The world's fastest production car, Bugatti Veyron, is in its twilight years, approaching 10 years old, and the final 'Legends' limited edition model will provide a fitting farewell for the iconic speed machine.
The Bugatti Veyron Legend "Ettore Bugatti" edition will be limited to just three vehicles, and costing €2.35 million each, or $A3.4 million, is making its public debut at the exclusive Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the USA from August 15, 2014.
What makes the car so special, along with the five other 'Legends' models, is that Bugatti founder Ettore is referenced in this vehicle, which alone should make it one of the most collectible Bugattis – or cars for that matter.
Highlights include unique exterior finishes, including hand-polished aluminium and clear-coat carbon body panels, the latter unique in the car world says Bugatti. Exterior badges are made from platinum and the alloy wheels are diamond cut.
The already opulent interior has been tizzied up (to put it mildly) with exposed carbon accents finished in a blue hue, platinum-plated dancing elephant logos and for the first time the French-based, German-owned company makes use of two different leather finishes in the cabin.
Traditional calf's leather finished in brown is the main material used in the car's cabin, covering everything from the steering wheel to the door handles, while "the switches in the door trims and in the roof module are all jacketed in an exclusive, natural cordovan leather" reads the Bugatti press statement.
Naturally, the leather tanning process takes six months, making it "particularly durable".
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bugatti President, says the final Legends edition Veyron reflects Ettore Bugatti's mandate "that an automobile be a perfect harmony of technology and aesthetics" and should be a work of art, not just transportation.
"Ettore Bugatti always strived for the creation of a total work of art. His ideas and vehicles set the foundation stone for an automobile brand that was lauded then and now as the most valuable in the world. Ettore Bugatti himself is a legend. It was clear from the start that we should dedicate the final Legends model to him personally," intoned Dürheimer.
Based on the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, like the rest of the Legends models, the 'Ettore Bugatti' vehicle is propelled by an 894kW W16 engine that displaces 8.0-litre and takes advantage of four turbochargers.
Peak torque of 1500Nm hits between 3000 and 5000rpm and delivers a 0-100km/h time of 2.6 seconds, on to a top speed of 408km/h (254mph). That ensures it's the world's fastest production roadster, by virtue of its removal roof panels.
As the current Veyron begins its slow swan-song, gradually wheeled towards retirement, Bugatti is working on a replacement vehicle worth 1100kW that is expected to debut in 2016 and the all-new model will probably get a new name too. Bugatti wants to retain its crown of world's fastest production car, but with newcomers like the Hennessey Venom F5 breathing down it's neck it will need to hit 460km/h (286mph) at least.
The Veyron Legend "Ettore Bugatti" edition will be shown at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance alongside its five 'Legendary' siblings for the first and only time, says the company. This includes Black Bess, Rembrandt Bugatti, Jean-Pierre Wimille, Meo Constantini and Jean Bugatti.