Coming from a family of artists, it is no surprise that Ettore Bugatti insisted that aesthetics were of fundamental importance in everything he did. But as a gifted engineer, he also understood very clearly that form must follow function, and this innate understanding of design principles ensured that the cars he created were like no other u2013 truly incomparable.
The Type 35, which made its debut in 1924, is the perfect embodiment of Ettoreu2019s meticulous approach. The streamlined eight-cylinder machine partly owes its beautifully proportioned form to the need for frontal area aerodynamics. The car also stood apart because of the sheer attention its creator paid to every last detail.
FRANK HEYL:u00a0BUGATTI DIRECTOR OF DESIGN
u201cThe mindset of Ettore Bugatti can be seen in every element of the Type 35. And while of course, technology moves on, the values that gave birth to the Type 35 u2013 purpose-driven and completely authentic u2013 remain to the fore in the creation of every contemporary Bugatti, including our new Tourbillon hyper sports car, today.
u201cEttore Bugatti was a master in creating innovative, cutting edge technology that had a certain aesthetic to it. From the vice on his work bench to the pasta machine that would supply pasta for customer dinners, both self-made, to the hospitality tent on the race track, this holistic approach, which the Type 35 was very much a part of, still lives on. And we nurture this legacy with pride and respect.u201d
As well as being light, the hollow front axle fitted to the Type 35 was also beautifully finished, having a lustre to match that of the now-iconic horseshoe radiator cowl. The metal dashboard was finished in a process called u201cengine turnu201d that not only enhanced its appearance but also prevented stress cracks from forming. Even under the long, louvered bonnet, components, which many customers might never see, were all designed to look as good as they performed u2013 the exquisitely-shaped exhaust manifolds of the 8-cylinder engine being just one example. These qualities were not lost on the press, with reporters who watched the Type 35u2019s debut grand prix at Lyon noting that the car immediately caught the imagination of those who saw it.
A century later the Type 35u2019s legacy, reputation and influence have only grown stronger. This is evidenced by the u2018Type 35 100 Anniversaireu2019 motifs proudly emblazoned on the front fenders of the Bugatti Bolideu00b9, finished in u201cBleu de Lyonu201d, a hue very similar to its illustrious ancestor, that made a star appearance at this yearu2019s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The caru2019s transformative combination of beauty, innovation, and technology are still a core element of Bugattiu2019s DNA today. So, it is no surprise that the Type 35B in Bugattiu2019s own collection serves as a constant source of inspiration for the brandu2019s design team. The perfect proportions of the fuselage-shape body, inspired the Veyron, Chironu00b2 and now the Tourbillonu00b3. The horseshoe grille of the brandu2019s latest model, although clearly an evolution of the original, is instantly recognisable and retains the same absolute design purity, and it is from this that all lines and volumes of the car originate.
Other elements of influence are more subtle but are no less important. The Type 35u2019s front brakes are controlled by a sophisticated linkage. It can be seen in operation from the driveru2019s seat, and provides a distinct mechanical connection between car and driver: a true human-machine interface. A similar principle guided the development of the intricate engine start lever found in the cabin of the Tourbillon. The mechanism used to bring the all-new naturally aspirated V16 to life has been also purposefully crafted to be a physical experience u2013 a clear link to the glorious machines of the past.
Hidden away beneath the hyper sports caru2019s perfectly crafted carbon fibre exterior, the Tourbillon features innovations such as 3D-printed aluminium front suspension arms and uprights. This innovation reduces weight by 45 per cent and is a cutting-edge development that mirrors Ettore Bugattiu2019s breakthroughs with aluminium wheels and hollow axles pioneered on the Type 35.
Frank Heyl, Bugatti Director of Design, continued: u201cWhen a customer comes to the Molsheim Atelier and sees their car being built, even without the exterior body panels on it they immediately recognise it as a Bugatti because the whole car has a certain aesthetic, and every part has been designed to look beautiful. A Bugatti is timeless, and for something to be timeless it must be authentic, and that means that everything u2013 right down to the last bolt u2013 has to be purpose-driven and tell its own story. This is a continuation of Ettore Bugattiu2019s philosophy of technical beauty combined with the latest technology u2013 the philosophy that made the Type 35 unbeatable, and that lives on at Bugatti to this day and influences everything that we do.u201d
Every car created in Molsheim is designed to endure not just for decades, but for centuries, and the new Tourbillon proudly continues this tradition. Like the Type 35 before it, the Tourbillon is an automotive icon u201cPour lu2019u00e9ternitu00e9u201d u2013 for eternity.
