The last production model marks the end of a chapter for Bugatti. A milestone of profound significance for the brand, it represents the culmination of a project that pushed the boundaries of what is possible in track-oriented automotive development. With the completion of the final example at the Molsheim workshop, the brand celebrates an extraordinary journey that underscores the relentless pursuit of excellence that has distinguished Bugatti since 1909.
In realizing this project, Bugatti pursued a clear vision from the outset: to honor the brand’s heritage while simultaneously redefining the limits of performance. The development was guided by a desire for clarity and precision: the aim was to create a vehicle that is easy for the gentleman racing driver to handle, yet offers even seasoned professionals an unforgettable driving experience.
It’s a story that embodies the spirit of Bugatti: ambitious goals meet precision work. In August 2021, this journey began with a complex task: to translate the 2020 “What If” concept of the Bolide from idea to production reality.
What made this challenge particularly demanding was the objective of transforming this track-focused supercar into a true Bugatti in every respect. The car was to take its rightful place within the Bugatti family and meet the high standards of build quality and craftsmanship that characterize every vehicle of this brand.
“My first contact with the project was in August 2021, so we are already looking back more than four years – and at that time it was a brand new concept that was still in a very early design stage. It was an exciting time because we had to reconcile many elements.”
Emilio Scervo
Chief Technology Officer at Bugatti
A multitude of details required the utmost care, from the technical core to the nuances of production quality. These were not separate aspects, but rather interconnected factors that together defined the character of the racing car.
The timeline reflects Bugatti’s renowned dedication and precision, and from August 2021 to 2022, the project’s development proceeded with the utmost thoroughness. The team focused intensely on ensuring that every technical aspect of the car met Bugatti’s stringent standards.
“With the Bolide, we have developed a vehicle that demands a very high level of performance. The idea of
creating a perfect racing car for both gentlemen and professional drivers is not so easy to translate into driving characteristics, but it is crucial to what makes a Bugatti.”
Emilio Scervo
Chief Technology Officer at Bugatti
The design of the racing car was finalized in 2022, and the construction phase ended in early 2023. The vision took shape through thousands of hours of technical analysis, aesthetic refinements, and meticulous attention to detail. Every decision ensured that the first prototypes were roadworthy and that the team could test and refine the car under real-world conditions.
The 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans served as a crucial test. The Bugatti team arrived at the legendary circuit’s centenary with a car whose blue livery paid homage to Bugatti’s Le Mans victories of the 1930s. The results exceeded all expectations, with Bugatti Pilote Officiel Andy Wallace reaching 350 km/h on the straights.
Nevertheless, from the summer of 2023 to the beginning of 2024, the car continued its intensive development phase on the racetrack. This phase demanded maximum commitment from the entire team, with engineers and mechanics working every day from early morning until late at night. Each day followed a meticulously planned schedule, so precise that downtime was measured in minutes rather than hours to ensure maximum track time as soon as the circuit opened in the morning.
Every evening, the team held detailed debriefings to review the day’s activities against the test plan and evaluate the results. During the night, the car was prepared for the next day’s tests, and in the morning the team met again early to make final preparations and ensure the car was ready for the track.
Throughout the entire project, one principle remained unchanged: the understanding that performance alone is not enough to define a Bugatti. In groundbreaking discussions, an approach was developed that went beyond technical specifications and addressed the fundamental questions of what the car should represent.
This ambition to combine peak performance with grace and refinement is a characteristic that distinguishes every Bugatti from Molsheim. It is evident in the proportions, perceptible in the driving experience, and found in every detail, from the cockpit to the drivetrain.
For Bugatti, it was of paramount importance that the production quality lived up to the exceptional performance of the Bolide. Transforming a track-focused high-performance vehicle into a true Bugatti, befitting the brand’s renowned aesthetics and pursuit of perfection, presented an immense challenge for the engineers, suppliers, and production team. The focus was clear: Bugatti customers expect not only speed but also impeccable quality. They demand vehicles that deliver peak performance throughout their entire lifespan.
“We wanted to develop a car that excels on the racetrack while also fitting into the world’s finest automotive collections. Therefore, we paid meticulous attention to every detail of its execution, from the paintwork to the interior, ensuring that owning a Bugatti reflects the same level of craftsmanship as any other Bugatti model in your collection. This task presented a new challenge for our team in the atelier, as well as for all our suppliers and partners. In motorsport, the focus is usually on components that can be replaced quickly and easily, but a Bugatti is built to stand the test of time. Maintaining this philosophy while delivering extreme performance demanded the utmost dedication from everyone involved.”
Christophe Piochon
President of Bugatti
With the end of production in Molsheim, every car that has left the workshop carries within it the story of this remarkable journey. From its ambitious beginnings in August 2021, through validation at Le Mans in 2023, to the first track days with customers in 2025, the project reflects the dedication of the entire team, who ensured that every component meets Bugatti’s exacting standards.
The final Bolide represents a particularly significant chapter in this story. Commissioned by a dedicated collector and long-time friend of the brand, this last production model is inspired by a precious piece of Bugatti heritage: the customer’s Type 35. The connection between past and present is expressed through the carefully chosen color scheme, which pays homage to the vibrant blues that have been part of Bugatti’s racing history for generations. This color scheme means so much to the enthusiastic customer that he had already commissioned his Veyron Grand Sport – also the last model produced – to be painted in the exact same hue. The final Bolide thus completes a trilogy that has been developed over decades.
It was built to a bespoke specification with exterior elements in “Black Blue” and “Special Blue Lyonnais,” and Alcantara in “Lake Blue” throughout the interior, reflecting the collector’s relationship with the brand. From the French flag on the side of the car to the “Light Blue Sport” stitching in the interior, every element testifies to both the individual’s passion for motorsport and Bugatti’s rich history.
The delivery itself became a ceremony celebrating this connection. When the customer arrived in Molsheim to take delivery of his new Bugatti, this milestone was marked with a small celebration. True to the Bugatti family tradition, the occasion not only celebrated the completion of an extraordinary project, but also the trust and loyalty that characterize the relationship between the brand and its most devoted collectors.
It is a worthy finale: a modern hypercar for the racetrack that carries on the spirit of the legendary Type 35 and combines Ettore Bugatti’s racing expertise with the ultimate performance of the W16 engine on the racetrack.
With a limited edition of only 40 units, the Bolide is proof of what can be achieved when heritage guides innovation and the pursuit of perfection remains the only permissible standard.
