Bugatti is bringing a one-off vehicle to the Geneva
Motor Show and based on the French automaker’s recent social media activity, it
seems to be a modern-day Type 57 SC Atlantic. A few days ago, Bugatti published
a series of videos detailing the legendary Type 57 SC Atlantic showcasing what
made it so special. Just four examples were ever built and with three left,
it’s thought to be one of the most expensive cars on earth – if one ever comes
up for sale, that is.
Today, Bugatti published a birds-eye-view image of
the original Atlantic along with the caption “Can we translate its design
language into the 21st century?”. The company then dropped a video with deputy
design director Etienne Salomé postulating how to bring the design of the Type
57 SC Atlantic to a modern Bugatti.
This isn’t confirmation that the Geneva-bound
one-off is a modern Type 57 SC Atlantic, but given all those hints, we’re
willing to bet that it is. Reports about this new Bugatti surfaced a couple of weeks ago. It’s
claimed that the one-off was commissioned by Ferdinand Piëch, the former
chairman of the Volkswagen Group, and it reportedly cost him a staggering € 16
million (US$ 18.2 million.)
If they have indeed decided to create a modern Type
57 SC Atlantic, it will probably be based on either the Chiron or Divo instead
of being an all-new design. If this is the case, it will feature Bugatti’s
signature 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 beneath its retro looks and be capable of
some truly blistering performance numbers.
In any case, if Piëch did indeed lay out more than US$ 18 million, you can be sure it’s going to be something extraordinary. They
know too well that their former boss wouldn’t settle for anything less.
