Bugatti and Champagne Carbon presented the "Bouteille Noire" at an exclusive event at The Londoner hotel, the world's first super boutique residence. At the subsequent auction, a long-standing Bugatti customer was able to secure the unique piece for his private collection.

La Voiture Noire 1 is the source of inspiration
Bugatti enthusiasts admire the glorious tradition of the brand from Molsheim as much as the current hyper sports cars. The new owner of "La Bouteille Noire" will be working with Bugatti's design director Achim Anscheidt in the coming weeks to incorporate further design elements.

"The Black Bottle" was handcrafted over hours to achieve the same shape and perfect finish as its source of inspiration, the La Voiture Noire 1 model, which was made as a one-off for a Bugatti enthusiast.

Carbon fiber material as used in hyper sports cars
Bugatti partner IXO invested around 150 hours in the manufacture of the cassette. A total of 314 individual panels made of prepreg carbon fiber form a cocoon containing a thermodynamic solid-state cooling cell and 14 high-end fans.

The carbon fiber material is identical to that used by Bugatti for its hypercars. To open the bottle, all that is needed is a gentle press on a stainless steel button. "La Bouteille Noire" rests on an illuminated red base, modeled on the design of the taillight of La Voiture Noire.

The interior is lined with fine brown leather, the same material used in La Voiture Noire.

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Most important innovation: The Corolla will finally get a snappy multimedia system in 2022 that significantly improves connectivity, functionality and usability. The new system features a more powerful CPU that operates 2.4 times faster than the current unit and thus responds much more quickly to user commands.

It is operated via a central 8-inch HD touchscreen and provides instant access to a range of smart connected services, including cloud-based navigation with continuous traffic information always available.

Software updates seamlessly over-the-air
All data and information is provided via the Corolla's data communications module, so no phone pairing is required and no additional data costs are incurred.

Software updates are seamless over-the-air and easy smartphone integration is possible via Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity and (wired) Android Auto. Customers also have the option to upgrade to a more powerful package with integrated navigation system.

A four-year Toyota Smart Connect package that includes cloud navigation, local parking and road information, over-the-air updates and voice assistant is included in the vehicle's purchase price.

On request combination of the new colors
The color program expanded the new White Pearl and Silver Metallic paint finishes. The range also includes a two-tone combination for the Hatchback and Touring Sports variants (see gallery). The first deliveries to customers are scheduled from the end of January 2022.

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The EQXX weighs 1750 kilograms. Its electric motor with around 150 kW (about 200 hp) drives the rear wheels.

Electric cars with maximum efficiency are also suitable for extended road trips. This eliminates range anxiety and thus increases the acceptance of electric drive. Mercedes-Benz is now doing further pioneering work with the new Vision EQXX sedan study.

Based on internal simulations, Mercedes assumes that the technology carrier can travel more than 1,000 kilometers in real road traffic on a single battery charge.

All components have been improved
In addition to increasing efficiency, the conservation of resources and the best possible environmental compatibility were also development goals. These were achieved by improving all components of the electric powertrain and using lightweight and sustainable materials.

The newly developed 100 kWh battery is said to be significantly smaller and lighter than batteries currently in use. Added to this are further efficiency measures: from particularly low rolling resistance tires and sophisticated aerodynamics with a drag coefficient cW of 0.17 to the use of state-of-the-art electronic control systems.

Vision EQXX shows the future of the electric car
Mercedes is not yet naming any driving performance figures. The large and comfortable vehicle weighs 1750 kilograms and has an electric motor with around 150 kW (about 200 hp) that drives the rear wheels.

Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler and Mercedes-Benz: "The Vision EQXX model shows how we envision the future of the electric car. In just one and a half years, we have developed the most efficient Mercedes ever - with energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometers. It underscores where our entire company is headed. We will build the most desirable electric cars in the world."

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What details of the Ford GT the new owner can look forward to is shown in the video.

On offer were 44 classic cars, which could be inspected and admired in advance in the festival tent. The total value of the vehicles had been estimated in advance at around 7.5 million Swiss francs.

On average, the 40 cars, three motorcycles and one children's car were 51 years old and were expected to cost around CHF 171,000 per lot. Seven vehicles were offered without a minimum price.

An hour before the cars, a number of automobilia, including model cars, neon signs and other paraphernalia for the classic car enthusiast were also auctioned off. Already here it was evident that the more than 200 visitors were quite willing to spend.

New owners for 77 percent of vehicles
The good atmosphere in the festival tent also ensured good results. Of the 44 vehicles, 22 were sold directly. For twelve other vehicles, the highest bid was only enough for a conditional sale.

This means that renegotiations are still necessary between the highest bidder and the consignor. Experience shows that in about half of the cases, the deal is still closed, which means that the overall sales rate is around 64 percent.

Bidding war for a Ford GT year of manufacture 2018
A fierce bidding war was sparked by a 2018 Ford GT. When the first bidder reached the million mark, there was enthusiastic clapping. The auctioneer then casually said that the next bid could also cause applause again.

The super sports car, which was one of 1350 GTs produced in Switzerland in 2018 and had only covered 600 kilometers so far, was finally knocked down at 1.15 million Swiss francs, meaning that the buyer paid 1.288 million Swiss francs for the car, including the bidding premium of twelve percent.

Good prices for Ferrari, Lancia and Chevrolet
The Ferrari Testarossa from 1991 (gallery on the right) was brokered even more significantly above its estimated value. Instead of the expected 90,000 to 100,000 francs, 135,000 francs were offered, bringing the sports car, which is in very good condition, to a selling price of 151,200 francs.

A 1993 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo II (center gallery) paid 100,800 francs, while a 1995 Lamborghini Diablo VT fetched 190,400 francs.

Some of the visitors had already left the festival tent after the sale of the Ford GT (the 29th of 44th cars offered), when even the last car still triggered an exciting bidding war. It was an open Chevrolet Corvette C2 from 1966 (gallery left), estimated at 80,000 to 85,000 francs. The final bid was 105,000 francs, which still made the car 117,600 francs expensive.

Numerous offers via Internet or telephone
The mask requirement in the tent and the 2G entry threshold did not have a negative effect on the results of the auction, it seems. However, a contribution was also made by the numerous Internet and telephone bidders, who often tipped the scales.

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The new Lego Technic set is a detailed representation of the powerful motorcycle BMW M 1000 RR with lightweight, compact base engine. The model has a working three-speed transmission plus neutral, front and rear suspension and front axle steering.

Fittings for individual design
Details include a motorcycle chain, a printed windshield and three dashboard variants for individual design. As an addition, there is a racing bracket and a display plate for standing the model.

A real eye-catcher from 1920 building blocks
This turns the Lego model BMW M 1000 RR into a powerful eye-catcher at home, too. The set has been available exclusively in Lego stores since January 1 and will also be available from other retailers from March 1. It consists of 1920 parts and costs 220 Swiss francs.

lego.com/BMW

Similarly, Renault Österreich GmbH will once again be attached directly to the head office as of January 1. This is intended to strengthen the autonomy of the national companies.

Markus Siebrecht leads Renault Deutschland AG as Chairman of the Board of Management. Claudia Meyer steers Renault Suisse SA as General Manager. Thilo Schmidt is responsible for the business of Renault Österreich GmbH as General Manager.

Management of operational business of the Renault Group
Claudia Meyer has been General Manager of Renault Suisse SA since July 1, 2021. She is responsible for managing the operational business of the Renault Group and sales of the Renault, Dacia and Alpine brands in Switzerland.

Claudia Meyer started her career in 1998 in the marketing department of Jaguar Switzerland at Emil Frey AG. This was followed by positions in marketing communications, product marketing and brand management at DaimlerChrysler Switzerland and Fiat Automobiles Suisse SA.

In 2014, she moved to Nissan Switzerland GmbH as Marketing Director, where she took over as Country Director in 2017.

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In collaboration with specialized automotive designers and manufacturers, the B. I. Collection in Niederwil near Gossau, customer-specific solutions are to be created at the highest level. At the same time, the company is open to providing services for existing Aston Martin customers.

Beat Imwinkelried, Managing Director and founder of B. I. Collection: "With our expansion into eastern Switzerland, we are reaching a new clientele that suits us perfectly. Services such as repairs, restoration, concierge and collector services, transport and logistics services, and a storage service are now available to the clientele."

More brands and services
The B. I. Collection specializes in luxury automobile brands. Under the umbrella of B. I. Collection, the company in Urdorf is an official Ferrari dealer.

With Pichler Gstaad, Aumatt Reinach and B. I. Concierge Basel, three further locations are operated in German-speaking Switzerland where vehicles of the Bugatti, Porsche, Mercedes and Maserati brands are sold.

According to the company's motto "Luxury beyond cars," the Niederwil branch should now be perfectly suited to further expanding the world around legendary and luxurious automobile brands. In addition, Beat Imwinkelried has signaled to the manufacturer Aston Martin, which was a partner of the former owners, the willingness to continue to serve customers of the brand in Niederwil.

Photo: Severin Schmugge
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In the video you can see how the foils were applied to the Tayon centimeter by centimeter.

Having already won the world championship once and the continental championship three times, the southern German company Signal Design now won the Central European championship. The expert for fleet lettering and car wrapping convinced with the wrapping of a Porsche Taycan. This was designed by artist Richard Phillips and implemented in collaboration with Porsche Switzerland.

The collaboration between Richard Phillips, Porsche Switzerland, and Signal Design reached its first climax with Jörg Bergmeister's victory at Le Mans in 2019. Now the team around the artist once again relied on the expertise of the world and three-time European champion in car wrapping.

Arrangement of elements and details
Richard Phillips transferred his large-format painting "Queen of the Night" onto the body of a Porsche Taycan 4S. The work shows a three-dimensional arrangement of elements and details of the approximately eight-square-meter painting.

Says Richard Phillips, "Queen of the Night's full array of colors unfolds at the rear of the car, where the flower's bloom completely envelops the bumper and is illuminated by the Taycan's horizontal light bar."

Show foiling in a pop-up restaurant
The artwork was printed full size on vinyl in new perspectives and angles and then applied to the vehicle using hot air guns.

The one-off was created in December last year as a show foiling at a pop-up restaurant in Zurich and was later auctioned off via the RM Sothebys auction house. A proud 185,000 Swiss francs were raised for the Artcar in the online auction. The entire proceeds were donated to Suisseculture Sociale - to support Swiss cultural artists.

Signal Design is accustomed to victories foiler
Signal Design has already won five awards. In 2013, the foliation of a McLaren MP4 won a world championship title, in 2015 that of a Hamann M4 designed by Timo Wuerz won the European title, and in 2018 the Dynamic Trucks won, in 2019 a Porsche 992 in flower design and now the all-electric Porsche Taycan 4S.

signal-design.com

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Virtual, but as real: the 3-D models created by photogrammetry in the new Renault Museum reproduce their role models down to the smallest detail and provide a fascinating insight into the brand's past. Parallel to the virtual museum, the e-shop "The Originals Store" also goes online, where visitors can order fan articles around the clock.

Edited true to the original
The museum tour under https://theoriginals.renault.com/de leads to legendary models such as the 4CV ("Heck"), Floride, R 4, R 16, Espace and Twingo. The original vehicles were 3D scanned and photographed in a specially equipped and illuminated studio.

In order to make the exhibits as true to the original as possible, the experts additionally modeled well-hidden vehicle components during post-processing.

The sharp pictures are supplemented by a brief historical classification and the most important technical data. In "The Originals Store", the favorite model can be ordered as a true-to-detail replica in 1/43rd scale.

Museum continues to grow rapidly
The museum and e-shop websites are available in six languages: French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, with additional ones to follow in the coming months.

In addition, the virtual exhibition will continue to grow. From the end of December, another 50 models will be added, and by the end of December 2022 the fund will grow to 80 exhibits.

renault.ch

Europe is one of the key markets in the Toyota Group's new strategy. Only zero-emission vehicles will be offered under the Toyota brand from 2035, and Lexus is already transforming itself into a pure e-provider by 2030.

However, it is difficult to satisfy all markets with a one-size-fits-all solution. That's why Toyota wants to offer customers around the world as many options as possible.

Start with the compact bZ4X
In addition to hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the Group is focusing on CO2-neutral fuel cell and battery electric cars.

The compact bZ4X model will be the first. The electric SUV will roll into Europe as early as 2022, marking the start of a new model family. A mid-size and a large SUV with three rows of seats as well as a small crossover will join the bZ family later.

Improvement in battery technology
Battery technology is also being successively developed. Lithium-ion batteries are soon to become much more powerful, cost-effective and resource-efficient. In addition, Toyota is working on the introduction of solid-state batteries, which will bring major advances in performance and charging times.

With the improved batteries and the introduction of new models, which include a thoroughbred Lexus sports car and a small e-mobile, the Group aims to significantly expand its global sales.

The expansion and conversion of the model range will be accompanied by CO2-neutral manufacturing. Through the continuous reduction of energy consumption and the use of new production technologies, the global manufacturing sites will operate on a climate-neutral basis by 2035.

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