Destrier is Bugatti’s One-Meter-Tall Warhorse

Bugatti just handed its most extreme track machine a completely different life. The Destrier takes the carbon-fiber monocoque and full 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 from the Bolide, removes every wing, every extra vent, and every aerodynamic add-on, then shapes what remains into something built for looking at as much as driving. It stands exactly one meter tall. That is lower than any other road-going Bugatti has ever been.

Bugatti’s latest car, named after a medieval warhorse, is strongly rooted in that era. The cabin is located between the front fenders and sits low. The body tightens behind the doors before swelling up attractively over the rear wheels, resulting in broad hips. It’s like staring at a wild animal about to pounce. Large tires fill the arches, 20 inches up front and 21 inches back, a significant improvement over the Bolide’s 18-inch centerfolds.

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The Bugatti C-line runs along the side, but stops before reaching the wheel well, leaving a lovely chunk of bare metal before picking up again and meeting a bigger horseshoe grille. The headlights are small and fit nicely into the fenders. A chrome trim goes across the bonnet and across the roof to the back. A gorgeous wing-shaped spoiler sits above the skinny taillights, while a large diffuser frames the four exhausts. Only the front splitter and rear diffuser have exposed carbon fiber, which is colored to match the bodywork.

Sapphire Celeste is the name given to its unique paint work. The numerous layers produce a diamond dazzle look that varies depending on the light source. The aluminum parts stand out against the lower-key bodywork, while the polished metal in the engine compartment is entirely hand-hammered, evoking memories of worn knights’ armor. Up top, a laser-engraved panel commemorates the Type 57G Tank, which won Le Mans in 1939, and the Type 57SC Atlantic, two quite different horses from the same stable.

However, the stripped-down Bolide cockpit is no longer in use. All surfaces are upholstered in a plush yet rich Ambre Voyageur leather and matching nubuck, in a warm brown that is unique to this automobile. The dashboard, doors, and seats are all encased in a 3D-knitted fabric with a lovely copper thread running through it, which is Bugatti’s “halo line” and extends all the way around the car. You can also see some great contrasting stitching that defines the contours and reappears in the headrest and center console. The hammered metal parts are back, this time on the door opener, air vents, steering wheel, and entry plate. Even a modest French flag makes an appearance.

Power remains the same as the Bolide at its peak, 1,600PS (a powerful 1,578 horsepower), delivered to all four wheels via a seven-speed transmission. There have been no acceleration or high speed claims, but the message Bugatti is trying to tell is about how the body rests on its huge wheels, not stopwatch figures.

This is the third bespoke car produced by Programme Solitaire, a unique division tasked with creating one-of-a-kind marvels for individual clientele. Its two ancestors, the Brouillard and the F.K.P. Hommage, began with the same Chiron platform but evolved into very different characters. In contrast, the Destrier begins with the Bolide, giving it an entirely new technological foundation and thus a completely different objective. According to design leader Frank Heyl, the Bolide’s outlandish dimensions are a result of being completely free of the need to worry about downforce and simply allowing the body to follow its natural shape. Sabine Consolini oversaw the color and trim selections, claiming that every surface of the automobile is precision-calibrated to be extremely polished and tactile, with the same care as a tailor would choose cloth for a tailored suit for a particular client.

The vehicle will make its debut at The Quail on August 14 and then on the Pebble Beach lawn during the Concours d’Elegance on August 16, as part of Monterey Car Week festivities. One chassis, two very different faces, with the Bolide designed to go flat out on the track and the Destrier designed for cruising, or whatever you choose to do with it.