ford Shelby GT500KR
2007-05-29 05:17:00
If the regular 500-hp Ford Mustang GT 500 isn’t enticing enough for you, then maybe this very limited edition KR model will. The KR, you might remember, was the top-dog 1968 Mustang and a car that commands nearly $200,000 in pristine condition today.Launching next spring, just 1000 units of the 2008 KR will be available. Its supercharged, 5.4-liter V8 gets a “Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack,” which boosts horsepower to 540 for the KR. Whew! Sounds like good stuff to us.The GT 500KR comes with a unique carbon composite hood with scoops and stainless steel hood pins. A lower front air dam with brake ducting helps cool 14-in. Brembo front brakes. Ford says the suspension has been modified as well to provide “race inspired handling.”The new KR may well be the highest horsepower production Mustang of all time, and we can’t wait to slide behind the wheel.
Read more: Shelby
Jeep Patriot
2007-05-28 11:07:00
One year ago exactly, Chrysler introduced us to the first of three all-new compact crossovers intended to help DCX get back into the compact-car game. First was Dodge’s chunky Caliber, mildly impressing us with its unique styling and clever interior packaging, but losing us completely with its ho-hum road manners and stunningly awful interior materials. Next came the miserable Jeep Compass, which took the worst of the Caliber’s traits and wrapped them in styling to match. Now we have the Jeep Patriot
, which, at a base price of just $14,985, will be even cheaper than the Compass by $1000. Needless to say, our expectations were low.Fortunately, the Patriot’s not that bad; its inoffensive styling, real utility, and cheap price easily making it rise above the Caliber and Compass.The Best of the ThreeNow, saying that the Patriot is better than Caliber and Compass certainly isn’t saying much. But honestly, there’s plenty to praise about the newest and cheapest of Jeeps, and thus we
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HYUNDAI ACCENT 4-DOOR
2007-05-26 06:31:00
HIGHSQuiet running with a cushy ride and plenty of attractive safety features. LOWSRubber-band shifter, undisciplined shocks and struts make for a loose ride. WHAT'S NEWSedan is mostly carry-over from ’06, but a three-door model joins the lineup. BEHIND THE WHEELThe Accent rides well, but without sporty intent. Fun is not the object here, and for a small package, there’s lots of refinement. CAPSULE REVIEWThe third-generation Accent is roomier than the car it replaces and comes in GLS trim only. It has dual front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, and side-curtain airbags, standard safety features that are usually unheard of in an economy car. And it has a great warranty.
HYUNDAI SANTA FE
2007-05-26 06:24:00
The Santa Fe, which was introduced as a 2001 model, has been steadily updated over the years in both small ways—relocating the clock from an overhead position to the dashboard—and large ways such as fitting standard side-impact airbags.This year, the Santa Fe adds a new Limited trim level, which includes leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, automatic temperature control, an in-dash six-CD changer, automatic light control, and a trip computer. A new standard feature on the GLS 3.5 is an electrochromic auto-dimming rearview mirror with a HomeLink universal transceiver. Exterior design changes for the 2006 model year include a new all-black monochromatic color scheme available on the Limited.The Santa Fe—which comes in GLS and Limited trim levels—can be equipped with a 170-hp, 2.7-liter V-6 or a 200-hp (219 lb-ft of torque), 3.5-liter DOHC V-6. Models with the big motor come with a five-speed automatic transmission, anti-lock brakes with traction contro
How Anti-Lock Brakes Work
2007-05-26 06:12:00
Stopping a car in a hurry on a slippery road can be very challenging. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) take a lot of the challenge out of this sometimes nerve-wracking event. In fact, on slippery surfaces, even professional drivers can't stop as quickly without ABS as an average driver can with ABS.In this article, the last in a six-part series on brakes, we'll learn all about anti-lock braking systems -- why you need them, what's in them, how they work, some of the common types and some associated problems. Getting the ABS ConceptThe theory behind anti-lock brakes is simple. A skidding wheel (where the tire contact patch is sliding relative to the road) has less traction than a non-skidding wheel. If you have been stuck on ice, you know that if your wheels are spinning you have no traction. This is because the contact patch is sliding relative to the ice (see Brakes: How Friction Works for more). By keeping the wheels from skidding while you slow down, anti-lock brakes benefit you
Volvo S80 to Get Turbocharged Inline-Six
2007-05-26 06:02:00
Volvo has announced that it will add a third member to the engine lineup of the latest S80 sedan—a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. The all-new turbo six joins the naturally aspirated 3.2-liter inline-six as well as the Yamaha-sourced 4.4-liter V-8. The previous-generation S80 was powered by a turbo six as well, but the latest engine uses a single, twin-scroll turbo as opposed to the previous car’s 2.9-liter twin-turbo setup, which produced 272 hp. The new turbo motor has been downsized in displacement from the 3.2-liter I-6 by decreasing both bore and stroke, but it’s nevertheless good for 285 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, increases of 50 hp and 56 lb-ft over the regular six-holer. The S80’s V-8 makes 311 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Maximum twist is on tap from just 1500 rpm. The S80 T6 (V-8 AWD model pictured above and in photo gallery) will be exclusively all-wheel drive—"for now," says Volvo—when it goes on sale sometime this fall.
Read more: Inline
Audi TT
2007-07-12 10:41:00
OverviewAudi has redesigned the TT for the 2008 model year. Audi's goal in the redesign was to make a bigger sports car with better handling characteristics. We think they succeeded. The new car is wider and longer than last year's model for more comfort yet it feels light and tossable.The 2008 Audi TT will appeal to true sports car enthusiasts and weekend cruisers alike. Handling is crisp and steering is direct. With the standard 17-inch tires, the ride is quite compliant for a sports car, but it can be busy and bumpy with the available 18s and 19s. The interior is top-notch Audi. Tight panel gaps and soft-touch materials abound. The new, bigger TT is more accommodating to larger drivers than most of the other sports cars in this class. Both engine choices offer brisk performance, and the 2.0T is easy on gas.The new Audi TT comes in a range of body styles, with engine and transmission options, and available all-wheel drive. You can choose anything from an affordable, high-mileage ha
Chevrolet Avalanche
2007-07-29 05:47:00
Overview The Chevy Avalanche
has been redesigned and re-engineered for 2007 and the new version is vastly superior to its predecessor. The new Avalanche rewards its driver with taut handling. It's well designed throughout with impressive attention to detail. The previous-generation Avalanche was good. This new one is better. The Avalanche is and always has been one of a kind. It successfully combines the hauling capacity of a long-bed pickup with the comfort of a five-passenger sport utility vehicle. It switches between these roles using its ingenious Midgate, a removable rear bulkhead between the passenger compartment and the pickup bed. Along with a hard, tonneau-like bed cover, the Midgate allows the Avalanche to be configured as a Tahoe-sized sport utility with a short bed. Fold down the rear seats and open the Midgate and it's like a pickup with an enclosed eight-foot bed, capable of securing valuable gear from thieves or shielding drywall from weather. Remove the rear glass a
Read more: Chevrolet
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2007-07-29 05:25:00
OverviewNever mind the NASCAR association; or the bad-boy reputation. Never mind that the Chevrolet
Monte
Carlo
is as quick as it looks, with a 303-horsepower, variable-displacement small-block V8 as its top engine choice. Never mind the neo-muscle-car image the Monte Carlo carries. The Monte is primarily about style. Always has been. Always will be.The Monte Carlo was born in 1970 as a high-style variant on a more mundane mid-size sedan, and as a high-value alternative to more expensive personal luxury coupes. Its mission, at which it succeeded brilliantly, was to deliver a lot of visual importance for relatively small monthly payments. A big-bore SS version was there from the start, but initially the SS sold at a trickle compared to a torrent of base-model coupes with all the luxury options.The Monte quickly developed a dual personality: Although conceived originally for visual effect, its unusual proportions seemed to give it an edge in handling balance at medium-length NASCAR oval
BMW X5
2007-07-29 05:13:00
SUVs began life as trucks. Trucks are bouncy and push a lot of air, which requires a lot of gas, and they're hard to maneuver. No fun. So SUV makers with sports car genetics, such as BMW and Porsche, have tried to marry fun driving with truck utility.The BMW X5 is a V8-powered SUV aimed to provide the driving fun of a sport sedan. A mid-size luxury SUV, the first X5 was introduced for the 2000 model year. It was a trim-looking, tightly handling, tall-riding wagon. We drove this model with its 4.4-liter engine several thousand miles. It was short on utility, which is these days described as the ability to carry bikes and boards (sand, surf, sail, skate and snow), which the original short X5 could barely accommodate. In fact, it had less cargo space than a 5 Series wagon. A bigger BMW X5 would better meet the requirements of luxury SUV buyers, more in line with SUVs from Cadillac, Mercedes, Acura, Audi, and Volvo.For 2007, BMW stretched the X5 seven inches, while preserving its ability
Bugatti EB 16.4. Veyron “Pur Sang”
2007-10-03 04:01:00
Visitors to the Atelier in Molsheim are always intrigued to see the Veyron
’s high-tech components being meticulously assembled into an automotive work of art. Watching the car coming together, coupled with an admiration for the technical beauty of its structure, gave the designers the idea of finishing the car in its pure material configuration – meaning no colour coating.The result is the EB 16.4. Veyron “Pur Sang”, a two-tone study of pure materialness showing the car’s true essentials: carbon and aluminium. The carbon monocoque holds the engine plus the passenger cell, while the polished aluminium panelling is enhanced by reflections in the sculpted bodywork.Interestingly, the rawness of the materials even more strongly highlights the dual character of this car: performance power coupled with cruising comfort, structure and body, dark and light. A closer look at the details reveals the technical logic behind this stylistic appearance. The sophisticated monocoque contains a
Read more: Bugatti
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