9 Interesting Facts About Bugatti

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. is a French luxury car manufacturer that was originally founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti, an Italian-born automobile designer. The company has a rich history of producing high-performance sports cars known for their elegance, engineering excellence, and speed.

In 1998, Volkswagen Group acquired the Bugatti brand, reviving it with a focus on producing some of the world’s fastest and most luxurious hypercars. Bugatti’s headquarters and production facility are located in Molsheim, Alsace, France, where its vehicles are meticulously hand-built.

In 2021, Bugatti entered a new phase of ownership under Bugatti Rimac, a joint venture between Rimac Automobili, a Croatian electric hypercar manufacturer, and Porsche, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. In this partnership, Rimac holds a controlling stake in Bugatti, while Volkswagen retains a significant interest through Porsche.

Market Position:

Bugatti occupies a niche in the ultra-luxury hypercar market, competing with brands like Pagani, Koenigsegg, and McLaren. It is known for producing some of the fastest and most exclusive road cars in the world, with models like the Bugatti Veyron and Bugatti Chiron pushing the boundaries of engineering and performance.

Bugatti operates on a much smaller scale compared to mainstream car manufacturers, but each car sold contributes significantly to its prestige. Volkswagen Group, the parent company, generated €307 billion in revenue in 2023, though Bugatti’s contribution is more symbolic of the company’s brand power and technological leadership than mass-market sales.

Interesting Facts About Bugatti:

1. World Speed Record: Bugatti is synonymous with speed. In 2005, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 became the fastest production car in the world, reaching a top speed of 253 mph (407 km/h). In 2019, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ broke the 300 mph barrier, clocking 304 mph (490 km/h), making it the fastest car in the world at the time.
2. The Veyron’s Costly Development: The Bugatti Veyron, which debuted in 2005, reportedly cost Volkswagen over €1.7 billion to develop. Each Veyron sold for over $1 million, but it is believed that Volkswagen lost millions per car due to the high development costs, which included the creation of the quad-turbo W16 engine.
3. Hand-Built Exclusivity: Every Bugatti vehicle is built by hand at the company’s headquarters in Molsheim, France. The production process is extremely meticulous, with only around 70 cars produced annually, making each Bugatti a rare and highly customized piece of automotive art.
4. Bugatti Royale: Bugatti’s tradition of producing ultra-luxury cars dates back to the 1920s with the Bugatti Type 41 “Royale”, one of the most expensive and largest luxury cars ever made. Only six units were ever produced, and they are now considered priceless automotive treasures.
5. Record-Breaking Prices: In 2020, Bugatti set a new record for the most expensive new car ever sold with the Bugatti La Voiture Noire. This one-of-a-kind hypercar was sold for approximately $18.7 million, making it one of the most exclusive and expensive cars in history.
6. The Chiron’s Impressive Numbers: The Bugatti Chiron, introduced in 2016, features an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine that produces 1,479 horsepower, propelling the car from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds. Its limited production run of 500 units makes it one of the rarest hypercars in the world.
7. Revolutionary Design: Bugatti’s hypercars are designed not only for speed but for aerodynamics and luxury. The Chiron, for instance, is equipped with an active rear wing that adjusts based on speed, offering superior handling at extreme velocities. Bugatti’s engineering prowess ensures that these cars remain stable even at 300+ mph speeds.
8. Bugatti Divo: The Bugatti Divo, launched in 2018, is a more track-focused hypercar compared to the Chiron. While it shares much of the same technology, it has been modified to prioritize cornering and downforce, offering a unique driving experience for owners willing to pay its $5 million price tag. Only 40 units were produced.
9. Luxury and Speed Come at a Cost: Each Bugatti requires intense maintenance, with the tires alone costing around $42,000 for a set, and the wheels needing to be replaced every 10,000 miles. Full servicing of a Bugatti can run into the six figures due to the complexity of its components and exclusivity.

Famous Owners of Bugatti:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese soccer superstar owns a Bugatti Chiron and a Bugatti Veyron, which are part of his extensive car collection. His custom Chiron features a CR7 logo, reflecting his personal brand.
2. Floyd Mayweather: The undefeated boxing champion is known for his extravagant lifestyle and owns multiple Bugattis, including a Veyron and a Chiron. His car collection is valued in the tens of millions.
3. Tom Cruise: The Hollywood actor, famous for his roles in action-packed films, also owns a Bugatti Veyron. He made headlines in 2006 when he arrived at the “Mission: Impossible III” premiere driving his Bugatti.
4. Simon Cowell: The television personality and music mogul has owned a Bugatti Veyron, adding it to his impressive collection of luxury and performance vehicles. Cowell is known for his love of fast cars and extravagant tastes.
5. Ralph Lauren: The fashion designer owns one of the most exclusive Bugattis in the world—a 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, valued at over $40 million. This car is one of only two surviving units and is considered one of the most valuable cars in the world.