What could possibly stop you in your tracks at a highly exclusive concours event, already packed with some pretty stunning automobiles? Well, at last month’s Monterey Car Week, something along the lines of a stand-out mysterious one-off Bugatti, that the French marque had been teasing in the weeks leading up to its reveal. Our cameras were on site in Sunny California, to catch the official unveiling of the Bugatti Brouillard at the Quail.
Now, in its latest appearance, this coach-built Bugatti was present at the Mariënwaerdt Estate in the Netherlands, making its European debut. Now part of the Dutch Perridon Collection, the Brouillard sat alongside 30 highly coveted vintage and classic Bugattis like the Type 57, Stelvio, Galibier, and Ventoux, just to name a few.
Finished in a striking shade of green, it was still able to stand out owing to a body shaped primarily for aerodynamics as much as design. Visually, you have a hint of Tourbillon with the bigger horseshoe grille and the Mistral-like headlights. Other highlights include the glass roof, the fixed wing and the quad-exhaust pipes reminiscent of the longtail Chiron Super Sport. But Bugatti claims every surface is functional, designed to balance drag and downforce, which is something that you generally expect from its track-focused specials like the Bolide, making it unusual in a bespoke commission.
Now, Bugatti is primarily using the Brouillard to launch Programme Solitaire, its personalization service that pushes beyond its existing Sur Mesure program. Founder Ettore Bugatti’s work often blurred the lines between mechanical engineering and fine art. He was also passionate about horse racing, and the Brouillard is named after his favorite horse.
This one-off creation leans into that heritage and philosophy with exquisite details that go far deeper than just two-tone paint and trim. For instance, you have custom components like the gear selector, which carries a miniature horse sculpture, while equine motifs are woven into Parisian fabrics across the seats.
Underneath, the Brouillard, as with any Bugatti, does not compromise on performance. Although the next-gen hybridized V16 that made its debut on the Tourbillon last year already exists, Bugatti decided to stick with the tried-and-tested Pïech-era 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 that’s been doing duty since the original Veyron, which in this application puts out 1,600 metric horsepower. That means a top speed north of 260 mph remains on the table.
Even if the Brouillard’s primary purpose is more of a cultural statement in the automotive world. This raises questions about where Bugatti is headed. Is the Brouillard a test case for personalization as a new tier of exclusivity, or the beginning of a more formal return to coachbuilding?
If you follow hypercars closely, you know how much value unique commissions carry in the long term. The Brouillard is a bridge, tying Bugatti’s golden-era past with its present, and raising the ceiling for what future projects might entail. So if you were at Monterey or Mariënwaerdt, you saw it first.
Source: Bugatti
