INSIDE BUGATTI’S DREAM FACTORY AT MOLSHEIM

Molsheim is an idyllic location in Alsace, north-eastern France, and it’s been the home of the Bugatti since it was founded in 1909.

Here, the luxury marque is making automotive dreams come true with the Chiron – its latest stunning supercar.

As series production of the Chiron gathers pace, Bugatti plans to complete up to 70 cars in 2017 out of a total production of 500, of which more than half are already accounted for.

On average, six months pass between start of production and delivery.  A total of 20 employees assemble the Chiron from more than 1,800 individual parts in the ‘Atelier’ where the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car is completely hand-built.

Personalisation is key to the process and customers can choose from 23 colours for the exterior.  For the interior there are 31 different colours or Alcantara in eight colours, as well as 30 stitching, 18 carpet and 11 seatbelt colours.  In addition to this basic range, thousands of other colours are possible and they can even be created to match a favourite handbag or the label on a customer’s preferred brand of mineral water.

Only when the customer has signed off the configuration does production planning start.  The many small wheels of a complex process that runs to a strict time schedule are then set in motion.  When a production slot has been assigned to a customer’s vehicle, the parts that are needed are ordered.

One month before the start of production in Molsheim, the bodyshell is assembled with the monocoque and chassis substructure for the first time to ensure that everything fits together perfectly.

Each part is assigned a kit number and is then transferred to the paint shop and it takes about three weeks to apply the various coats of paint.

The production building for the Chiron, which Bugatti calls “Atelier“, has a floor space of more than 1,000 square metres.  It was inaugurated in 2005 and has an oval configuration, based on the French brand’s logo, the Bugatti “Macaron”.

It was designed by the renowned architect Professor Gunter Henn from Munich and for more than 10 years, the legendary Veyron 16.4 and its derivatives were built there.

At Bugatti, there are no conveyor belts or robots.  Staff work at 12 stations where various stages of the Chiron’s production are carried out.

The rolling dynamometer, or rolling road, is perhaps the most impressive stage of the process.  Here, tests take between two and three hours, during which time the vehicle covers about 60 kilometres.  The unit is so powerful that it can produce electricity with a current of up to 1,200 amps during operation and Bugatti feeds the excess power generated to the local grid in Molsheim.

Another key stage is the water test where the Chiron is exposed to monsoon rain of varying intensity for 30 minutes to show that there are no leaks.

After the cars have been tested at speeds of up to 250km/h (155mph) on the runway, followed by a more leisurely road run, the Chiron is transferred to the paint booth, where it is prepared for the finish.  All the protective foils are removed and the vehicle is then cleaned and polished, but it can take up to three weeks before the paintwork is finally signed off.

Then it’s over to the customer who will probably already have seen the car several times during the production process.

Named after race ace Louis Chiron (1899-1979), the most successful Bugatti works driver, the car packs 1,479bhp and is all about numbers.

Two in particular stand out:

1. The basic price is around Euro 2.872.200 (£2.4 million) (U$ 3.078.900).

2. It has a top speed of 420km/h (261mph)  “limited for road travel” (so expect a speed record attempt anytime soon).

bugatti.com/chiron

Bugatti Creates One of the World's Lightest Bicycles

Bugatti introduces the world’s lightest urban bicycle that’s almost entirely made of carbon fiber

...And It Costs Euro 36.800 ($40K)

After collaborating with yacht manufacturers Palmer Johnson to craft the Chiron inspired limited edition Bugatti Niniette 66, Bugatti has now teamed up with German luxury bicycle manufacturer PG to introduce a bicycle that shares its design language with the marquee’s newest hypercar. With every new product, the French carmaker aims to shatter old records. While the Bugatti Chiron is almost ready to grab the crown for being the world’s fastest production car, the ‘PG Bugatti Bike’ has bagged the title of the lightest special urban bike in the world by weighing in less than 4,98kg (11lbs).

The PG Bugatti Bike is crafted primarily of carbon fiber and boasts aero-optimized cross sections along with its German-made “carbon components are handcrafted using prepreg materials and methods otherwise found only in motor sport and the aeronautic industries in order to guarantee the lightest weight and highest rigidity possible.” The bike is made of 95 percent carbon fiber, with the frame, fork, rims, handlebars, seat, crank and brake all made by Italian carbon experts Merelli. The uber-luxe bicycle will have a limited production of only 667 pieces, and upon request, existing Bugatti owners will be able to have their bicycles hand-customized in the PG Bugatti showroom in Weinstadt to match their cars. There is no word on the pricing of the bicycle.

Bugatti Niniette 66 Sport Yacht Inspired by the Bugatti Chiron

Bugatti Automobiles and Palmer Johnson Yachts today launched the Limited Edition Bugatti Niniette 66, a 66-foot sport yacht designed to match the Bugatti Chiron.

Following the same classic horseshoe lines as Bugattis,  Palmer Johnson and Bugatti worked in conjunction with A++ to create the yacht’s exterior styling and interior design that is reminiscent of the Bugatti Chiron. Palmer Johnson took care of the Niniette 66’s naval architecture and engineering. The Limited Edition Bugatti Niniette 66 is the first in a new line of yachts that will go from 50 to 80 feet, all inspired by the Bugatti Chiron.  And true to the fast car design, this fast yacht will hit a top speed of 44 knots. The vessel’s slender monohull is stabilized by a sponson on each side, which dampens rolls at all speeds, making a great ride for its two guests and one crewmember.

The Bugatti Niniette 66’s 21-foot beam allows for a roomy master suite—featuring soft leather, polished metal, suede, and carbon—an automotive-inspired salon with macaron skylight, a marble-clad guest bathroom, and a galley kitchen with all the basics. The modern interior creates a cocooning effect via its Bugatti horseshoe shape.

On deck, guests will enjoy the fire pit, Jacuzzi, sunpads and Champagne bar, plus plenty of seating to choose from.

Powered by fuel-efficient MAN V-8 engines, and featuring MJP waterjets, the Bugatti Niniette 66’s stable and efficient hull will get you to the Bahamas fast, where you will be able to jet around without trouble, thanks to the yacht shallow 4-foot draft. Guests will compete to pilot this joy-stick-controlled speedboat from the Bugatti-designed helm chairs and command center.

While the Bugatti yachting connection may seem odd, the fast-car maker dabbled in the boat-building business in the 1930s, when it was commissioned to create a bespoke boat for Prince Carlo Maurizio Ruspoldi. Bugatti founder Ettore named this speedy craft Niniette, his youngest daughter Lidia’s nickname.

And Monaco-based Palmer Johnson was the most obvious choice for the automaker to pair with, given the yacht builder’s known success in building mold-breaking, sleek, powerful, and efficient sport yachts.

Those interested should get their orders in soon: Only 66 examples of the Limited Edition Bugatti Niniette 66 sport yacht will be made. (bugattininiette.com).

Bugatti unveils a new showroom in the Swiss Alps

Bugatti enthusiasts residing in Switzerland have yet another reason to rejoice this season. After successfully running two plush showrooms in the Swiss Alps, the brand is all set to present connoisseurs with yet another outlet in the center of the famous mountain resort of Gstaad.

The new shop is said to be one of its largest in Europe and the 13th across the globe to feature the brand’s novel award-winning floor design.

Opened the doors to the public on the 29th of December, the Bugatti – Gstaad is a sprawling edifice spread over an area of 150 square meters. It was developed by the brand in close consultation with Pichler GFG AG (the official partner of Bugatti in Switzerland since 2010). One of the various offerings on display here, is the luxe Chiron, that will be showcased for the very first time on 22nd on December and will remain open for viewing up until the beginning of 2017. Following the successful operations of Bugatti Geneva and Bugatti Zurich, the new outlet appears to be an equally promising treat for the brand’s loyal fans.

Further, being located in the luxurious lap of Gstaad offers Bugatti a chance to cater to a field of international clientele that have a well-developed taste for European automobiles. Moreover, with 10 of over 200 advance orders for the Chiron coming directly from the Swiss Alps, it promises to be one of the brand’s biggest markets in Europe. With more and more individuals opting for company formation in Switzerland the country has seen a huge upsurge in HNI’s, thus making it an ideal location for Bugatti.