An insight into designing the Bugatti Bolide

Take a look at the creative force that powers Bugatti, and it is immediately obvious that a team of exceptionally talented designers are committed to a legacy of design excellence. This ambition is built on the incredibly rich history of Bugatti's acclaimed racing heritage of the glorious 1920s and 1930s, while looking ahead to experiments that push the boundaries of technical innovation.

As the most extreme vehicle concept in the French luxury brand's recent history, the design journey of the Bugatti Bolide - aligned with the company's core values of excellence, courage, dedication - is an inspiration in its own right.

The 'form follows performance' design ethos is clear in the Bolide. The new hyper sports car that answers one of the great 'what if?' questions. What if Bugatti built a radically light vehicle around its iconic 8.0-litre W16 engine without any limitation as regards the weight-to-power ratio? 

The result is the most extreme, uncompromising, fastest and lightest vehicle concept in Bugatti's modern era, with its W16 engine producing 1,824bhp and delivering performance akin to a Formula 1 car. Its top speed is well above 500km/h without any compromises in maximum handling and maximum agility.

As a binding force behind one of the most ambitious experiments of Bugatti, Designer Nils Sajonz was an integral part to the creation of the Bolide.

Already instrumental in the design of a number of limited-run models before working in the team that shaped the Bugatti Bolide, Sajonz helped bring to life phenomenal flagship models such as the Divo, revealed in 2018, the one-off La Voiture Noire, in March 2019 and the Centodieci, in August of the same year.

The experimental study of the Bugatti Bolide is a track-oriented hyper sports car featuring a W16 engine derived from series production combined with a minimal body for maximum downforce. The Bolide features an incredible weight-to-power ratio of 0.67kg per brake horsepower, made possible by the combination of the W16 engine with 1,824bhp and a vehicle weight of just 1,240kg.