Australian Car Guide

2001 March 13: Received information that Bugatti (i.e. VW) is having a small number of quad-turbo W16 engines, estimated ~1000bhp, made for a new Bugatti `Veyron' with 4WD. (Veyron was a driver of the Bugatti that won at Le Mans in 1939.)

1999: VW showed this Bugatti Chiron mid-engined concept car (right) at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Chiron is 4.2m long and 1.5m high. Powered by a W18, 6.3 litre engine with 72-valves (=4x18), and producing 408kW of power and 650Nm of torque, the Chiron can only be described as extravagant.

1998: Volkswagen acquired the Bugatti name and showed a front-engined W18 Bugatti concept car (the 18 means 18 cylinders !) at the 1998 Paris Motor show. The W format of cylinder banks, is a development of VW's narrow angle 5 and 6 cylinder V engines, but this flight of fantasy has 6.3 litres, 72 valves and direct (petrol) injection to achieve 410kW power and 650Nm torque. It ups the stakes on even VW's own W12 super sports car, perhaps trying to emulate the historic Bugatti Royale. The EB118 Bugatti has an aluminium chassis (shades of Audi) and uses four wheel drive to get the power to the road.

VW recently bought Rolls Royce and Bentley car building, with the right to use the `Rolls Royce' name until 2003. It is not known if the EB118 will go into production.

1991-1995: The last "proper" Bugattis were built in the 1950s, but the name was revived in the 1990s with the V12 quad turbo' mid-engined EB110 (Ettore Bugatti 110th anniversary). The car had a 6-speed gearbox and four wheel drive and was said to be capable of 210+mph.

1932: Two type 53, 4.9L hill climb / racing cars were built with four wheel drive.

1909: Ettore Bugatti (1881-1947) built his first car.

Go to the Classic Cars, 4WD History, Bentley and Volkswagen (VW) pages