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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The Bugatti Supercar




The Bugatti Supercar
The Bugatti Veyron is the automotive equivalent of the unicorn. The Bugatti name exudes class and pedigree. (Ralph Lauren owns three vintage Bugattis in addition to a Veyron.) This is precisely why I jumped at the chance to drive the brand's newest flagship, the 16-cylinder, quad-turbocharged Veyron, along the California coastal path connecting Monterey and Half Moon Bay. My escort was to be Pierre-Henri Raphanel, a former French race-car driver and Bugatti's chief ambassador who typically co-pilots the test runs.

My encounter with the Veyron came in mid-August on the heels of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, one of the world's most fabulous vintage-car extravaganzas. All the high-society auto buffs in attendance were staying at my hotel, and the parking lot contained enough precious metal to warrant its own admission fee. As I was walking outside on the morning of my drive, I was gazing so intently at all the prancing horses, winged B's, raging bulls, and other purebreds that I almost missed the grand entrance of the yellow-on-black Veyron.

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