One to Buy: 112km single owner 2024 Bugatti Bolide
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Amid a sea of absurdly high output and top speed figures, it’s easy to forget just what a technical marvel Bugatti created with its W16 engine.
Comprising four banks of four cylinders in a rarely seen 90° W configuration, it effectively combined two short narrow-angle VR8 engines on a single die-forged steel crankshaft. To this, four in-house developed turbochargers were added and, once the wickedly expensive development process was complete, the eight-litre W16 motor gave Bugatti a USP no other manufacturer could rival.
Having been fitted in various iterations of the record-breaking Veyron and the Chiron that replaced it, Bugatti set about creating an appropriate standalone model with which to give its fabled power unit an appropriate send off.
The result was the track-only Bolide revealed in production ready trim during April 2023.
Not just a rebodied Chiron, the Bolide was based around a brand new ultra lightweight carbon-titanium monocoque which Bugatti combined with state-of-art pushrod-type double wishbone suspension and an F1-style braking system. Then, the final and most powerful iteration of Bugatti’s W16 was added: a 1578bhp monster that also developed an astounding 1180lb-ft of torque.
The Bolide’s rolling chassis was draped in a radical new active aero low drag body yet one still capable of developing nigh on three tons of downforce. Inside, the ambience was akin to that of a luxury LMP racecar.
In total, 40 copies of the Bolide were built, each of which cost €4m before local taxes.
On January 28th, the first of these to hit the open market will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s sale in Paris.
Chassis VF9SX0V08RM795037 was configured by the consigning owner in duo-tone Turquoise Carbon over Black Carbon. The exterior was further personalised by way of discrete French flag motifs on the turning vanes behind each front wheel and a white band for the leading edge of the roof-mounted intake snorkel. Matching white finish was also used for the W16.4 script on the shark fin stabiliser, the EB rear wing endplate logos and the Bugatti script emblazoned on the underside of the rear spoiler.
Among chassis ‘037’s other exterior details are a set of Nocturne-painted wheels with Black centre caps, an Italian Red two hook, a Black exhaust deflector and Black fuel cap.
For the cockpit, Beluga Black alcantara with matching stitching was specified along with Gris Rafale Bolide logos embroidered onto the headrests. A plate depicting an outline of the Le Mans circuit sits at the front of the roof panel.
With just 112km on the odometer, chassis ‘037’ is being offered in as-new condition. It is accompanied by a pair of Bugatti flight cases which house a set of spare wheels, a technical manual, battery conditioner, car cover and tool kit.
