Note the Lamborghini Gallardo Bicolore in the background.
Bugatti unveiled the Veyron Bleu Centenaire at the Geneva Autoshow in 2009. At the time, reports stated that it cost 1.35 million euros before tax. Initially commissioned as a one-off, Bugatti later built at least 3 more—one in London, and another one in Japan. A wealthy customer in Beijing had already purchased the car displayed at Volkswagen China, so that was likely number 4.
It had a unique color scheme, combining Sprintblue Matt en Sprintblue Gloss. Bugatti finished the wheels, door handles, fuel cap, and air intakes in aluminum.
The Veyron’s interior, with the famous brushed aluminum center console, shaped like the horse-shoe Bugatti grille. The entire interior was clad in high-end leather and aluminum trim. Just check the level of detailing on the drive selector!
Specifications
The engine of the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire was the same as in the ‘standard’ Veyron: a monstrous 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16. The output was 1001 hp (736 kW) and 1250 Nm. The gearbox was a 7-speed DCT, sending horses to all four wheels.
The matte blue paint works very well on the Veyron! The top speed of the French supercar was an insane 407 km/h. The 0-100 sprint took 2.5 seconds, 0-200 was gone in 7.3 seconds, and 0-300 took 16.7 seconds.
The Bugatti Veyron debuted in China in 2008. At the time, it was the most expensive car ever sold in China, with a base price of 25 million yuan. That was $3.67 million in 2008 exchange rates.
Bugatti sold quite a few Veyrons in China, including several special editions.
The good old HQ
Volkswagen China’s headquarters was once housed in a relatively small office building in the heart of Beijing’s Sanlitun embassy and bar district. I used to work nearby, and my colleagues and I often walked past the showroom on our way to lunch.
Whenever I spotted a new car, I would hop inside and take some photos. The showroom featured top-end Audis, Bentleys, and Lamborghinis. Initially, it served purely as a display space, but later, Volkswagen added a small lunchroom open to everyone. It was a fantastic spot. Unfortunately, in the early 2020s, Volkswagen relocated its China HQ to a new site in the northwestern section of the 3rd Ring Road.
Details matter. The Bugatti has the most beautifully detailed grille I have ever seen—and will ever see—on any supercar in China. The Veyron was brilliant, the current Bugatti’s are faster still, but none will ever have the impact of the original W16-powered beautiful madness.