Photo courtesy of Bugatti

To very different types of passion drive monks and Bugatti owners. For monks, it's the love of Christ and service. For Bugatti owners, it's the love of speed and power. A recent show of power at Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay, a former Cistercian abbey from the 11th century brought 3,000 horsepower and history.

The monestary-cum-hotel lies deep in the Rambouillet forest, about 35 miles southwest of Paris. Bugatti's Paris outpost took advantage of its location to stage a day of driving experiences for its customers.

"We are delighted to share, with an authentic simplicity, this passion that keeps us together", said Edouard Schumacher, CEO of Groupe Schumacher and LS Group. "La Maison Bugatti Paris has the purpose to create special experiences, that bring people to live the French Art de vivre. The Chiron Sport and Pur Sport are extraordinary vehicles, with superlative performances, a real dream that links together all the automotive passions."

Bugatti at Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay

Photo courtesy of Bugatti

Bugatti has a long history in France. It was founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, an area that was then part of Germany but is now part of France. The company still has its atelier there. Ettore Bugatti, the company's founder, established the brand's first showroom in Paris on Avenue Montaigne nearly 100 years ago. Bugatti's new showroom in Neuilly-sur-Seine is just 500 meters from the American Hospital of Paris where Ettore Bugatti died in 1947.

The Cité de l'Automobile, an automobile museum in Mulhouse, France is home to the Schlumpf Collection of classic automobiles, considered to be the largest and most comprehensive collection of Bugattis in the world.

"For myself personally, it's a particular pleasure to be part of this Bugatti Paris event and showcase the Chiron Sport and Chiron Pur Sport to our customers", said Guy Caquelin, Regional Director Europe at Bugatti. "After long abstinence and merely digital presentations, aficionados of our brand finally have the chance here to test and experience the two hyper sports cars. Customers need to be able to see, drive and feel Bugatti vehicles so they can internalize their unique and special character."

The test drives in Paris service as the kick-off of a Bugatti Road Show for the Chiron Sport and Pur Sport in Europe.

Photo courtesy of Bugatti

€3 million Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is a lighter, more agile take on the Chiron

New Model News

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport wowed the world when it hit the 300 mph threshold. Now, the luxury supercar manufacturer has introduced a lighter, more agile variant of the Chiron that is designed to tackle winding roads with aplomb.

The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is an aerodynamic masterpiece that generates more downforce the the Super Sport. The company says that even at moderate speed the car will "stimulate all the senses thanks to a close-ratio transmission, high-performance tires with a new material mix geared towards extreme grip as well as an agile chassis and suspension setup."

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport The car features a large rear wing.Photo courtesy of Bugatti

"We spoke to customers and realised they wanted a vehicle that is geared even more towards agility and dynamic cornering. A hypersports car that yearns for country roads with as many bends as possible. An unadulterated, uncompromising driving machine" said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. "By cutting the weight by 50 kilogrammes while simultaneously boosting the downforce and configuring an uncompromising, sporty chassis as well as suspension setup, the Chiron Pur Sport boasts incredible grip, sensational acceleration and extraordinarily accurate handling. It's the most uncompromising yet agile Bugatti of recent times."

The car's front end features wide air inlets and an enlarged horseshoe panel at the bottom. Its splitter protruding at the front while primary lines run across the air outlets on the front wing , described as being like "tendons on a muscle" by Bugatti.

A new wheel design lightens the wheels by 16 kilograms each and features available aero blades. Bugatti and Michelin co-developed an exclusive Bugatti Sport Cup 2 R tire in 285/30 R20 dimensions at the front and 355/25 R21 at the rear to match the new aero wheel design. The modified tire structure and a rubber mix creates more grip, boosting the vehicle's lateral acceleration by 10 percent, which allows drivers to take corners faster.

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Available aero tires sport a unique design.Photo courtesy of Bugatti

A new optional split paintwork is available on the Chiron Pur Sport. The entire bottom third of the car is exposed carbon fiber.

The back of the Chiron Pur Sport houses a 1.9-meter spoiler. Angled wing mounts form a large X in conjunction with a rear apron. The car's tailpipe is made from 3D-printed titanium. Using 3D printing allowed Bugatti to make the tailpipe slimmer though equally as effective, saving weight.

The chassis setup features 65 percent firmer springs in the front and 33 percent firmer springs at the rear than the Chiron as well as adaptive damping control. Overall, the car is 130 percent firmer in the front and 77 percent firmer at the rear. The car's carbon-fiber stabilizers minimize roll making the car more easily able to take on winding roads.

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport The car is designed to take on the winding, open road with ease.Photo courtesy of Bugatti

Bugatti has given the model a 8.0-liter W16 engine that is paired with a retuned transmission that allows for gear ratio that is 15 percent closer than before. The car unleashes its full power at 350 km/h. Bugatti has increased the maximum speed of the engine by 200 rpm to 6,900 room. The Chiron Pur Sport accelerates from 60 to 120 km/h almost two seconds faster than Chiron.

If you're looking for an opulent interior, look at another car. The interior of the Bugatti is raw and minimal. Large surfaces are upholstered with Alcantara including the steering wheel. All trim elements including buttons and controls are either black, anodized aluminum or titanium. Contrasting color stitching and the steering wheel's 12 o'clock spoke and the blue centre spine add a bit of excitement to the cabin.

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport To save weight, Bugatti covered the interior of the car with Alcantara.Photo courtesy of Bugatti

Production of the Chiron Pur Sport will start in the second half of 2020. It is limited to a 60-unit run. Models are priced at three million euros excluding VAT.

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Automotive Map is moving to Your Test Driver

New website

Big news! Automotive Map has moved to a new site and has changed its name to Your Test Driver. You'll notice the same format, writing style, and content on the new site. That's because Your Test Driver is run by Chris Teague, the former editor of Automotive Map. We hope to see you there for continued coverage of news, reviews, and features from around the automotive industry.

2023 Nissan Leaf pricing announced

Updated EV

Nissan is nearing the release of the Ariya, its first new EV in several years. Even so, the brand hasn't forgotten about its first mass-market EV, the Leaf. It was an early entrant in the space, and has been an efficient, affordable, commuter car for over a decade. The car got a mild facelift for 2023, with updated wheels and exterior styling accents. Today, Nissan announced pricing for the Leaf, which starts at just under $29,000.

2023 Nissan LeafThe Leaf feels lively, despite middling power numbers.Nissan

The base Leaf comes with a 40-kWh battery capable of delivering a 149-mile range. Its 110-kW electric motor produces 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The Leaf SV Plus features a 60-kWh battery for a range of 212 miles. It comes with a 160-kW motor that makes 214 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Nissan backs all Leaf models with an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.

ProPilot Assist comes standard for the Leaf SV Plus, and brings a full suite of advanced driver aids that include adaptive cruise control, driver alertness features, and a surround-view monitor. All Leaf models get Nissan Safety Shield 360, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking.

2023 Nissan LeafThe Leaf SV Plus offers up to 212 miles of range.Nissan

The new Leaf starts at $28,895, which includes a $1,095 destination charge. The Leaf SV Plus starts at $36,895. The 2023 Nissan Leaf is on sale now, and may be eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to receive a state tax credit or other incentives.

2022 Nissan Altima: Three things to know

Comfortable midsize sedan

The Nissan Altima may not get the attention or the praise that the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord get, but it's a solid entry in an ultra-competitive segment. It's also one of few options in its class with available all-wheel drive. We spent a week with the 2022 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition with AWD and came away from the experience impressed. Here are three things to know about the car.

The 2022 Nissan Altima is a Good Value

With a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range and available all-wheel drive, it's hard to complain about value here. The Altima is still reasonably priced at the top end, where it maxes out at around $35,000 before options and fees. That's a great value for a spacious, comfortable car like the Altima, and with all-wheel drive it's a great all-weather commuter.

2022 Nissan AltimaNissan offers the Altima in several configurations.Nissan

2022 Altima Interior Space and Comfort are Generous

It's easy to ignore Nissan's Zero Gravity seats as another marketing buzzword, but they are legitimately comfortable and supportive in a way that not many others are. Available leather upholstery and contrast stitching give the interior an upscale feel, but even lower trims' cloth upholstery feels nice and works well from a visual standpoint. Up front, there's room for both passengers to stretch out, and the driver won't feel cramped on leg or headroom. Back-seat passengers get a similar treatment, as there's plenty of space for adults and kids. Parents will find an easy time loading and unloading car seats as well.

2023 Nissan AltimaThe Altima gets an update for 2023 with fresh styling and more tech.Nissan

The 2023 Nissan Altima Gets an Update

Nissan is refreshing the Altima for 2023 with a facelift, new tech, and better safety features. The new car will go on sale in the fall of 2022 and will come in several trims, including one with Nissan's truck VC-Turbo engine. The Altima's most noticeable update will be its front fascia, which is all-new for 2023. Nissan gives the car a fresh grille design that varies depending on the trim, and LED headlights will be standard. Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard, and the Altima is available with all-wheel drive, ProPilot Assist, and more.