Putco 84107 Punch; Grille Insert on 2040-parts.com

Porsche Panamera convertible plans uncovered

A series of European and U.S. patent applications obtained by AutoWeek show that Porsche remains committed to building a four-door convertible version of its flagship Panamera, despite recent comments from Zuffenhausen insiders indicating the car had been canceled. The new car, depicted in official drawings that accompany the latest Porsche patent applications filed in February, eschews the two-door route taken by all of its upmarket rivals for a practical four-door body.

Alfa Romeo 8C GTA & Alfa MiTo GTA Spied

The Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA & Alfa Romeo 8C GTA Spied Through the early part of last year we were convinced Alfa Romeo were going to launch a halo version of that cracking little car the MiTo, and bring the GTA badge out of the history box at the same time to create the Alfa MiTo GTA. Blimey, we not only managed to report details of the MiTo GTA but even had a video from Alfa of the MiTo GTA concept running around. But that all seemed to go out of the window when reports started flying round the car world last July that the Alfa MiTo GTA was dead and the hottest we’d get was the Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio, although on both occasions we expressed the belief – probably more in hope than expectation – that Alfa would give us the MiTo GTA.

Bugatti sell their 400th Veyron – just 50 left to go. But what next for Bugatti?

The 400th Veyron – a Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille Special Edition Bugatti may have come to rely on ‘Special Edition’ Veyrons to keep making sales, but they’re now getting close to the end of their production run. The Veyron – which debuted in 2005 – is limited to a total of 300 coupes and 150 Roadsters, and all the coupes are long gone with just the Roadsters left to finish their run, and only 50 of are those left to sell. Not surprisingly, the 400th Veyron to be sold – the latest Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille Special Edition – went to a client in the Middle East at a hefty €2.14 million which, at a rates of around one a week sold for the last eight years, means the Veyron will be consigned to the Bugatti history book by the end of 2014.