Ettore Bugatti’s famous 1926 “Bugatti Baby” is being re-released in a limited edition run of 500 units and has started series production.
The limited edition Bugatti Baby II. Credit: The Little Car Company/Bugatti
Last year at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, Bugatti revealed plans to re-release the original 1926 “Bugatti Baby” in collaboration with The Little Car Company.
Originally developed back in 1926 by Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean, the Bugatti Baby was built as a scaled-down version of the Type 35 (and affectionately known as the “Type 52”) to celebrate the fourth birthday of Ettore’s youngest son Roland.
Ettore Bugatti with his youngest son Roland and the gifted “Type 52”. Credit: Bugatti
Initially, it was only going to be a one-off build. However, as others witnessed little Roland tearing around the Molsheim homestead and workshop in the miniaturized Type 35, it quickly became apparent that other parents wanted in, and the popular Bugatti Baby went into production between 1927 and 1936, producing around 500 units during that time.
A larger scale version of the 1926 Bugatti Baby. Credit: Bugatti
While the original Bugatti Baby was a 50% scale of the Type 35, it struggled to fit a child any older than eight. In contrast, the Bugatti Baby II has been designed at 75% scale and will be suitable for ages fourteen upwards.
“Ettore Bugatti himself was already interested in catering to the children of Bugatti enthusiasts and designed the Type 52 miniature car as a genuine Bugatti. That was a sensation at the time,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “We are continuing this tradition with the new edition of the Bugatti Baby II, and I am delighted that we have found The Little Car Company, a partner that shares the same values as us. With the Bugatti Baby II, we invite a young generation of enthusiasts to fall in love with the wonderful world of Bugatti.”
Details like the egg-shaped radiator and long tail body have carried through to the new edition. Credit: Bugatti
To cater to clients’ varying needs, the Bugatti Baby II is being produced in three different versions:
The Bugatti Baby II Base model
Prices starting at €30,000
Composite body
1.4kWh battery pack
Novice drive mode – 1kW of power and limited to 20km/h (12mph)
Expert drive mode – 4kW of power and limited to 45km/h (30mph)
The Baby Bugatti Vitesse model
Prices starting at €43,500
Carbon fiber body
More powerful 2.8kWh battery pack with an upgraded powertrain and a Chiron-like “Speed Key” to enable it to go even faster
Novice drive mode – 1kW of power and limited to 20km/h (12mph)
Expert drive mode – 4kW of power and limited to 45km/h (30mph)
Bugatti Speed Key option to increase to 10kW of power and a top speed of 70km/h (42mph)
– The Bugatti Baby II Pur Sang collector model
Prices starting at €58,500
Hand-built aluminum bodywork (most closely represents the traditional coachbuilding techniques – taking over 200 hours to create)
More powerful 2.8kWh battery pack with an upgraded powertrain and a Chiron-like “Speed Key” to enable it to go even faster
Novice drive mode – 1kW of power and limited to 20km/h (12mph)
Expert drive mode – 4kW of power and limited to 45km/h (30mph)
Bugatti Speed Key option to increase to 10kW of power and a top speed of 70km/h (42mph)
Although more attuned to the power and dynamics of the much larger models, even Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace has been impressed with the smaller version sharing, “When you first sit in the car and look at each tiny detail, it reminds me in some ways of the first few months with the Chiron. You get the same feeling walking around the car, as everywhere you look there are beautifully engineered solutions and design details that really are quite amazing. It would be easy to create something like this with a quarter of the quality, but that’s what’s so brilliant about this car: it’s absolutely top-of-the-line, a work of art on wheels. “
Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace with the Bugatti Baby II. Credit: Bugatti
“In its most powerful mode, when you have the ‘Speed Key’ inserted, the Baby II is a very fast car. It’s quite impressive and brilliantly fun. You get a lovely feel of balance, it handles just like the original Type 35 and the regenerative braking is a very cool touch. It’s truly an authentic Bugatti, there are no questions about that.”
Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace taking the Bugatti Baby II for a drive. Credit: Bugatti
The Little Car Company CEO Ben Hedley shared, “To develop the Baby II we had to walk a fine line. We wanted to pay tribute to the original Bugatti Baby and Type 35, but also wanted to integrate modern technology and make it fun to drive. We are delighted to deliver the hand-built Baby II to customers and allow multiple generations to share the joy of driving. We believe that the vehicle is something really special, delighting collectors and car enthusiasts around the world. As a counterpoint to Bugatti’s production car world speed record last summer, we have developed a vehicle which you can enjoy at much lower speeds with your children and grandchildren”.
And if roaring around town isn’t enough to get the adrenaline pumping for your young ones (and let’s be honest – probably yourself after you’ve attempted to squeeze into the driver’s seat), as a Bugatti Baby II owner you’ll also get the added perk of becoming a Bugatti Owner’s Club member and be invited to all member events, allowing your kids and grandkids to race around some of the most famous motor racing circuits in a pint-sized Bugatti!
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus Collection is inspired by the universe’s infinite reach and is limited to 20 vehicles worldwide.
The new limited edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus. Credit: Rolls-Royce
The new Rolls-Royce Phantom “Tempus” is limited to 20 vehicles and is inspired by the concept of time and the infinite universe, with a special focus on a rare astronomical phenomenon known as a “pulsar.”
New “Kairos Blue” paint with mica flakes to represent the night sky. Credit: Rolls-Royce
Unknown and undiscovered until 1967, pulsars are found in the deepest reaches of space (the closest is still 1,680 trillion miles from Earth) and are dense, white-hot stars that emit electromagnetic radiation in regular pulses – making them some of the most accurate clocks in the universe.
Only 20 editions will be made. Credit: Rolls-Royce
In the Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus, the pulsar features as a hand-painted and embroidered artwork across the Starlight Headliner, complete with twinkling fiber-optic lights to reflect the white-hot stars.
Starlight Headliner with hand-painted/embroidered Pulsar night sky design. Credit: Rolls-Royce
Another design element made to represent time is the “Frozen Flow of Time” gallery – a unique artwork built into the dashboard fascia and made of a single billet of aluminum milled to form 100 individual columns, representing the 100-million years it takes for a rotational spin of a pulsar star.
The Frozen Flow of Time gallery artwork. Credit: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce has also deliberately removed the clock from this edition in the hope that from within the space they have created, “the outside world and all its pressures and demands are forgotten.”
A place with where time does not exist. Credit: Rolls-Royce
“The events of the past year have caused many people, not least our clients, to re-evaluate their sense of, and relationship with time. At a moment in history when so much in life seems ephemeral, our patrons are seeking solace in the unique timelessness, longevity and permanence offered by a Rolls-Royce motor car,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Starry light design across the door panels. Credit: Rolls-Royce
“As we all know, time never stands still, waits for no one. Hence, we manage it, guard it, account for it, weigh and measure it to its smallest fraction. With Phantom Tempus, we have created a space in which those structures no longer apply – as illustrated by the deliberate absence of a clock. Rolls-Royce clients are not bound by time; the outside world with all its pressures and demands are forgotten.”
The Rolls-Royce clock has been deliberately left out of the design. Credit: Rolls-Royce
For the exterior of the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Tempus, a new bespoke paint color known as “Kairos Blue” has been created especially for this model and includes mica flakes to make a slight sparkling effect that mimics the stars of the night sky.
Owners can also choose to personalize their vehicles one step further with a unique engraving on the Spirit of Ecstasy, choosing to remember a special date and location of significance to the client, a marriage, or a birthday.
Californian-based Gunther Werks has unveiled the open-top edition of its Porsche 993 Speedster Remastered built on the 400R platform.
The new Gunther Werks 993 Speedster Remastered Edition. Credit: Gunther Werks
Californian-based Gunther Werks are known for some of the world’s most refined 993 air-cooled restomod’s and have now turned their attention to the open-top 993 Speedster Remastered Edition.
Only 25 Speedster models will be built. Credit: Gunther Werks
To create the open-top version of their coupe design, Gunther Werks removed the rear seat and, in doing so, had to significantly re-design and stiffen the 993 chassis with a new roll cage and roll hoop system to mitigate common side effects often associated with the removal of vehicle roofs. Now in place of the rear seats is a new carbon-fiber top Speedster top and tonneau cover.
Rear seats removed and replaced with a new carbon-fiber top. Credit: Gunther Werks
Some of the extensive exterior modifications of the 993 Speedster include a lower rake glass windscreen (which owners can opt to remove entirely, much like the McLaren Elva or Ferrari Monza SP1/SP2), billet aluminum side view mirrors, additional carbon fiber aerodynamic elements and a revised ducktail spoiler with ram air scoop.
New lightweight bonnet design. Credit: Gunther Werks
Under the hood, performance upgrades include revised suspension to improve handling, and a remapped 4.0 liter flat-six engine rebuilt by Rothsport Racing to slightly boost the 435 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque already achieved in the Remastered coupe edition.
New roll-cage and roll hoop system have been implemented to strengthen the chassis. Credit: Gunther Werks
Owners will also have the option to upgrade to 5 spoke Fuch wheels with center locking mechanisms if several of the forged Gunther Werks wheel options don’t already catch their eye.
Production expected to begin 2022. Credit: Gunther Werks
Gunther Werks will only be producing 25 models of the 993 Speedster Remastered editions to match production of 25 coupe models already underway and is expected to begin production in 2022.
Netflix has announced the popular Formula 1 series Drive to Survive will return with Season 3 premiering on March 19 this year.
With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a curveball on last year’s Formula 1 season, it was anyone’s guess whether racing, let alone filming of the next installment of the popular Netflix Drive To Survive series, would even go-ahead last year.
The excellent news for race-fans is that production company Box-to-Box Films and Netflix have both confirmed Drive To Survive will be returning to Netflix for Season 3, covering all the behind-the-scenes action and drama of the race season as it unfolds amongst a worldwide pandemic.
Most likely beginning with the last-minute cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix, it will be interesting to watch the driver’s and team’s reactions and responses as they navigate the best way to move forward through the “unprecedented” events caused by COVID-19.
Of course, other things we all want to know is what’s the latest with Guenther Steiner? What happened behind-closed-doors to see Carlos Sainz Jr take Sebastian Vettel’s spot at Ferrari? And how did Daniel Ricciardo end up at McLaren?
An additional video shared by Formula 1 broadcast journalist and reporter Will Buxton explains how you may have already spotted the Netflix film team throughout the season and explains some of the gear used to shoot the documentary and how they managed filming in the F1 paddock under Covid-19 restrictions.
Season 3 of Netflix’s Drive To Survive is set to premiere March 19 this year, and if it’s anything like last season, will drop all episodes at once for your binge-watching enjoyment.