This is it: final Bugatti Bolide marks the end of life for iconic 8.0-litre W16

There are times when automotive history seems to come to a close, like shutting the cover of a thick, bound leather book. The delivery of the final Bugatti Bolide is one such moment. After a limited run of only 40 examples, the final track-only hypercar with a now-legendary W16 engine has officially rolled out of the Atelier in Molsheim, France.

It is done. The production run is complete. This right here is an emotional and remarkable moment in automotive folklore.

A History Lesson in Carbon Fibre

Commissioned by a long-standing client of the brand, the owner of this very special Bolide wanted to create a visual link between the company's past and its present. And boy did he do that.

To achieve this, the car is finished in "Black Blue" exposed carbon fibre, contrasted with "Special Blue Lyonnais". It is a bright colour inspired by the owner's own pre-war Bugatti Type 35.

That Type 35 is one of the most successful racing cars of all time, and to see its colour draped over the violently modern shapes of the Bolide is simply stunning.

But that's not all. The exact spec also matches the owner's Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, making for a holy trinity of sorts from Molsheim machinery combined into one.

Inside, the cockpit is trimmed in sumptuous "Lake Blue" Alcantara with "Light Blue Sport" stitching, making sure that even while pulling 2.5G in a corner, the driver is cocooned in an extremely expensive, extremely blue environment.

Exotic Engineering

The paintwork might be polite and historical, but it's in stark contrast to the mechanicals, which are anything but. The Bolide was designed with a single, unhinged purpose: to see what happens when you strip the weight out of a Chiron and let the engineers off the leash.

At its center sits the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine. This is the last time that this particular engine will find its way into a series-production track car. In the Bolide, it puts out 1,578 bhp (1,600 PS) and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. *SOB*

What next?

With the Bolide production now finished, the Molsheim factory will turn its attention to the final units of the W16 Mistral roadster and then, fully, to the Tourbillon.

The era of the quad-turbo W16 is over. It was complex, heavy, thirsty, and ridiculously expensive to maintain. But my word, it was magnificent. This final, blue Bolide is the perfect send-off.

FAQs

Is this the absolute last W16 Bugatti? For track-only cars, yes. The Bolide production run is strictly limited to 40 units, and this is number 40. However, Bugatti is still finishing production of the W16 Mistral, a road-going convertible, which will technically be the final road car to carry this powertrain.

Why is the top speed "only" 236 mph? Unlike the Chiron, which was built for straight-line speed (vmax), the Bolide is built for lap times. It runs a high-downforce setup with a massive rear wing and intricate floor aerodynamics. This creates drag, which limits top speed but allows the car to corner at bonkers speeds.

Can the owner drive it on the street? No. The Bolide lacks airbags, proper indicators, and meets none of the pedestrian safety standards required for road use. It is strictly a circuit car. 

What is "exposed carbon fibre"? Usually, cars are painted, covering the body material. In "exposed carbon" finishes, the body panels are clear-coated so you can see the weave of the carbon fibre underneath. Tinting this clear coat (as done with the "Black Blue" on this car) is an incredibly difficult and expensive process, as the carbon weave must line up perfectly across every panel gap.

How much did this final car cost? The base price for a Bolide was approximately €4 million (roughly £3.3 million or $4.4 million). However, with the bespoke "Sur Mesure" (custom) options like the heritage carbon finish and specific interior matching, the final price for this unit likely far exceeded that figure.