The last Bugatti Bolide has officially rolled off the Atelier in Molsheim, France, and if you’ve followed the story of this 1,600-horsepower Bugatti, you know how significant this moment is. This is the final example of the 40, quad-turbo W16-powered track-only Bugatti that will ever be built, and is a carefully curated commission by a collector with deep ties to the French marque’s past. It now joins a final Veyron Grand Sport and a notable Type 35 in the same private collection, forming a three-car narrative that spans nearly a century of Bugatti engineering.
The spec features a combination of Black, Blue, and Special Blue Lyonnais on the exterior, applied with variation across aero surfaces so that different sections respond differently to light, giving the car a visual depth that goes far beyond conventional color selection.
Inside, Bugatti finished the cockpit in Lake Blue Alcantara with Light Blue Sport stitching across key structural zones, including on the steering wheel and harness points that support the monocoque. A subtle French flag sits on the body and ties the modern machine back to Bugatti’s prewar competition roots.
“We set out to create a car that can perform on the racetrack yet also belongs in the world’s finest collections. That’s why we devoted extraordinary attention to every detail of execution, from the paintwork to the interior, so that owning a Bolide reflects the same level of craftsmanship as every other Bugatti in your collection.” - Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles
Looking back at the Bolide’s short stint, development began in August 2021 and stretched across thousands of hours of design work and track mileage, eventually leading to early prototypes that ran publicly at the 100th Le Mans anniversary, where Bugatti’s legendary test driver, Andy Wallace, was able to reach 217 miles per hour on the straight. The team continued testing through 2024 with tightly managed track programs, including at runs at the famed Nardò ring in southern Italy. We have also seen it make runs at Goodwood and Circuit Paul Ricard.
Bugatti built the Bolide around a singular purpose. It needed to deliver a driving experience that a gentleman racer could approach confidently, without diluting anything demanded by seasoned professionals. That combination usually involves trade-offs. Bugatti refused to compromise, which is why the engineering team spent thousands of hours refining details that most track cars ignore.
"We were developing the Bolide as a project that demanded a very high level of performance. The idea of being a perfect track car for both gentlemen and professional drivers is not so easy to translate into driving attributes, but it's essential to what makes it a Bugatti." - Emilio Scervo, Chief Technical Officer, Bugatti
As for valuations, the Bolide hit the market at $4.4 million when allocations opened, and with only 40 total cars and with a model of immense importance within Bugatti’s timeline, collectors already view these cars differently from typical high-end track specials. Limited supply, a proven development program, and the definitive conclusion of the W16 era.
You will not see many resales, and if one does appear, like the one that was offered at the Pebble Beach auction earlier this year, estimate a number much higher than the original cost. In private circles, owners treat the Bolide less like an asset that moves and more like one that remains.
The timing also aligns with a major shift in Bugatti’s future product direction. We recently discussed the Mistral, which closes the book on the Piech-era W16 for road cars, and the Bolide now completes that story for track machinery. The next-generation Tourbillon will pair a V16 with an electric motor, representing a different kind of performance philosophy, although Bugatti surprised everyone at Monterey with the 1-of-1 Brouillard, which once again used a W16. Whether the powerplant returns through ultra-limited commissions remains an open question.
Images: Bugatti
