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   by Jon Winding-Sørensen

Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron

Volkswagen has released photos of the production version of the Bugatti EB 16.4 Veyron. The whole project is incredible, it could well have ended as a concept car from the 1999 Tokyo Show. Instead the production version is now frozen, cars will be sold for 1 million Euro each, 50 cars will be built each year by craftsmen in a new assembly shop established in Molsheim – The original Bugatti location.

The weight is commendably low, around 1600 kg, when the incredible mechanical content is taken into consideration. With 987hp from the 8 liter quad-Turbo W16 engine the power weight ratio will be top, and combined with good aerodynamics VW is talking about more than 400 kmh and zero to 300kmh in less than 14 seconds.

Traces of intense wind tunnel work are evident all around from air outlets in front of the doors to fins providing ram air to the engine cooling and active spoiler. It is a compact car, 4466 mm x 1998 mm makes it shorter and narrower than a Lamborghini Murcielago. But longer wheel base and huge 20in wheels gives the Veyron a unique, tough stance.

Even if the finalised production model looks exactly as the cars that have been present at recent Motor Shows, Volkswagen claims that each exterior panel has been altered. Not for appearance but for airflow management. Details like the creaseline along the sides of the car, or the side mirrors have all been subtly altered to aid aerodynamic stability and streamlining.

The interior is luxurious, weight saving has not been an issue there. Soft leather and tuned aluminium are repeated themes, with a very art deco execution. But why name one of this century’s automotive masterpiece after a second rate French racing driver who’s only claim to fame was that he co-drove Wimille’s Bugatti, coming first in le Mans 1939? There definitely are at least 20 more illustrious names one could end up with. Wimille for instance.

Renault Scenic

There will be two Scenic versions built on the Megane II platform. The shortest has recently been launched and it is obvious that this is a less controversial design than the previous 3- and 5-door versions which seemed to be polarizing public opinion.

We can still talk about a fairly avant garde design, but much more mellow than the angry hatch backs.

The first Scenic had many qualities, but a striking interior design was not among them. Plain plasticky look. That has been radically changed now. Beautiful materials, surfaces that invites touching, an obvious quality and intuitive functionality. The driver and his passengers are integrated into the room/machine in quite another way than was the case earlier.

The practical details deserve a whole book. Enough, here, to mention that the Renault engineers have developed another way of folding and hiding seats that will not be used. More ingenious that last week’s solution.

All the lockers, shelves, hidden boxes and cubicles makes it an exciting game to see if you remember where you hid the item you are looking for now.

Opel Vectra Caravan

The last model in Opel’s new Vectra family is the traditionally named Caravan. The estate car will be built on the Signum platform – a 130mm longer wheelbase than the Vectra sedan.

And that gives the Caravan exceptional carrying capacity, with a nearly two meter long luggage bay and a cargo volume of up to 1850 liters making it Germany’s second biggest after the E-Class. And as with the E-Class a lot has been done do make this a practical work-horse. Stowing areas and systems abound, electric operated and remote controlled rear door, and a foldaway trailer hitch add to the practical aspects too.

The car itself is a very clean design, the added length helping to give the car an expression completely it’s own, even if the front part is pure Vectra. The massive rear pillars tell us that this is a car that is both stylish and a serious load-carrier. This is the first Vectra caravan to feature taillamp units in the rear hatch, part of a design that emphasises the Vectra Caravan's new up-scale role, replacing the Omega Caravan as the top-of-the-range Opel wagon. The Vectra Caravan will debut at the Frankfurt Show and hit the Opel/Vauxhall showrooms soon afterwards.

2004 Subaru Legacy

Subaru has released details of next year’s Legacy. Chassis-wise the car seems to be a huge improvement on the existing model, but still retaining it’s flat four (or flat six in the premium version, with 250 hp from 3 litres) engine and four wheel drive. It will come in both sedan and estate versions, and as a high-roofed, higher riding Outback model.

Not yet a dramatic eye-catcher, but still a huge improvement on the old version. We believe Andreas Zapatinas and his fresh team have been active here. It's not such fussy surfacing as before, (drag coefficient said to be below 0,30) the front is distinct and the rear uncluttered. The longer wheelbase may have made the task easier.

The interior is said to set a new standard for Subaru, leagues ahead, as one reporter says, “Not quite up to Audi standards, but knocking on its door for fit and finish”. It is likely to be priced somewhere between the Ford Mondeo and the BMW 3-Series in Europe, when it arrives in the autumn.