Hyundai XG30 - Cheap Luxury

Here is an alternative in the used executive segment lead by the Germans since you care to remember. This car has the room and comfort you always wanted but could never afford. However now you can buy it for the price of a posh new bicycle. Since this is not your everyday Mercedes, BMW or Audi you can show the world that you dare to be different, although streetcred won't be among its plus points. Who cares when the price is so low!



The XG30, also known as the XG300 or Grandeur in some countries, was Hyundai's shot at the executive segment. Built from 1998 to 2003 this was a very nice car indeed. Powered by a 3.0 liter V6 with 188 HP, mated to a 5 speed automatic with the possibility of sequential manual shifting, the car could easily do 0-100km/h in 8.7 sec. and a top speed of 228km/h.



From the outside the car has bags of personality with a somewhat American feel to it especially for the European driver, with lots of chrome and great attention to detail.
Behind the doors without window frames this Americana feel continues: acres of space, large leather seats and every luxury imaginable comes standard (automatic climate control, power everything, even the mirrors show you the curb when reversing). There's also woodgrain inserts but these are made from plastic.



On the road the car is exceptionally quiet with very comfortable suspension, somewhat on the soft side for most Europeans.

Nowadays these cars change hands very cheaply compared especially to German counterparts, in Europe the average price is around 3000 Euro. Running costs on the old continent could prove a bit high due to the 3.0 liter engine, but hey, live a little.

Bugatti - Short history of the most exclusive automobile in the world

The company's founder, Ettore Bugatti was born in Milan on 15 September 1881. At the age of 17 he was hired as an apprentice at bicycle manufacturer Prinetti & Stucchi were he built his first engine driven vehicle, a tricycle. In 1900 he built his first automobile for Count Gulinelli. One year later he was hired as technical director of De Dietrich automobile plant. At this time he was still underage. In 1909 he decides to go on his own and leases a disused dye works in Molsheim (in France today). Here he begins the production of the Bugatti T3. In 1914 at the outbreak of World War I Bugatti has over 200 employees and produces over 75 vehicles a month. During the war he moves to Paris where he designs airplane engines. After the war he moves back to Molsheim and resumes production of the Type 13 Bugatti. 1920 brings a victory at Le Mans with a 16 cylinder Type 13. Two years later the Type 30 Tourer enters production and in the period of 4 years almost 600 units are sold.


Type 35

Production of the successful Type 35 racecar begins in 1924 and heralds the 'Golden Era' of Bugatti automobiles. Now are introduced the distinctive horseshoe grill and aluminum spokes. Type 35 cars earn a total of 501 victories in numerous races. Two years later Ettore Bugatti sees the advantages of compressors (superchargers) and equipped his racecars with this technological innovation - Type 35c and Type 36. Same year (1926) brings into production the Type 41 Royale one of the most iconic Bugatti's ever. Measuring 6.5 meters in length and weighting 3 tones it could still easily accelerate up to 150 Km/h aided by it's fabulous in-line 8 cylinder engine producing 250 HP out of 13 liters of displacement.


Type 41 Royale

In October 1935 The Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic is introduced at the Paris Motor Show. Only 3 of these cars have been made and are considered by many the most beautiful cars ever designed. Only 2 of these are known to exist today and have an estimated value of anything up to 15 million dollars. These cars featured innovations such as hydraulic brakes and could reach a top speed of 200 km/h. In 1939, Jean Bugatti, Ettore's son, dies at the wheel of a Type 57 racer during test-drive, at the age of 30. This along with the outbreak of World War II brought the decline of Bugatti.


Type 57 Atlantic Coupe

After the war in 1945 the first and only post-war victory of Bugatti is earned by a Type 59B. Ettore dies on August 21, 1947 in Paris after a short illness. After many difficulties and the inability of Bugatti's heirs to run the company, in 1956 the plant is closed after producing almost 8000 vehicles in the 47 years of it's existence.

In 1963 the plant is sold to Hispano-Suiza and starts producing airplane parts, then in 1987 the company is sold again to finance-broker Romano Artioli. 1991 sees the introduction of the EB110 model that has a 12 cylinder engine with 4 turbo-chargers producing 560 Hp. Only 150 vehicles are made in total. The company goes bankrupt in 1995 and it brings an end to the company based in Molsheim.


Bugatti EB110

In 1998 Volkswagen AG buys the Bugatti brand and introduces a number of concepts like EB118, EB218, EB Veyron 18.4. The year 2000 brings the presentation of the Veyron 16.4 concept which boasts a 16 cylinder, 8 liter engine with a W architecture. One year later the production version of the car is unveiled having the same engine as the concept only now equipped with 4 turbo-chargers and producing 1001 Hp. A new factory is built at Molsheim and the first production cars are delivered in 2005. Obviously this new model doesn't appeal as much to the brand admirer’s in the same way the old ones do, but only time will tell how this car will compare to those in the eyes of future generations.


Bugatti concepts built by VW