Considering how few cars Bugatti makes each year – only 82 in 2019 – keeping up with the model changes is harder than keeping up with Apple iOS software updates. And now there’s another one: the Bugatti Chiron Les Legendes Du Ciel.
That distinctly un-catchy name is French for The Legends of the Sky, and apparently commemorates the historical link between Bugatti and the winged-world.
Ettore Bugatti designed aircraft engines during the First World War, and even an entire plane in 1937. And many of the marque’s famous pre-war drivers, men like Albert Divo and Roland Garros, got their kicks driving fast cars and flying aircraft.
That’s the marketing waffle, anyway. The engineering reality is that this is a regular Chiron Sport with a smart paint job and some natty leather interior trim. It’s like one of those millions of 1990s Rover Mini special editions, just with 30 times more power.
Called Gris Serpent (Snake Grey), the stylish matte paint is meant to evoke memories of aeroplanes crossing the skies back in the 1920s, if there is anyone who can still remember that far back.
The iconic horseshoe grille has been redesigned to represent a squadron pf planes flying in formation, while a huge gloss white stripe runs from nose to tail. Other notable details include an exposed carbon fibre engine cover and sills, and a French flag below each door.
On the other side of those doors you’ll find posh Gaucho brown leather trim featuring some questionable car-races-plane graphics, diamond-cut aluminium trim and an optional Sky View glass roof.
There’s nothing in the way of performance upgrades on the menu, but with 1479bhp on hand courtesy of the Chiron’s quad-turbo W16 getting you to 62mph in 2.5sec and eventually to 261mph, you’re unlikely to feel it wanting in that department.
You might, however, find your piggy bank contents wanting. Bugatti is building 20 Les Legendes and charging £2.57m (€2.88m) before taxes, which represents an eye-popping £230k premium over a standard Chiron Sport.
Keyword: Bugatti looks to the heavens to shift more Chirons