Bugatti unveils second 'Les Legendes de Bugatti' special edition

The French luxury car manufacturer intends the Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse 'Jean Bugatti' to be a celebration of the oldest son of founder Ettore Bugatti and his most famous creation, the Type 57SC Atlantic. Limited to just three units, it costs €2.28 million (S$3.84 million) a piece.

Gianoberto Carlo Rembrandt Ettore Bugatti, known as Jean, was the eldest son of Ettore Bugatti and from the late 1920s, Jean used his own structural and design ideas to exert more influence over the development of the company.

In 1936, he took over as head of the company at the age of 27. By the time of his tragic accidental death in 1939, Jean had secured his place in automotive history thanks to his pioneering engine and chassis designs and concepts for vehicle bodies.

Just four Type 57SC Atlantic vehicles were built between 1936 and 1938 - with only two still existing in their original condition today. The unique body design was intended to be extremely light and aerodynamic. The sport coupe was equipped with a straight-eight engine which produced 197bhp that could climb to a top speed of over 200km/h.

The Bugatti Legend Edition 'Jean Bugatti' is based on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, whose 8.0-litre W16 engine generates a colossal 1,200bhp and 1,500Nm of torque. This propels the hypercar to hit 100km/h in 2.6 seconds. In developing the Jean Bugatti Legend Edition, the designers at Bugatti aimed to follow the concept of its historic predecessor, the Type 57SC Atlantic La Voiture Noire, as closely as possible.

The body is constructed entirely from jet black, clear-coated carbon fibre, while the use of platinum lends an air of extravagance to the vehicle.

The interior has been fully fitted out in leather and will feature the same beige and brown tones that were present in the Type 57SC Atlantic. The seats, instrument panel, steering wheel, dash panel, centre console, door trim panels and windscreen crossmember are all rendered in chocolate brown.

The elaborate embroidery on the doors and the cover of the rear storage compartment once again harks back to the vehicle's legendary predecessor, given that the side silhouette of the Type 57SC was embroidered onto the chocolate brown doors using contrasting beige silk thread.

Additional specific Legend Edition features in the vehicle include a leather insert embossed with the lettering "Les Legendes de Bugatti" in the extended section of the centre console, and door sill plate displaying the likeness and signature of Jean Bugatti.