The final Bugatti Bolide has officially left the workshop in Molsheim, France, and if you’ve followed the story of this 1,600 horsepower Bugatti, you know how significant this moment is. This is the final example of the 40th quad-turbo W16-powered Bugatti race car ever built and is a carefully curated commission from a collector closely linked to the French brand’s past. It now joins a final Veyron Grand Sport and a remarkable Type 35 in the same private collection, forming a three-car tale that spans nearly a century of Bugatti engineering.
The trim includes a combination of Black, Blue and Special Blue Lyonnais on the exterior, applied differently to the aero surfaces so that different areas respond differently to light, giving the car a visual depth that goes far beyond traditional color choices.
Inside, Bugatti covered the cockpit in Lake Blue Alcantara with Light Blue Sport stitching on key structural zones, including the steering wheel and the wiring harness points that support the monocoque. A subtle French flag is emblazoned on the body, reminding the modern machine of Bugatti’s pre-war competition roots.
“Our goal is to create a car that performs on the racetrack while also being one of the best collections in the world. That’s why we paid extraordinary attention to every detail of the execution, from the paintwork to the interior, so that owning a Bolide reflects the same level of craftsmanship as any other Bugatti in your collection.” – Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles
Looking back at the Bolide’s short time, development began in August 2021 and spanned thousands of hours of design work and track miles, ultimately resulting in early prototypes unveiled to the public at the 100th Le Mans, where Bugatti’s legendary test driver Andy Wallace was able to reach 217 miles per hour on the straight. The team continued testing through 2024 with tightly managed track programs, including runs at the famous Nardò circuit in southern Italy. We also drove it at Goodwood and the Circuit Paul Ricard.
Bugatti built the Bolide for a single purpose. The need was to provide a driving experience that a gentleman racer could tackle with confidence, without diluting the demands of experienced professionals. This combination usually involves compromises. Bugatti refused to compromise, which is why the engineering team spent thousands of hours refining details that most racing cars ignore.
“We developed the Bolide as a project that required a very high level of performance. The idea of ​​being a perfect racing car for both men and professional drivers does not translate so easily into driving characteristics, but is crucial to what makes it a Bugatti.” – Emilio Scervo, Chief Technical Officer, Bugatti
As for the valuations, the Bolide cost $4.4 million at the time allocations opened. Because there were only 40 examples in total and a model of immense importance within the Bugatti timeline, collectors already view these cars differently than typical high-end racetrack specials. Limited supply, a proven development program and the final conclusion of the W16 era.
You won’t see many resales, if any does appear like the one offered at the Pebble Beach auction earlier this year, an estimate much higher than the original price. In private circles, owners treat the Bolide less like an asset that moves and more like one that stays.
The timing is also consistent with a major shift in Bugatti’s future product direction. We recently talked about the Mistral closing the book on the Piech-era W16 for road vehicles, and the Bolide now completes that story for rail vehicles. The next-generation Tourbillon will combine a V16 engine with an electric motor, representing a different kind of performance philosophy, although Bugatti surprised everyone at Monterey with the 1-of-1 Brouillard, which once again used a W16. Whether the power plant will come back through extremely limited commissions remains an open question.
Images: Bugatti
