Press release2/15/2024

Bugatti Type 35: celebrating a century of design, engineering and racing genius

Molsheim

Without equal at its launch in 1924, the epoch-defining Bugatti Type 35 secured more than 2,500 race victories during its active time, and its beauty, technical ingenuity and driving brilliance remain just as appealing a century later.

The Bugatti Type 35, one of the most important milestones in Bugatti’s long history, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
The Type 35 debuted with a 2.0-liter in-line eight-cylinder 24-valve engine that delivered 90 PS – class-leading performance for the day.
It was instantly apparent upon its unveiling in 1924 that the Bugatti Type 35 had broken new ground.
Bugatti’s meticulous approach to development resulted in a car that set new standards for design, engineering, materials, handling, and performance.
Without equal at its launch in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 secured more than 2,500 race victories during its lifetime.
The Type 35 features an aluminum alloy-paneled ellipsoid body. This pioneering approach further enhanced the low-drag nature of the bodywork.
The Type 35 rode on cast alloys, to reduce unsprung mass, which incorporated an integral brake drum.
Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean in a Bugatti Type 35 at the Grand Prix de Lyon in 1924.
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To understand the Bugatti Type 35, one must first understand its creator, Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti. Without the one, there could have never been the other.

On its debut in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 rewrote the rulebook to such an extent, introduced so many technical innovations and raised the art of motor racing to such new heights that it could only have come from a mind utterly unrestrained by the conventions and constraints of the time.

Ettore Bugatti possessed such a mind. Born into a family influenced by the arts, design and creativity for centuries, Bugatti’s interests were numerous and diverse, and his knowledge was extensive. Although he had many successful projects to his name before he created the Type 35, Bugatti was not a trained engineer.

Perhaps, in the case of the Type 35, the lack of formal training was an advantage, not an obstacle. If Bugatti had been tutored in traditional automotive engineering, he might not have pushed the boundaries quite so far with the Type 35. And he would certainly not have created the beautiful design attributes integral to each of the technical innovations found on the car. That the Bugatti Type 35 did break new ground to such startling and never-before-seen depths was instantly apparent to all observers in 1924.

“The Bugatti Type 35 was the world’s first purpose-designed and engineered race car. Unlike everything that had gone before, it was not a road car modified for racing, although it also served as a very fine road car. The meticulous approach Ettore Bugatti took to the overall concept, and to every minute detail, resulted in a car that set previously inconceivable standards for design, engineering, materials, handling and performance. The Bugatti Type 35 gave birth to the Grand Prix era and forced other motor manufacturers to completely rethink their approach.”

Luigi Galli

Specialist for Heritage and Certification at Bugatti

Where other cars towered high above the ground, the Type 35’s bodywork sat low and sleek; where other cars sported wired wheels, the Type 35 rode on cast alloys – to reduce unsprung mass – with the brake drum mounted integrally in an equally revolutionary manner; and where other cars had their rear suspension exposed, on the Type 35, it was neatly encapsulated within the aluminium alloy panelled ellipsoid body. Although aerodynamics may have been a little understood science at the time, this pioneering approach further enhanced the low-drag nature of the bodywork.

Underneath the body of the open-top two-seater, every detail was considered, nothing was left to chance, and almost everything represented a new and higher form of thinking.

The Type 35 debuted with a 2.0-litre in-line eight-cylinder, thin-wall 24-valve engine, which was subsequently enlarged to 2.3-litres and supercharged. The pioneering application of an aluminium crankshaft supported by two roller bearings and three ball bearings enabled the engine to rev up to 6,000 rpm and deliver 90 PS – class-leading performance for the day.

Ettore Bugatti was acutely aware that superior performance was generated not solely by the addition of horsepower but also by the removal of weight. His dedication to ensuring every component was fabricated as light as possible, without compromising functionality or reliability, led to a vehicle weight of just 750 kg.

The numerous measures Bugatti took to achieve his goal included the development of a new lightweight hollow front axle with sealed ends. The configuration of the rear axle was equally game-changing. Unlike conventional axles, it did not run ‘straight’ but dipped in the middle to fit around the chassis, rising at its ends to connect with the wheel hubs.

Such innovations helped keep both the car’s height and weight low. Combined with the precision-engineered and calibrated steering system and a lightweight chassis incorporating the engine as a stressed load member, the Type 35 unlocked never-before-seen levels of agility, response and sheer driving pleasure.

Beautifully balanced cable-operated drum brakes and a petrol tank pressurized to optimize fuel flow were further elements engineered by Bugatti to enable drivers to exploit every ounce of the Type 35’s performance on road and track and show the chasing pack a clean pair of heels on more than 2,000 occasions and counting.

"At its launch in 1924, the Bugatti Type 35 served as a lodestone for the automotive industry, utterly transforming how vehicle design and engineering were perceived. A century later, its impact and allure have not diminished. The Type 35 is central to the marque’s DNA, along with the Bugatti Atlantic and the Bugatti Royale. Every automobile that Bugatti builds holds true to the design and engineering values of Ettore Bugatti so exquisitely expressed in the Type 35 one hundred years ago,” concludes Luigi Galli.

Press Contact

Nicole AugerHead of Marketing and Communicationsnicole.auger@bugatti.com

Fuel consumption and emissions

  • Bolide: Not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC, as it is a racing vehicle not intended for use on public roads.

    • Centodieci: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 40.31 / medium phase 22.15 / high phase 17.89 / extra high phase 17.12 / combined 21.47; CO2 emissions combined, g / km: NA; efficiency class: G

    • Chiron: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

    • Chiron Profilée: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Pur Sport: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Sport: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Super Sport: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 40.31 / medium phase 22.15 / high phase 17.89 / extra high phase 17.12 / combined 21.47; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 486.72; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Super Sport 300+: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 40.31 / medium phase 22.15 / high phase 17.89 / extra high phase 17.12 / combined 21.47; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 486.72; efficiency class: G

      • Divo: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 43,33 / medium phase 22,15 / high phase 17,99 / extra high phase 18,28 / combined 22,32; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 505,61; efficiency class: G

      • La Voiture Noire: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 43,33 / medium phase 22,15 / high phase 17,99 / extra high phase 18,28 / combined 22,32; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 505,61; efficiency class: G

        • Tourbillon: This model is currently not subject to directive 1999/94/EC, as type approval has not yet been granted.

        • W16 Mistral: This model is not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC, as type approval has not yet been granted.

          Bugatti

          The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law.

          Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de.

          © 2024 Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.