Bugatti has revealed its latest range of digital timepieces, created in collaboration with VIITA Watches of Austria. The new Carbone Limited Edition by VIITA is not only the world’s first limited-run smartwatch but also the first to be constructed with a housing of full carbonfibre – the lightweight material used extensively in the brand’s hypercars.
In the modern era of Bugatti, carbonfibre is a crucial material. Extremely lightweight, strong and dense, it is used both in the monocoque and in the bodywork of every Bugatti. Without its innate strength, the record-breaking performance of models like the Chiron Super Sport 300+ would not be possible.
The revolutionary material, which has a history going back to 1860, is finished with highlights of blue, a French racing colour forever associated with Bugatti. The carbonfibre elements are milled precisely from a solid block.
Even if you don’t own a Bugatti (and only a small number do), you can still own a smartwatch which matches their cars in technology, materials and design. Together with Austria’s VIITA Watches, a new range has been developed named in tribute to the French marque’s hypercars: the Bugatti Ceramique Edition One Pur Sport, Bugatti Ceramique Edition One Le Noire and Bugatti Ceramique Edition One Divo.
Each handmade smartwatch model offers an innumerable number of technical features, including 90 different sports, oxygen level in the blood, acceleration, and specifically for the Bugatti watch, a GPS tracking mode. To quickly adjust to new technologies and customer demands, VIITA has developed its own software.
More than 1,000 parts
The team that developed the watches comprised watch experts as well as IT specialists who integrated more than 1,000 individual parts. Forming the backbone of every smartwatch is the high-strength and hypoallergenic cover, forged from lightweight titanium. The display is a high definition 390×390 pixel LED touchscreen with 16.7 million colours, within a scratch-resistant housing of sculpted sapphire glass.
The bezel – located at the most exposed point on a watch – is carefully sculpted and milled from scratch-resistant ceramic to the smallest of tolerances, made possible by an ultraprecise CNC process. The bezels for all three models are made of scratch-resistant ceramic, elaborately finished by hand in a production process lasting 20 days. With the special key supplied, the customer can replace a bezel within one minute.
All types of data
The watch measures and stores numerous types of electronic data, among them health data. A new dual-sensor measures both heart rate and heart rate variability to report individual health data. Cardiovascular recovery, training recommendations, biological age and stress level measurements are each generated and supported by VO2Max.
The GPS sensor has been especially developed for the watch and has an entirely new level of accuracy and resolution rate. Wearers taking it to the racetrack can have their lap times and acceleration values logged automatically by the GPS sensor. This feature is applied for the first time in the world in a smartwatch.
Battery life is claimed to be up to 14 days between charges, made possible by a custom-built 445mAh power cell. As a statement of the quality of the watch, a warranty of 5 years is given.
There is the option of a tailored Bugatti rubber wrist strap or a bespoke titanium strap to complement the titanium theme of the case. It is also possible to customize the watches to reflect the owner’s personal style.
Priced from RM4,500
The watches will be available in the fourth quarter of this year and Bugatti is now accepting full prepaid pre-orders on Kickstarter. Depending on the model and spec, the cost would range from €899 to €999 (about RM4,500 – RM5,100).
Most of us spend a lot of time driving, which means being inside the car for long periods almost every day. As we drive, we go through various conditions which can have an effect on our wellbeing and how we feel. The common conditions would be fatigue and drowsiness, which some cars now have systems to detect by the way the car is being driven. In fact, 10 years ago, Mercedes-Benz introduced the drowsiness warning system ATTENTION ASSIST as a world first. This assistance system can recognise typical signs of fatigue and prompt drowsy drivers to take a break.
10 years ago, Mercedes-Benz introduced ATTENTION ASSIST which detects driver drowsiness and prompts him or her to take a break. To date, some 14 million vehicles have the system and it is now standard in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Now, the carmaker is going further in helping drivers keep track of their condition while driving. With the vívoactive 3 wearable from Mercedes-Benz in collaboration with Garmin and the new ENERGIZING COACH, an integral health feature of the latest generations of CLA and GLE, intelligent comfort is now achievable.
Interior adapted to wearer’s condition
Via the Mercedes me app, the smartwatch app transmits significant vital data of the wearer to the vehicle. From this, an algorithm derives the wearer’s stress level and recommends the appropriate ENERGIZING (Comfort) program while also taking into account further parameters. When the driver accepts the recommendation, the atmosphere in the interior optimally adapts to his needs.
Behind the sporty, dynamic design is an intelligent everyday accessory that makes optimum use of all that the digital age has to offer. The 3-pointed star on the sophisticated touchscreen watch face was designed exclusively with Mercedes-Benz Designers together with Garmin. It serves as an elegant demonstration of the way in which two pioneers in their respective fields have combined their expertise, know-how and sense of stylish design.
Particularly challenging or long and monotonous routes can also strain even those who enjoy driving and are used to spending extended periods at the wheel. And this is where the Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 in conjunction with the new ENERGIZING Packages is able to reveal its full potential. The smartwatch links via the Mercedes me App and the iOS smartphone into the vehicle’s telematics system and transmits the pulse rate on the display.
Vital data such as stress level or sleep quality supplement the accuracy of the intelligent algorithm in the backend, which recommends a situational and individually adapted wellness or activation program depending on environmental, vehicle and vital data. Drivers will also have the option to select potentially less stressful routes directly from the navigation system. Some of the conceivable capabilities of the infotainment system can extend to provide stimulating or soothing music to suit the driver’s mood on the road, new-type seat massages, matching climate control, and the ability to manipulate fragrance and suitable ambience lighting within the vehicle.
The vívoactive 3 interfaces with the new ENERGIZING COACH, an integral health feature of the latest generation of the CLA.
Additional functionality
In some countries, the Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 also provides a range of features that prove useful also outside of the vehicle. Apart from monitoring personal fitness levels, the smartwatch is, for example, Garmin Pay-ready, thus able to allow contactless payments. Its compatibility with Android and Apple smartphones via the Garmin Connect Mobile app expands its potential uses to many other areas.
Visually speaking, the Mercedes-Benz vívoactive 3 offers a stylish, yet minimalistic and dynamic look. The 43.4 mm round casing in black or white plastic features a bezel and back in high-quality stainless steel. A silicon strap, colour-coordinated to the casing, ensures that the watch sits firmly and comfortably, whatever the activity. The colour display, featuring a touchscreen made out of tough Corning Gorilla glass, can be set to reflect the wearer’s personal style with one of a range of pre-installed watch faces in an exclusive Mercedes-Benz design. Battery life is up to 7 days but if GPS mode is activated, this will diminish to about 13 hours.
