To celebrate Bugatti's 110th birthday, there was a very special surprise for fans of the brand - the unveiling of the first prototype of the Bugatti Baby II. Bugatti had already presented the reinterpretation of the iconic Bugatti Baby as a 3D printed model at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. It captivated car fans around the world, and the limited edition of 500 units sold out in just three weeks. "When a company with such a rich and proud history as Bugatti celebrates its 110th anniversary, you can afford to look back at the past in a little more detail. That's why our anniversary year is exactly the right time for a new edition of the Bugatti Baby," says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. "The Bugatti Baby II is now more of a teenager and I have to say that it's a great feeling to see it doing its laps on the company premises in Molsheim."
A gift from us to us - for our 110th birthday
When developing the Baby II, Bugatti worked with The Little Car Company to create the greatest children's car ever. After months of development, the Bugatti Baby II has now reached a stage where the first prototype, named XP1, was ready for test drives by celebrities at the Grande Fête in Molsheim. Based on the legendary Bugatti Type 35, the Baby II combines the playfulness of the original Baby with 21st century technology. The Baby II has grown so that it can be driven by adults and children. While the old model was a replica of the original with 50% of the size, the new development now reaches 75% of the size.
The vehicle also has adjustable pedals for big and small. While the 500 original Babies were extremely cramped, even for very small children, the Baby II is even suitable for parents and grandparents with their children and grandchildren. Ben Hedley, CEO of the Little Car Company: "It was a great honor to be involved in this project with Bugatti. The Baby is an important part of Bugatti's heritage and we wanted to create something worthy of the name. We set to work to create something that pays respect to the original and at the same time is great fun to drive. The reports from our customers so far show us that we have succeeded."
Development of a masterpiece
The first step for the Baby II development team was to digitally scan every single component of a 1924 Type 35 Lyon Grand Prix car. From this, the designers recreated Ettore Bugatti's masterpiece and equipped it with an electric drive with lithium-ion batteries and regenerative brakes. Other elements were carefully redesigned to create a contemporary design. The pioneering eight-spoke alloy wheels have been recreated, but now roll on modern Michelin tires. The innovative, lightweight and hollow front axle has been recreated, as has the elegant suspension and characteristic steering mechanism of the original. In the cockpit, the classic four-spoke steering wheel is adorned by a turned aluminum dashboard with custom-made Bugatti instruments. The speedometer with oil and fuel level indicators of the original vehicles was replaced by a speed, battery level and power indicator (first installed in the Veyron). The clock used in the Type 35 to measure racing performance remains. The fuel pump of the Type 35 was digitally reproduced and converted into a forward/reverse control.
In addition, all cars have a horn, rear-view mirror, handbrake, headlights and a remote control that can be used to deactivate the car from up to 50 meters away if an inexperienced driver is in danger of losing control of the vehicle. A plaque with the Baby II's individual chassis number is proudly emblazoned in the center of the dashboard, and the famous Bugatti logo called "Macaron" is enthroned on the "nose" of each vehicle, which, like the Chiron, is made of 50 grams of pure silver.
For lots of riding fun
The Baby II is designed to be fun to drive right from the start. The rear-wheel drive vehicle has two selectable drive modes for drivers with different levels of experience: a "children's mode" with an output of 1kW, in which the speed is limited to a maximum of 20 km/h, and an "adult mode" with an output of 4 kW, which enables speeds of up to a maximum of 45km/h. For speed enthusiasts who want to go even faster, some versions also offer an optional "speed key" - like that of the "big brother" Chiron, which increases the power output to up to 10 kW and removes the speed limit. Fortunately, a limited slip differential allows drivers to make the most of the torque available at the rear wheels. As standard, the car is painted in French Racing Blue and comes with a black leather interior.
Other color options are available for both the interior and exterior. For example, the Baby II can be painted in the same rich and modern colors as the Chiron or in one of the available classic colors, each dedicated to a famous racing driver or event in Bugatti's history. The car is available with a removable battery with two different power levels: a standard 1.4 kWh battery and a 2.8 kWh version with a longer range. The exact range will depend on driving style, but the larger battery is expected to have a range of over 30 km. In addition, all owners of a Baby II will receive membership of The Little Car Club. This allows them to take part in events where they, their children and their grandchildren can drive their cars on well-known motor racing circuits.
Dimensions and range
The Baby II is available in three versions:
- Baby II with composite bodywork
- Baby II Vitesse with carbon fiber body and "Speed Key"
- Baby II Pur Sang with handcrafted aluminum body and "Speed Key"
Each Baby II is 2.80 m long and 1 m wide. The exact weight of the vehicle depends on the version, but starts at 230 kg without driver.
All 500 Bugatti Baby IIs were sold out within three weeks of the announcement of this new model at the Geneva Motor Show. However, customers can still be put on the waiting list in case a buyer withdraws their decision and to be the first to be informed about future models. Prices start at 30,000 euros (plus tax and delivery) and production will start in spring 2020. The car will be manufactured by The Little Car Company in the UK and all 500 examples will be produced throughout 2020 and 2021. Note: Final technical specifications to be confirmed before production starts.
Further information & waiting list
You can find further information and join the waiting list here.
