In every industry, some brands are more popular than others. Take the auto industry, for instance: Bugatti is famous for its performance, speed, and luxury. It’s popular among the wealthy and is the kind of car you’ll rarely see on the roads unless you live in a very high-end neighborhood. Apart from being a prestigious car brand, there are a lot of interesting facts that people do not know about Bugatti. Here are some of them.
1. The Average Bugatti Owner Has at Least a Jet and a Yacht
Wolfgang Durheimer, the CEO of Bugatti, was quoted saying that the average owner of this car brand has about 84 cars, a yacht and three private jets. Even though these figures aren’t accurate, they are an indication of how unique this brand really is – it’s only reserved for the extremely wealthy. Very few people own yachts and private jets.
2. The Top Speed of a Bugatti is Limited by the Tires Exploding and Not the Engine
Bugattis, specifically the Chiron, has a limited speed of 261mph or 420 km/h. The most interesting part is that the engine does not limit its top speed; its tires do! Apparently, no tire on earth can withstand this stress. Most of them would explode, which can be risky when driving at a speed of more than 400km/h. If anything, for the Chiron to reach these high speeds, Michelin had to make special tires for this vehicle.
3. Bugatti Imports It’s Leather from Italy
For a car that costs so much, it only makes sense for the manufacturer to pay keen attention to detail. As such, all leather upholstery found in Bugatti vehicles is imported directly from Italy. As if that’s not enough, the leather used in these cars doesn’t undergo tanning or treatment. This is to retain its unique layers and thickness.
4. Bugatti Had to Use Another Bugatti to Shoot the Chiron’s Record-Breaking Speed of 0-249 MPH
In 2017, Bugatti broke the 0 to 249 mph speed test record with the Chiron. When filming this video, Bugatti had to use another Chiron that was accelerating a few meters in front of the car that Juan Montoya was driving. The reason another Chiron was used was because there is no other car or device that’s fast enough to maintain this speed.
5. Bugatti is Owned by Bugatti Rimac
A lot of people still assume that Volkswagen owns Bugatti. However, it is owned by Bugatti Rimac, a joint company owned by Porsche AG and the Rimac Group. While this change was enforced in 2021, Bugatti was a subsidiary of Volkswagen in 1998. Before that, it was owned by Ettore Bugatti.
6. A Bugatti Oil Change Costs $20,000 to $25,000
The average price of a Bugatti oil change ranges from $20,000 to $25,000. Obviously, this depends on the model of the car. Even so, this price is exceptionally high; a typical oil change for a Toyota or Honda shouldn’t cost more than $100. For people who can afford to spend more than $1 million on a Bugatti, a $20,000 oil change shouldn’t be a problem.
7. The Most Expensive Bugatti Costs $16 Million
The Bugatti La Voiture Noire, which translates to the Black Car in French, is this brand’s most expensive model ever made. Going for $16 million, the La Voiture Noire is an epitome of elegance and performance. It is based on Jean Bugatti’s Type 57 SC Atlantic. Only four of these cars were made. Jean retained one, and the other three were sold.
8. Dubai Police Use Bugattis for Car Chases
The Dubai Police Department is famous for its unique car collection, with Bugatti being a commonly used brand. Part of their fleet includes a Bugatti Veyron.
9. Bugatti Used to Make Trains
In the early 1900s, Bugatti used to make trains. Besides making 88 trains, Ettore Bugatti made numerous contributions to the high-speed railway system.
10. Bugatti is Popular for Winning Long Distance Races
Back in the 1930s, Bugatti won the Le Mans 24 Hours race twice in a duration of two years. This doesn’t come as a surprise because they make cars with very powerful engines.
11. Some Bugatti Vehicles Have Diamonds in the Speedometer
For those who want to make their Bugatti vehicles more expensive, there is an option to add a one-carat diamond encrusted on the speedometer.
12. Bugatti Made the Most Beautiful Car in 2021
Besides performance and luxury, Bugatti is popular for incorporating beauty into its machines. The Bugatti Bolide is the perfect example. In 2021, it was voted the most beautiful hypercar at the 36th Festival Automobile International Design Awards.
13. The Bugatti Factory Almost Burned Down Twice
Bugatti are constantly pushing their engines beyond limits. As a result, the company has experienced several serious fire outbreaks. The first one was in 1939, and the second one in 2001. In the most recent case, Bugatti tested out the Veyron engine, which had a horsepower of 1,200.
14. During the 90s Bugatti Produced a Saloon Car
The company started exploring other options after Romano Artioli acquired Bugatti in the 80s. During this time, they launched a saloon car called the EB 112. However, they only made three of these cars.