Last week, we spotlighted the car that gave three-time F1 world champion Ayrton Senna his break in Formula 1, coming up for auction at RM Sotheby's Monaco sale on April 25th. That same sale will also see another historically rare and significant modern-day Bugatti cross the block. Now, when you think about Bugatti in the modern context, you think W16 from the Pïech era, fastest production car in the world, and hypercar royalty. Clearly, these were automobiles that realized their full potential. The Bugatti EB112 being offered in Monaco later this month clearly falls in the category that never saw its full potential.
By the early 1990s, Bugatti had already reestablished itself with the Bugatti EB110, a quad-turbocharged machine producing over 600 horsepower. Yet the company’s ambitions extended well beyond two-door performance cars under the leadership of Romano Artioli. The EB112 represented a deliberate shift toward a high-performance luxury sedan capable of matching supercar dynamics.
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Engineers retained the advanced carbon fiber structure of the EB110 but reworked the layout entirely. The naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 moved to a front-mid position, sitting just behind the front axle. Power output reached 460 horsepower and 435 pound-feet of torque, delivered through all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
While V12 manuals are more prevalent among coupes, this is an extremely rare configuration in a four-door, four-seat format. Also, in the modern context, it is often believed that V12s are losing relevance, but in our listing this past weekend, we found 22 cars still in production with this storied 12-cylinder powerplant in 2026.
As for performance, the EB112 could accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds and was projected to reach 186 mph, placing it firmly among the fastest four-door cars of its time. This was a sedan with exceptional balance and control, aided by its lightweight construction combining aluminum and carbon fiber.
Design played an equally important role. Legendary Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro shaped the EB112 with a clear connection to Bugatti’s heritage. The sloping fastback profile eliminated the traditional trunk, while the split rear window referenced the iconic Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic. Subtle detailing and the prominent horseshoe grille reinforced its identity, while the overall silhouette introduced a form that would later influence the development of modern four-door coupés.
When the EB112 appeared at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993, it stood apart from everything else on display. The combination of a front-mounted V12, all-wheel drive, and a sculpted fastback body challenged established conventions in both design and engineering.
Production never materialized. Bugatti Automobili in Campogalliano in Modena, Italy, ceased operations in 1995, leaving only three prototypes and partially completed chassis. Only one fully driveable car was completed by the factory before bankruptcy. Monégasque businessman, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, later acquired the remaining components and completed two examples, including the car now offered. It remained registered in Monaco and was driven sparingly, with just 241 miles recorded. Lot 151 currently carries a pre-auction estimate of €1.5 - €2.0 million EUR ($1.76-$2.34 million).
While Bugatti explored other four-door concepts like the Galiber under Volkswagen Group ownership, none reached production. That leaves the EB112 as a singular outlier. A V12, manual, all-wheel-drive Bugatti sedan that combined advanced engineering with forward-looking design, and quietly shaped an entire segment without ever entering it.
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Images: RM Sotheby's, Bugatti
