Bugatti is paying homage to its founder, Ettore Bugatti, by bringing a custom yellow and black Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport to the 2012 Qatar Motor Show. The horizontally-split yellow body with black carbon represents Ettore Bugatti’s favorite colors and shows of Bugatti’s continued tradition off different color schemes and materials to create unique cars.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is the world’s fastest, most powerful and most luxurious open-top car and this yellow and black creation surely gives it a race-inspired look. On the inside, the seats are finished in a yellow-colored leather with black stitching while the center console is in black carbon and the dashboard, steering wheel and gearshift are made of black leather with yellow stitching.

Bugatti also confirmed that the Veyron Coupe’s production has ended, with the final order placed in June 2011. The Grand Sport however is limited to 150 units with 105 still available at around $1.8-million.

GALLERY: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

At least that’s the findings from Evalueserve’s White Paper, entitled “Platform Strategy Will Shape  the Future of OEMs.” Like many facets of  the auto industry, the concept of platform sharing is nothing new, automakers have been doing it for decades.

Yet, the realities of doing business in the 21st century mean that not only is it no longer acceptable for automakers to offer a range of badge engineered models (think back to GM’s J-cars of the 1980s), it simply isn’t financially feasible to have a range of unique, dedicated platforms either.

According to Evalueserve’s own analysis, last year, the top 20 global passenger car platforms accounted for some 40 percent of global sales, with realistic projections set to see these top 20 account for almost 50 percent of all global vehicle sales by 2015.

Yet as we move forward and automakers seek to maintain economies of scale, the number of vehicle architectures is expected to shrink still further, even as many brands aim to proliferate their model offerings as well as adding localized production, all in an effort to make their products appeal to a wider range of consumers in different global markets, while minimizing supply and tariff issues.

Evalueserve estimates that by 2020, the  major vehicle manufacturers; Daimler AG, Fiat/Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, PSA Peugeot/Citroen, Renault/Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen Group will have reduced the total number of vehicle architectures they use by a third.

In fact, not too long ago, GM declared that by 2018, it will have reduced its number of global vehicle architectures to just 14, down from 30 in 2010. The company also said this strategy should help it save some $1 billion each year, money that’s primarily contributed by product development programs.

Peugeot announced its withdrawal from Le Mans effective immediately.

While the diesel Peugeot 908 prototype won the 2009 24 hours of Le Mans outright, and has also earned 14 victories out of the 16 races in 2011, Peugeot has decided to terminate its endurance racing program in order to place greater emphasis on its sales operations amid decreasing profits and a trying European economy.

In hopes to turn things around for 2012, upcoming new model releases include the Peugeot 208, 3008 HYbrid4, RXH 508, 508, and 4008 Hybrid4, each playing a role in Peugeot’s strategy to globalize the brand and position itself upmarket.

While Peugeot’s absence from endurance racing will be missed, motorsport fans can look forward to the upcoming return of Toyota and its new LMP1 hybrid program for 2012. What’s more, Porsche engineers are hard at work developing their new prototype for Le Mans 2014.

Renault-Nissan and Daimler have announced the joint engine production of Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder engines at Nissan’s Decherd, Tennessee, plant beginning 2014.

According to the press release, this marks the first ever production of a Mercedes-Benz engine within the North America Free Trade region.

Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Daimler Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said, “In the context of our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy, we have decided that we will expand the production capacities required for this close to the customers. Through the strategic extension of our cooperation with Renault-Nissan, we can realize near-market engine production in the NAFTA region on attractive economic terms and make optimum use of synergies arising from cooperation. Thus, we are systematically broadening our manufacturing footprint in this important growth market.”

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn adds, “This is the newest milestone on our pragmatic collaboration and our most significant project outside of Europe so far. Localized capacity reduces exposure to foreign exchange rates while rapidly enabling a good business development in North America– a win-win for the Alliance and Daimler.”

Nissan  first began to assemble engines in Decherd, Tennessee, in 1997. Currently manufacturing 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder engines for the North American produced Nissan and Infiniti products, Decherd has produced more than 580,000 engines in 2011. Production capacity of the Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder could potentially reach 250,000 engine units per year once full ramp-up is achieved.

If you thought the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport was the last and most impressive iteration of the world’s fastest car, think again. The exotic automaker is reportedly planning one more final edition model, a convertible.

The newest drop-top Veyron will combine the best of the Grand Sport convertible with the more powerful 1,200 hp Super Sport’s W16 engine – Grand Super Sport anyone? While it’s unlikely the car will be able to achieve the same 268 mph world record top speed of the coupe, it’s almost certain to be the world’s fastest convertible.

According to some reports, Bugatti has already taken orders for the car, which is expected to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

GALLERY: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

[Source: MotorAuthority]

Renault is looking to take a step back in order to take two steps forward, looking to discontinue at least five models from their UK lineup in February. At the top of the list of vehicles getting killed off are the Laguna hatchback, Sport Tourer and Coupe, along with the Espace and Grand Espace, Modus and Grand Modus, Wind Roadster and Kangoo.

Those models make up almost 10-percent of Renault’s total sales in the United Kingdom. No direct replacements will be coming for the discontinued Modus, Laguna or Espace models, but Renault is working on new crossovers of all sizes to take their place. A supermini-SUV will debut in 2013 to go along with their Clio model, while the larger crossovers will debut in 2014.

Renault is well aware that the cuts will result in a drop in total sales figures for 2012, but looks forward to a subsequent rise in 2013. Renault will also be reducing its dealer network from 190 to 135 by the start of 2013. On the other hand, Renault’s Twingo, Clio and Megane hot hatches – sold as RS and Gordini badged variants – will be saved from the axe. The UK represents the single largest market for those vehicles, and the most exciting Renaults have solidified their place in the lineup if anything.

[Source: AutoExpress]

It might be considered as a Mini Cooper S rival on this side of the pond, but in reality the Fiat is cheaper and was originally conceived for a different kind of clientele in its home market, people more likely to buy cars like the Toyota Aygo, VW Polo and Opel Corsa.

In order to help counter the 500′s success in Europe, French manufacturer PSA is looking to introduce an archrival from it’s Citroën brand, since currently, that automaker doesn’t have one (the bigger DS3, shown above, is the nearest thing it’s got).

As a result, a smaller DS1 model, which will sport a range of three-cylinder engines, is planned as a 500 fighter and could even spawn a performance oriented version with 130 hp or more, especially given the availability of the 500 Abarth.

Slated for an introduction at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March the new DS1  might just give the Fiat a run for its money. And if it does indeed offer a performance oriented version, there’s every indication that car could end up as a somewhat spiritual successor to the  early 1990s Citroën AX GT/GTi; a bantam of a hatchback that even today, is still known for it’s scrappy handling and fun to drive qualities.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Writing about cars all the time can do some funky things to your taste in wheels, invariably automotive journalists flock to the best of the best. The funny part is that those parameters get warped pretty easily, leaving one writers idea of an ideal car miles away from another.

The same thing goes for enthusiasts, which is why there’s a little storm brewing right now on VWVortex, an enthusiast forum for all things Volkswagen. Interestingly enough, that tempest isn’t about a Volkswagen at all, it’s a 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi. It’s OK if you’re not sure what that is, they aren’t legal in the U.S. and can rarely be found as an import in the wintry Canadian north.

That being said, a member on VWVortex posted a link to someone selling one in Ontario, Canada asking if the seven grand asking price was reasonable marked down from a previous $8000.

Here’s the skinny on these cars: they look an awful lot like the VW GTI, in fact you might not know the difference if one went speeding by, but they can be crazy fun on the road. They have super-nimble handling that lets you toss them into corners like Dan Marino throwing touchdown passes, it’s tight.

They get a 5-speed manual with a 1.9-liter inline four under the hood, good for 120 horses. Sure, you’re not going to show up any Mustangs or Camaros, but damn it if they aren’t a hoot to drive.

Upkeep is their biggest enemy and it’s pretty close to impossible in North America for a couple reasons. First, they were never sold here, so you’re in for a tough time finding parts. Second, these things are sure to break. The 205 was Peugeot’s first small car. They built them for 15 years with the last unit rolling off the line in 1998.

The early models came with the same engine as the Peugeot 104, but later models got either the XU and TU-series engines— which as one forum member eloquently wrote, are “crap.”

Realistically, a 205 GTi is more of a collector’s piece than anything considering their poor reliability and scarcity. You’re not going to find too many girls swooning over them, but they have a well-deserved place in car culture for those who appreciate them.

See the ad out for yourself here.

GALLERY: 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi

[Source: VWVortex forum]

There was always something funny about the Bugatti Veyron that crashed into a Texas lagoon, conveniently captured on video and shared on the Internet for the world to see.

The driver, Andy House, claimed he had to swerve to avoid a pelican on the road while trying to pick up his cell phone that dropped. To make it even more suspicious, the exotic was left idling in the water for 15 minutes until it died – ensuring that it would be a totaled vehicle by the time any authorities got  to it.

And House’s explanation for not turning off the engine? He claimed he was being bitten by mosquitoes and didn’t want to return to the car to turn off the engine. While we live in a country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty, the details laid out in House’s scenario seems to really go against him. His insurance company paid out $2 million for the car, even though House only secured a $1 million interest-free loan for the vehicle.

There are also claims going around that House tried to pay a confidential informant to steal the Bugatti and set it on fire in order to claim the insurance on it, essentially doubling the initial investment from the loaner. The insurance company is now firing back, claiming fraud. A federal judge has declared that the claim must go before a jury. They’re also stating that House violated the terms of the policy, claiming that he put over 1,200 miles on the vehicle in the three weeks he owned it.

We don’t know about you, but we’re pretty sure that mosquitoes would be the last of our worries if we were trying to save our million dollar (and change) investment. Besides, no one ever saw a pelican of any sort in any of the videos. Good luck with this one Mr. House.

Check out the video of the Veyron nose-diving into the lake after the break, if you haven’t done so already.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Renault is in development of an ultra low-cost vehicle, along the lines of the Tata Nano. While the Nano is currently suffering from some awful sales numbers (initial projection of 20,000 a month but only saw 1,200 units sold in September), CEO of Renault/Nissan Carlos Ghosn is convinced that an extremely affordable vehicle would be a good segment for Renault to venture into when approaching emerging markets.

According to reports from La Tribune, Gérard Detourbet, the head of Renault’s low-cost division, will be responsible in developing an engine and platform for a vehicle next year that will have a starting price of 2,500€ ($3,300). While Renault is already offering multiple low-cost vehicles in Brazil, it is possible that the new car will not wear a Renault badge, but the badge of sub-brand Dacia (seen above) instead.

[Source: Left Lane News]