Highlighting the little-known link between some of its earliest race cars and aviation with a limited-edition variant of the Chiron Sport, Bugatti pays tribute to the notable and successful race driver, Albert Divo, Robert Benoist and Bartolomeo ‘Meo’ Costantini, who also flew in the French Air Force. Through unveiling an all-new Les Légendes du Ciel, the French car manufacturer of high-performance automobiles aims to cater to both vintage car and airplane buffs alike.
Dubbed Les Légendes du Ciel or “Legends of the Sky”, the new limited edition build represents courage, speed, and extraordinary technology, all wrapped in one. Dressed to the nines in matt grey or “Gris Serpent”, the Les Légendes du Ciel mirrors the metallic exterior colour of early 20th century planes, with a broad high-contrast, white gloss runway-like centre stripe which spans over the car’s complete body from the back to the front.
Reminiscent of the historically popular Nieuport 17 biplane, Bugatti’s latest design incorporates a double wing front, alongside mesh patterns on the horseshoe radiator grille which are intended to resemble planes flying in parade formation. Other design details include a propeller logo and “Les Légendes du Ciel” lettering across the car’s left and right front fenders, and exposed-carbon-fibre side sills painted in a Bleu-Blanc-Rouge French tricolour, which pay tribute to both BUGATTI’s and the Daredevils’ origins.
With the option of a Sky View glass roof, the Les Légendes du Ciel comes complete with a brown Gaucho leather interior, as fine and robust as the original Nieuport 17’s cockpit, whilst the parade formation, propeller logos and lettering details are repeated in the seat’s stitching, on the head rests, and along the aluminium inlay of the middle console.
Characterised by its minimalist design, the Les Légendes du Ciel lives up to the high regard, legendary pilot Roland Garros once viewed founder and proprietor, Ettore Bugatti. Describing him as an “incomparable artist who alone knows how to give life to steel”, the Les Légendes du Ciel is yet another example of expert craftsmanship and design.
Thanks to the inclusion of an advanced 8.0 litres W16 engine, this beauty takes flight effortlessly, delivering up to 1,500 PS and 1,600 newton metres of torque, whilst accelerating to maximum speeds of 420km/h. Limited to 20 units worldwide, Bugatti has since announced the commencement of production by end 2020.
