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  • Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport gets airborne during Nardo testing

    Bugatti on Wednesday released photos of its hardcore Chiron Pur Sport getting a final shakedown at Italy’s Nardo circuit ahead of the start of production later this year.

    A more track-focused version of the Chiron, the Pur Sport was unveiled in March, and the push toward production has continued despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

    Engineers are now fine-tuning the engine control system, transmission, brakes, and running gear, according to a Bugatti press release. Bugatti test driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Andy Wallace also drove the car at Nardo to give his feedback.

    The Pur Sport was designed to emphasize handling rather than top speed. To that end, engineers added carbon fiber stabilizer bars and increased negative camber by 2.5 degrees. This necessitated other suspension modifications, including stiffer springs and harder bushings, all to give the Pur Sport a more precise handling feel.

    Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport testing at Nardo

    Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport testing at Nardo

    Aerodynamic elements were tweaked to produce more downforce. Unlike the standard Chiron, the Pur Sport has a fixed rear wing, as well as a longer diffuser and model-specific wheels. The design of the wheels generates downforce, and also saves 35 pounds of weight, about one third of the total 110-pound weight savings of the Pur Sport over the Chiron. Those wheels are wrapped in Michelin tires with a softer, grippier compound than the standard Chiron’s tires.

    The changes lower the Pur Sport’s top speed to 217 mph, compared to 261 mph for the standard Chiron. Power is still provided by an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16, which still delivers a peak 1,480 horsepower. However, the power peak is between 6,700 rpm and 6,900 rpm—200 rpm higher than the standard Chiron.

    Production is scheduled to start this fall and just 60 Pur Sports will be built—each priced from 3 million euros (approximately  $3.5 million).

    Bugatti also started delivering the limited-edition Divo hypercar to customers last month. Its development of the world’s fastest car, the Chiron Super Sport 300+, is ongoing, however..

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  • 2021 Lucid Air, 2021 Cadillac CT5, 2022 Genesis G70: This Week’s Top Photos

    California EV startup Lucid unveiled the production version of its long-awaited Air sedan this week. The sleek four-door will accelerate to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and pass the quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds, making it one of the quickest cars to ever enter production. Lucid also this week teased its next model, an SUV code-named Project Gravity.

    Maserati MC20

    Maserati MC20

    Another major reveal this week was Maserati’s MC20 supercar. The car has a striking design and is powered by Maserati’s newly developed 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6, which is good for 621 horsepower and will see the MC20 sprint to 62 mph in under 3.0 seconds. For quicker acceleration, the company is working on a battery-electric version.

    2021 Cadillac CT5

    2021 Cadillac CT5

    Cadillac this week announced its 2021 CT5, which benefits from a few updates including the addition of Super Cruise. While the 2021 model won’t reach dealers until the fall, the 2020 model is still on sale. Read about it in our latest review.

    2020 BMW X6 M50i, left, and 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S, right

    2020 BMW X6 M50i, left, and 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S, right

    Can’t decide between the Porsche Cayenne Coupe and BMW X6? We also tested these two Teutonic coupe-like SUVs back-to-back and have a comparison review up.

    Updated Genesis G70

    Updated Genesis G70

    Genesis unveiled a major update for its G70. The small sport sedan has taken on a new look that matches the rest of the automaker’s lineup, which will prove handy as Genesis continues to push into new markets.

    2022 Volkswagen ID 6 spy shots - Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

    2022 Volkswagen ID 6 spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

    Volkswagen was spotted testing a mid-size electric crossover SUV that’s likely to be badged an ID 6. It’s the production version of last year’s Roomzz concept, and the styling is almost identical to the handsome show car.

    2023 BMW X1 spy shots - Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

    2023 BMW X1 spy shots – Photo credit: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

    Another vehicle spotted testing was a redesigned BMW X1. The compact crossover looks to be taking on a more aggressive design for its next generation, and this time around there will be a battery-electric option to choose from.

    2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge

    2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge

    And finally, contributor Alex Kalogiannis promised his mom he’d bring home a Rolls-Royce some day. She always appreciated the finer things, but never got to see her auto journalist son in a Roller as she died of cancer in June 2019. A year later, Alex fulfilled his promise to his mother as a touching tribute.

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  • Maserati MC20; Porsche Cayenne Coupe S vs. BMW X6 M50i; Aston Martin Victor: The Week In Reverse

    The mid-engine Maserati MC20 debuted; we compared the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S to the 2020 BMW X6 M50i; and the one-off Aston Martin Victor made a splash. It’s the Week in Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

    Maserati will build a mid-engine supercar for the first time since the MC12 in 2005. It’s called the MC20 and it features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that doles out 621 horsepower and sub-2.9-second 0-60 mph times. Maserati will go racing with its carbon-fiber supercar, though the company hasn’t said in which series. Look for it in 2022.

    We drove the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S and 2020 BMW X6 M50i in a $200,000 battle of performance-oriented crossover coupes. We found the BMW more powerful, more comfortable, and more spacious, but the Porsche was better looking and, surprise, it handled better.

    One lucky buyer commissioned the Q by Aston Martin team to build a supercar called the Victor. The car is based on the One-77’s carbon-fiber monocoque, but it features a wide-body look inspired by the Vantages of the 1970s and ’80s. Want one? You can’t have it. It’s a one-off.

    Contributor Alex Kalogiannis promised his mom he’d bring home a Rolls-Royce some day. She always appreciated the finer things, but never got to see her auto journalist son in a Roller as she died of cancer in June 2019. A year later, Alex fulfilled his promise to his mother as a touching tribute.

    The next BMW X1 was spotted testing on public roads draped in camouflage. We’re not sure about timing, but we’re estimating it as a 2023 model. The new entry-level crossover SUV will still ride on a front-wheel-drive platform, but it has a bolder, brawnier look than the current model.

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