Discover the concepts that lead to the Veyron.
Unseemingly innocent to today’s automotive standards, the quest to achieve hypercar status for a manufacturer was not as straightforward as one might believe. Massive powertrains paired with hybrid-assisted electric motors now prove to be the winning recipe to obtain those four-figure horsepower figures successfully. Still, it’s important to remind ourselves where the passion and drive to push performance boundaries came from. While one may argue the true definition of a “hypercar” with iconic names like the McLaren F1, no other car has shaken up the automotive world quite like the Bugatti Veyron.
Understanding its moment in time as a successor to the legendary EB110 and the predecessor to modern marvels like the Chiron, Mistral, Bolide, and Tourbillon, we’re often left wondering how the Veyron came to fruition as a timeless icon. The source behind Bugatti, and more specifically the Veyron, began with the ambition of the former Chairman of the Volkswagen Group, Ferdinand Karl Piëch. The idea of engineering a car that would break the boundaries of performance, design, and luxury came while Piëch dreamed up a revolutionary 18-cylinder engine during a train ride in Japan. The very first sketches of his W18 appeared on an envelope and became the driving force behind Bugatti after Volkswagen AG acquired brand rights in May 1998.
Bugatti EB 118
When the EB 118 debuted in 1998 at the Paris Motor Show, it marked the beginning of Bugatti’s post-war revival under Volkswagen Group. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the two-door grand tourer came equipped with a massive front-mounted 6.3L W18 engine that produced 547 horsepower and sent power to all four wheels. The car’s long hood, central spine detail, and upright stance were more about presence than performance. Inside, the car leaned heavily into retro-inspired luxury, with an Art Deco design DNA and a focus on craftsmanship.
Bugatti EB 218
The EB 218 followed in early 1999, offering a sedan take on the same concept. Based on the earlier EB 112, this version was larger and aimed directly at the ultra-luxury saloon market. It kept the W18 engine and all-wheel-drive system but stretched the proportions to over 17 feet in length. With softer styling and four doors, the EB 218 emphasized comfort and size rather than performance. It wasn’t trying to be sporty. It was a luxury platform that showed Bugatti’s interest in building something closer to a modern-day Type 41 Royale.
Bugatti EB 18/3 Chiron
Things took a different turn with the EB 18/3 Chiron in September 1999. The concept ditched the front-engine layout and placed the W18 in a mid-engine configuration behind the seats. The result was a lower, more performance-focused car with more traditional supercar proportions. Designed by Fabrizio Giugiaro, it still used the same drivetrain as the earlier concepts but relied more on speed and agility. Naming it after Louis Chiron was an attempt to connect with Bugatti’s racing history, but the car still felt more like a design study than a final product.
Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron
A month later, the EB 18/4 Veyron was revealed in Tokyo. This time, the design came from within Volkswagen Group, with Jozef Kabaň leading the project. The EB 18/4 looked much closer to a production model, even if it still used the W18. However, the limitations of the W18, especially in heat and packaging, soon led to a switch to a newly developed quad-turbocharged W16. Still a concept at this point, the EB 18/4 was the final step before the production Veyron, hinting at the shape and specs of what would become one of the most influential hypercars of the 21st century.
Source: Bugatti
