Bugatti

Year of foundation 1909

The history of the Bugatti automobile company is a complex, fascinating narrative, rich in successes but also in great difficulty, which can be divided into several distinct phases. It is the story of a brand that has always embodied excellence, art, and speed.

The first era: Ettore Bugatti (1909-1963)
It all began in 1909, when the Italian emigrant Ettore Bugatti founded his company, "Automobiles Ettore Bugatti," in Molsheim, Alsace, which at the time was part of the German Empire. Ettore was an eclectic genius, coming from a family of Milanese artists and engineers, and this duality was profoundly reflected in his creations. His cars were not simple means of transportation, but true works of art on four wheels. His motto was: "Nothing is too beautiful, nothing is too expensive."

In the 1920s and 1930s, Bugatti became a legend in the world of racing and luxury. Its lightweight, technologically advanced racing cars dominated the racetracks. Among the most iconic models of this era are:

Type 35: Considered one of the most successful racing cars of all time, it achieved over 2,000 victories.

Type 41 Royale: Intended for kings and heads of state, it was a monumental luxury car, with an engine of almost 13 liters. Only six were produced.

Type 57 SC Atlantic: A masterpiece of design, designed by Ettore Bugatti's son, Jean. It is today one of the rarest and most valuable vehicles in the world.

Unfortunately, the 1930s were marked by tragic events, including the premature death of Jean Bugatti in a testing accident in 1939. World War II dealt a severe blow to the company, and after Ettore's death in 1947, the automaker was unable to recover, ceasing production in 1963.

The Italian Rebirth: Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. (1987-1995)
After decades of neglect, the brand was revived by Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli. In 1987, he founded Bugatti Automobili S.p.A. in Campogalliano, near Modena, in the heart of Italy's "Motor Valley." Artioli built a futuristic factory, nicknamed "the Blue Factory," and created a unique and iconic supercar:

EB110: Presented in 1991 on the 110th anniversary of Ettore Bugatti's birth (hence the EB110 acronym), it was a true technological revolution for its time, featuring a quad-turbo V12 engine and all-wheel drive. Despite critical acclaim, the company went bankrupt in 1995 due to financial difficulties.

The Modern Era: Volkswagen and Bugatti Rimac
In 1998, the Volkswagen Group acquired the rights to the Bugatti brand. With huge investments, they moved the headquarters back to Molsheim, France, and began work on a new generation of hypercars, bringing the Bugatti name to a previously unseen level of performance and luxury. Models from this era include:

Veyron: The first hypercar of the modern era, introduced in 2005. With its 1,001 hp and a top speed of over 400 km/h, it rewrote the rules of the game.

Chiron: Launched in 2016, it surpassed the performance of the Veyron, becoming one of the fastest production cars in the world, capable of reaching 490 km/h in its Super Sport version.

La Voiture Noire: A unique car, created to celebrate the brand's 110th anniversary, with a selling price of €11 million.

In 2021, the story took another turn: Bugatti joined Bugatti Rimac, a joint venture between Croatian Rimac Automobili and Porsche (a brand of the Volkswagen Group). This new partnership combines Bugatti's legacy of luxury and craftsmanship with the cutting-edge technology of Rimac's electric hypercars.

The history of Bugatti is therefore a tale of passion, genius, and rebirth, which continues to evolve, keeping alive Ettore's legacy and his vision of a car as a work of art.