The elegance of supercars

In the increasingly detached world of four-wheeled luxury, 2018 was a year of extreme models, which made the headlines because of their eyewatering prices and incredible details, even though, to a certain extent, the desire for extreme, almost “space-age” forms and otherworldly performance seems to have got out of hand. The king of exaggeration is once again Bugatti, with the Divo: nomen omen, as Latin-speaking people would have said, even though it wasn’t intended as an Italian adjective by the parent company. It officially took its name from the surname of a driver who won the Targa Florio twice in a Bugatti in the thirties. But, thanks to its technical specifications and price tag, the Divo is just that: a “divo”. Proposed to only 40 extremely wealthy collectors, with this car Bugatti wanted to set the record for the highest price ever: €5 million, with 1,500 horsepower and a top speed of “only” 380 km per hour, unlike previous models which were limited to 400! But it doesn’t matter because the dynamic characteristics have been improved: it now has a lateral acceleration of up to 1.6G. There’s good reason to bet that an engine of this kind achieves its aim of casting a spell, regardless of the exquisite details surrounding

the driver, made essentially of carbon fibre, leather and alcantara. Only a few kilos less (35) than the Chiron, Bugatti’s Divo focusses on other aspects: it has an 8 second faster lap time around the Nardò circuit (12.6 km) than the Chiron, with over 800 metres separation over one lap. Its superiority also lies in its enhanced agility and cornering, which is due to 90 kg more downforce, the result, primarily, of careful study of the aerodynamics of the front spoiler, which at the same time guarantees better cooling to the monstrous sixteen cylinders. But exclusivity is not only equal to exaggeration. There is something extraordinarily sexy about the reinterpretation of classic styles with a modern tone. Not just because starting a vintage project is in fashion, but because discovering drawings buried in wind tunnels and working with restrictive rules on lights and safety equipment still please the lovers of the emerging years of motoring. For this reason, the works of David Brown Automotive, are incredibly alluring. This recently formed British car “tailor” focusses on “remastering” certain great old classics, which has resulted in the Speedback Silverstone Edition. The small company, established in an old RAF base, right in front of the national circuit, celebrates with this limited edition of only 10 examples an important anniversary for the original David Brown: for those who may not remember he was the man who launched Aston Martin and Lagonda in the period after the war. An iconic name in the history of motoring, as iconic as these reinterpretations of historic Aston Martin models and other grand touring cars of the past. This very special edition costing €700,00 offers 80 more horse power that the original model, thus rising to 601, with a 5-litre, 8-cylinder engine, but above all is admired for the high level of truly bespoke details. In addition to commemorative logos and personalised door sill strips, the Silverstone Edition is finished in

fine leather on the seats, which have visible stitching and wonderfully pleasing sculpted lines. The list of exquisite materials used continues with Alcantara, Kvadrat - a prized Danish fabric, wood for the inserts and hand-finished metal. Infotainment is provided by a Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Externally, the driving lights set in a ceramic surround finish off the bonnet better than anything seen in a James Bond film. After France and Great Britain, we end this review with an exclusive Italian brand Pagani, which in 2018 continues to make its mark around the world and celebrates its success with a new showroom in Beverly Hills and a special customised edition of the Huayra Roadster. One hundred exquisite examples of this car have been constructed, with the needs of Americans in mind, with a price tag of almost €2.3 million each, nearly all of which have been sold.

Divo di Bugatti rappresenta un perfetto equilibrio tra alte prestazioni, dinamica lineare e comfort di lusso. La serie comprende solo 40 veicoli. The Divo by Bugatti represent a perfect balance between high performance, straight-line dynamics and luxurious comfort. The series only consist of 40 vehicles.

Le serie rigorosamente limitate, con un prezzo unitario netto di 5 milioni di euro, si sono esaurite immediatamente. La supercar prende il nome da Albert Divo, un pilota francese che vinse due volte la famosa gara Targa Florio sulle strade montagnose della Sicilia con Bugatti alla fine degli anni '20. The strictly limited small series, with a net unit price of €5 million, sold out immediately. The supercar is named after Albert Divo, a French racing driver who was a two-time winner of the famous Targa Florio race on the mountainous roads of Sicily with Bugatti in the late 1920s.