Caro of the Day - Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès

Car of the Day - Ferrari P540 Superfast Aperta

Bugatti and Hernes first crossed paths all the way back in 1920 when Ettore personally ordered a custom made suitcase from Émile Hermès for his first Bugatti Royale. Reports suggest they remained friends with each having a mutual respect and interest in the others endeavours.

At the 78th Geneva Motor Show in March 2008, Bugatti and Hermès presented a partnership project: the “Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès”, a new limited production model with special features and finishing touches by the House of Hermes designer Gabriele Pezzini.

First launched in tones of ebony and étoupe and ebony and brick, (shades of brown). The partners expanded the color schemes available in 2009 to include four additional combinations; “indigo blue and vermilion”, “indigo blue and lime green”, “ black and garance red” and “Prussian blue and blue jean”. We will have to wait until someone orders them to see how successful the color schemes are.

The special features of the Fbg par Hermes are numerous. The Fbg by the way refers to the address of the Hermes headquarters on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of Paris’s eight arrondissement: the “Fbg” refers to the “faubourg” address.

The eight spoke polished aluminium wheels are tribute to the 1924 Bugatti Type 35 get central butterfly wheel locks branded with the letter H and vents around the edge of the rim that represent Hermes saddle stitching. The H pattern continues in the centre of the horseshoe shaped grille

The internal leather door handles copy the handles on Hermès travel bags and luggage. The superb quality leather is found throughout; from the calfskin covered dashboard (replacing brushed aluminium) with its glove compartment designed to hold a selection of small travel accessories and a zipped Hermès wallet to the seats which are covered in two-toned bull calfskin, and the panel separating the cockpit from the central rear engine – normally made of carbon fibre. Obviously the there is an exclusive package of specially-made Hermes luggage that resides in the leather-lined trunk.

So now you can enjoy your 400 kph uber car with the lingering aroma of your leather clad smoking room - or the saddlery. Pass me the cigar and I’’ll add a special Hermes leather lined humidor.national safety standards and homologation requirements and is road legal.

Rod Halligan