Beau Là Là
In a city which is bound to beauty Motor Shows aren't a duty only. When the Paris Salon opens its gates on the first of October not the brave everyday cars are in the spotlight but spectacular studies like the Bugatti EB 118 from VW.
Presumed deads do live longer and when fortune has favoured them they sometimes rise like a phoenix from the ashes. It seems that the long-gone marque Bugatti belongs to the immortal of automobile history, whose racing- and sports-cars enjoyed a reverential admiration which lasts until today.

Not even the unsuccessful reanimation with the impressive but not much charismatic bolide EB 110 in the beginning of the 1990's could change anything on that which is why the VW-head Ferdinand Piech - who is keen on prestigious names - nearly inevitably came to Bugatti. Some months ago he bought the rights on the name and already in one week the Paris Salon will show that he absolutely intends to use it.
There a monumental coupe painted in French Blue will prove reference to the glorious past and the former headquarter. With a length of 5,05m, 1,99m width and 1,42m height in fact is taller than most of its predecessors but despite that tries hard to continue the classic Bugatti-line. At least one has to attest the Ital-Design designers around Giorgio Giugiaro that they caught the spirit of the marque better than the mid-engine flounder EB 110.

For the realization of the idea cultivated by the company's founder Ettore Bugatti to produce all parts themselves at the time a plant as well as a belonging research and development department. But that there is no lack of superlatives is thanks to the group's mother VW. It helped to get the four-seater an engine which the world hasn't seen before.
Under the front hood sits the first 18-cylinder engine of car history which is said to reach an unequalled development of power. For this three six-cylinder row-benches are coupled to a compact W-shape whereas every three of the 18 wrought-iron connecting rods have a common crank pin. The power  take-off on the crankshaft is done in the middle of the engine as is the camshaft drive.

Bugatti Given The Green Light
554 - AutoExpress -- VOLKSWAGEN has given the go-ahead for its new Bugatti saloon to be built at a French car plant. The German giant's boss Ferdinand Piech confirmed that the first Bugatti based on this E218 concept will roll off the production line at the end of 2002.

VW lost out in its bid for Rolls-Royce last summer, and Piech has since made it clear that his new Bugatti would 'attack Rolls', as well as go head-to-head with the Mercedes Maybach luxury limo. The manufacturer bought the legendary Bugatti marque last year.

Featuring a 6.3-litre, 18-cylinder engine, the car will be built at a new £35million plant in Molsheim.
Many thanks to Michael M. for sending the article!