Bugatti Centodieci, a clear tribute to the legendary EB110

The Bugatti Centodieci could have slipped in quietly, but the company has decided to officially present it this past weekend at Pebble Beach. The Bugatti Centodieci is a clear tribute to one of the most legendary cars in history: the Bugatti EB110. Its successor features an 8.0-liter W16 engine capable of producing a staggering 1,600 CV, making it 100 CV more powerful than its sibling, the Bugatti Chiron.

Thanks to the additional power, the model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds. Keeping the throttle pinned to the floor, or flat out as those deeply involved in motorsport say, it can reach 200 km/h in 6.1 seconds and 300 km/h in around seven.

With enough room, the Bugatti Centodieci will eventually reach an electronically limited top speed of 380 km/h. The performance tuning doesn’t stop there, as the new hypercar from Bugatti weighs 20 kg less than the Bugatti Chiron. This was achieved through a variety of changes, including the use of a lightweight windscreen wiper and anti-roll bars made from carbon fibre.

Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of the luxury car brand, has stated that “the higher power and lower weight will further improve performance, for even better acceleration at high speeds”. He also added that the Bugatti Centodieci has a better power-to-weight ratio and more dynamic handling than the Bugatti Chiron.

Bugatti Centodieci, a bold look back

Since the car is inspired by the Bugatti EB110, which was introduced in 1991, marking the 110th birthday of Ettore Bugatti, it has a unique design that recalls the classic supercar. This presented a challenge for the manufacturer, as design director Achim Anscheidt has said, “carrying this classic look into the new millennium without copying it has been technically quite complicated, to put it mildly. We had to create a new way to combine the complex aerothermal requirements of the Chiron’s underlying technology with a completely different aesthetic appearance”.

Despite the challenges, the model looks phenomenal as it successfully combines the style cues of the Chiron and EB110 with some of its own. At the front, the model adopts a smaller horseshoe-shaped grille and horizontal fins that reference those used on the EB110. The car has also been fitted with a new front splitter and an aerodynamically optimised bonnet. Additionally, the Centodieci features very slim LED light units with integrated daytime running lights.

The distinctive styling continues further back, as the designers adopted the wedge-shaped design of the EB110 by installing angled A-pillars that meet a flatter roof. The Centodieci also has a unique bodywork that incorporates vents used on the EB110 and a more prominent shoulder line that slopes toward the rear. As the side blades of the Chiron have been removed, they have been replaced by five round air intakes reminiscent of those used on the Bugatti EB110 SS.

While much of the car is inspired by the EB110, the rear is exclusive to the Centodieci. It features a vented fascia, a massive diffuser and a sporty exhaust system with four exhaust outlets. The model also has floating rear lights and a massive rear spoiler that helps improve aerodynamic downforce.

Production will be limited to ten units, with only two delivered to customers each year. Despite this, and a price of eight million euros, all ten units have already been sold.