Bugatti is celebrating its heritage with six special edition Grand Sport Vitesse models, which will be rolled out over the course of a year beginning next month at the Monterey Auto Week in California. The first Legend will then take part in The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on August 16 and displayed at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance two days later.
To mark the 90th anniversary year of the 24 Heures du Mans, the French luxury automaker is paying homage to Jean-Pierre Wimille, a two-time Le Mans winner.
“This brand has been in large part defined by outstanding personalities and historically resonant moments,” said Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “We want to tell the story of the brand through these Bugatti legends, and at the same time create a link between its past and present.”
Wimille’s race car, a 1937 blue 57G Tank, inspired the design of the contemporary Legend, only three of which will be made. The original was identifiable by a blue finish that reflected French racing at the time and the new Vitesse features blue clear-coated carbon fiber and a light Wimille Bleu paint.
The six Bugatti Legends are all based on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, which was launched in 2012 and is the fastest series sportscar in the world. The Vitesse reached 253 mph with the top down in April. It is powered by an 8-liter W16 engine delivering 1,200 PS and generates up to 1,500 Nm of torque at 3,000–5,000 rpm.
The Vitesse sprints 0 to 62 mph in just 2.6 seconds.
Photo Credit: Bugatti
