Reference Auto

Consider the recent sales of the Rolls Royce, a brand that offers a slew of models in India. Sales of these super luxury models, priced in the Rs 2.5–4.2 crore range, surged nine-fold to 50 cars (considered a decent number for a super luxury car) till September 2010.

This is almost half the number of Rolls-Royce cars sold in India since 2005 when the luxury automaker opened its first dealership. Overall, the super luxury segment has done quite well in India with the likes of Bentley and Maybach notching up decent sales.

There are even more encouraging signals. A recent study has revealed that the country’s population of high net worth individuals or HNIs (wealthy people) led by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani leaped 50.9% to 1,26,700 persons in 2009. While the number of HNIs in the world and Asia-Pacific moved up 20.4% and 30.4% respectively, it surged by an astounding 81% in India between 2005 and 2010.

With the number of rich soaring by the day, Bugatti Veyron is unlikely draw a blank. In fact, it could turn into a race for one-upmanship among India’s super rich even though it is priced almost four times more than India’s costliest car till now. “Well, I own a Bugatti Veyron, do you?” This is something the super rich could be asking each other.

The Bugatti Veyron is the ultimate machine and is not only the most expensive car but is also the world’s fastest. It can touch a mind-blowing 407 kmph and zoom from 0-100 in just 2.7 seconds!

For now, the Grand Sport model of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is coming to India. The car, which comprises components made of materials like titanium, carbon fibre and magnesium, is powered by an eight-litre engine with 16 cylinders.

Bugatti has fared well in America, the Middle East as well as in Europe. But car buffs will have a waiting period as delivery of this luxurious masterpiece can take nearly 6-8 months.

Bugatti Veyron is being assembled by hand at the company headquarters in Molsheim, France. It has a carbon fibre monocoque body structure suspended from an aluminium frame at the front and a carbon fibre/stainless steel frame in the rear.

The interiors have a moisture-resistant, backstitched leather and a range of new equipment features such as the ‘Puccini' sound system with digital signal processing and a reversing camera that has a 2.7-inch monitor integrated in the rear-view-mirror.

Exclusive Motors (the Indian dealer’s) managing director Satya Bagla said, “The price of the car will be subject to foreign exchange fluctuations and the customisation a buyer seeks.” He added, “The Bugatti Veyron is four times more expensive than what’s being sold in India now. So, we are currently testing customer response.”

But with the luxury car market in the country growing at about 25 per cent, there are adequate opportunities for such super luxury cars, Bagla felt.

Despite the Rs 16-crore price tag, the Bugatti Veyron stands out so far as features and speed (at over 400 km/hour) are concerned in the luxury car market which is not so price sensitive.