CAR /
MOTOR SHOW
January 14, 2015
The Special Veyron "Black Bess" Appears in Beijing
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Black Bess
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse "Black Bess"
The Fifth Installment in Bugatti's Legends Series
The Special Veyron "Black Bess" Arrives in Beijing
Bugattiwill unveil the "Black Bess," a special edition based on the Veyron 16.4 Vitesse, at the Beijing Motor Show. This marks the fifth in a series of special models named after legendary figures associated with Bugatti.
Text by HORIGUCHI Yoshihiro (OPENERS)
Still the Fastest Production Car, Then and Now
The car Bugatti is unveiling in Beijing isthe fifth in a series of special editions named after legends, with six models plannedin total. This model is named after French hero Roland Garros, an ace fighter pilot in World War I and the first person to fly across the Mediterranean Sea, who was also a proud owner of a Bugatti.
In 1912, Bugatti's founder, Ettore Bugatti, won the hill climb race at Mont Ventoux, a mountain now famous for cycling races, driving a "Type 18." At the time, the Bugatti Type 18 was equipped with a 5-liter, inline four-cylinder engine producing over 100 horsepower, boasting a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h), making it the fastest production car of its era.
However, Ettore produced only seven Type 18s, selling them to a very select group of special individuals. One of these was Mr. Roland Garros. The two-seater chassis, bearing the number 474, was handed over to Garros on September 18, 1913, and it is one of only three surviving Bugatti Type 18s.
This particular car, later named "Black Bess" after a British racehorse, is currently on display at the "Roman Museum," a private collection in the Netherlands.
Bugatti Type 18 "Black Bess"
Unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show alongside the original, the new "Black Bess" is the "Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse," which, like the Type 18, holds the title of the fastest production car.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Black Bess
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse "Black Bess"
The Fifth Installment in Bugatti's Legends Series
The Special Veyron "Black Bess" Arrives in Beijing (2)
The body of the Black Bess is made of carbon fiber, like the base model, but is painted black, echoing the original, with gold accents. Notably,Bugatti's signature horseshoe-shaped frame surrounding the front grille is finished in 24-karat gold. A lattice-like line, narrowing from the headlights towards the rear, emphasizes its brilliance.
Gold is also used for the rear logo and the wheel hubs. The fuel cap is inscribed with the model name "Black Bess" in gold lettering.
The interior is equally special. While the dashboard and front sections are unified in a warm Havana brown, the seats and trim are in beige, creating a chic contrast throughout. Red accents, inspired by the color scheme of the Type 18, are used for the steering wheel and seatbelts.
The leather on the door panels features hand-painted depictions of the original Type 18 and the "Morane-Saulnier H" sport aircraft that Roland Garros flew. This decorative technique, common in luxury cars of the 1920s, has been updated with modern technology, such as special paints, to enhance durability.
Aside from the decorative elements, there are no changes. The car is powered by the same 8-liter W16 engine as the base model, producing a maximum output of 1,200 hp and 1,500 Nm of torque. With its four-wheel drive system, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds and boasts a top speed of 408.84 km/h.
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse "Black Bess," to be unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show, is priced at 2.15 million euros (approximately 300 million yen). As with previous models, only three units will be produced. It is reported that the previous four models in the Bugatti Legends series, totaling 12 cars, have already sold out.