► Marks 110 years of Bugatti
► EB110 tribute using Chiron platform
► €8 million plus VAT
Bugatti is 110 years old this year, and to celebrate, the French marque is production – you guessed it – another special edition. You’re looking at the new Bugatti Centodieci – that’s Italian, not French for 110 – a new hypercar that pays homage to the last 110 years of Bugatti, and the EB110 especially. It’ll cost €8 million plus VAT, and only two will be made a year.
With the Centodieci we pay homage to the EB110 super sports car which was built in the 1990s and is very much part of our tradition-steeped history,’ said Stephan Winkelmann, president of Bugatti. ‘That’s why we’re celebrating a reinterpretation of this extraordinary vehicle with the Centodieci.
Another special edition
A year ago, Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann presented the aggressive Divo at Pebble Beach, and just 12 months later yet another special edition has arrived. A tribute to the EB110 on the surface but a reskinned Chiron underneath, Bugatti says this car is an amalgamation of classic concepts, modern ones and those unique to the EB110.
It looks, interesting
Divisive is the word that comes to mind. Bugatti has essentially tried to shoehorn bits of a 30-year old car with its current design language – and its traditional signature features – and this is the result. You either love it or you hate it.
This is as less curved, elegant car than we’re used to seeing from Bugatti, and throughout the Centodieci you can see modern design being adapted to the 2D, ‘90s-style wedge shape the EB110 typified.
The challenge was not to allow oneself to be captivated by too much by the design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology at the time,’ says Achim Anscheidt, head designer at Bugatti.
With that in mind, the Centodieci features the same small horseshoe grille as the EB110, along with a similarly angular face, and bonnet-mounted air-intakes which add to the overall ‘flatness’ of the design.
The Centodieci’s front and rear lights are very much 2019: Bugatti’s latest special edition looks like a squinting Chiron from the front, and although the lights are different to the EB110 at the rear, they echo the original’s rear vent configuration.
The most obvious change of all however, comes with the removal of the now-customary C-line around the B-pillar, and its replacement with a five round air inserts – just like those on the EB110.
It’s a Chiron underneath
Like the Voiture Noire and the Divo before it, the Centodieci leans on the tried-and-tested Chiron platform – but shaves off 20kg from the stock car. The new car will be even more planted on track though, as the Centodieci makes 90kg of downforce.
Power wise, that means the EB110’s V12 makes way for Bugatti’s 8.0-litre W16, making 1578bhp in this trim. 62mph arrives from a standstill in 2.4 seconds, 124mph in 6.1 seconds – and because this is Bugatti, 186mph arrives in 13.1 seconds.
Top speed is electronically limited to 236mph, as Bugatti maintains that it’s not just top speed that makes a sports car. ‘With the Centodieci, we once again demonstrate that design, quality and performance are just as important,’ adds Winkelmann.
A special edition too far, or a fitting homage for a car that dragged Bugatti back into the limelight? Let us know your comments below.