The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ represents a monumental custom project undertaken by Bugatti, showcasing the pinnacle of their craftsmanship and innovation. This extraordinary endeavor spanned two years and introduced groundbreaking techniques that transcend the realm of automobiles and enter the realm of pure artistry. It epitomizes the Bugatti Sur Mesure philosophy, wherein customers’ ambitious visions for their vehicles, surpassing the already extensive realm of Bugatti customization, are collaboratively brought to life with the design team.
In this instance, the vision was conceived by a Bugatti enthusiast deeply connected to the brand’s history and the intricate engineering of the W16 engine. Choosing the Chiron Super Sport as a canvas to honor the combustion engine’s design, the customer aimed to pay homage to the historical lineage that led to its creation. Upon presenting this vision to Bugatti, the design team formulated a proposal that encapsulated the essence of Bugatti’s uniqueness, narrated through its most iconic and extraordinary creations. The outcome: ‘Golden Era’.
A prominent Bugatti enthusiast approached the brand with a conviction that the Chiron Super Sport and its W16 engine represent a historic moment in automotive evolution. To celebrate this, we delved into Bugatti’s past, tracing significant milestones from the eras of Ettore Bugatti, Jean Bugatti, Roland Bugatti, and the brand’s modern resurgence since 1987. Drawing inspiration from these pivotal moments, our team proposed a concept incorporating 45 hand-drawn sketches of Bugatti’s iconic vehicles, directly onto the car’s surface. The owner was enamored with the idea. The execution, although seemingly straightforward, demanded immense patience and craftsmanship to achieve a flawless and enduring finish.”
The client, possessing a profound admiration for Bugatti, engaged in a collaborative journey with the designers, making numerous visits to witness the vision’s transformation into reality. Facilitating this partnership between the customer and the Bugatti team was a trusted dealer partner based in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Hendrik Malinowski, Bugatti’s Managing Director, emphasizes the brand’s ‘Sur Mesure’ approach, where each car is meticulously tailored to the customer’s desires. Bugatti’s teams collaborate closely with customers, turning their aspirations into tangible creations over the span of months or even years. This distinctive level of customer-centric design sets Bugatti apart from others in the industry.
The project as a whole serves as a tribute to Bugatti’s remarkable legacy, depicted through a collection of meticulously detailed sketches highlighting the brand’s significant achievements. On one side of the car, 26 hand-drawn sketches depict icons like the opulent Type 41 Royale and the elegantly captivating Type 57 SC Atlantic, symbols of Bugatti’s transformative innovations in automotive history. On the other side, 19 sketches chronicle Bugatti’s modern resurgence from the EB110 to the Veyron and Chiron. Additionally, a representation of the W16 engine, comprising 3,712 intricate components, is beautifully showcased, paying homage to Bugatti’s engineering excellence.
The design team dedicated extensive effort to perfecting each sketch’s scale, proportion, and form, harmoniously weaving them into a unified masterpiece. The canvas for this artistry is a bespoke shade of gold named ‘Doré,’ a timeless and celebratory color that blends with a special metallic variant of ‘Nocturne Black.’ This gradient provides an ideal foundation for the manual sketching process.
Achim Anscheidt underscores the authenticity of the sketches, explaining that only the same pencils used for sketching on paper were employed to ensure genuine results. This meticulous approach reflects Bugatti’s unwavering commitment to authenticity and quality. The task of manually sketching onto a hyper sports car was daunting, even for experienced designers. The process demanded over 400 hours of effort, culminating in the creation of a novel technique to achieve the desired exterior finish.
The celebration of Bugatti’s legacy extends to the interior, where three Bugatti icons – the EB110, Veyron, and Chiron – are meticulously hand-applied using a bespoke paint and fine brush directly onto the leather of each door panel. These modern legends are juxtaposed with historical inspirations, such as the Type 35, Type 57 SC Atlantic, and Type 41 Royale, reflecting Bugatti’s fusion of innovative past and revolutionary future. These intricate details are thoughtfully integrated into the interior design, complemented by ‘Golden Era’ stitching and ‘One-of-One’ motifs, showcasing Bugatti’s savoir-faire.
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ stands as a timeless tribute to pivotal moments in Bugatti’s history, a testament to the brand’s unwavering dedication to excellence. This bespoke masterpiece, born from the minds of true Bugatti enthusiasts and meticulously crafted by artisans in Molsheim, eagerly awaits its official presentation at Monterey Car Week.
