Bugatti Centodieci: Resurrecting the Spirit of Campogalliano
The history of Bugatti is not a single unbroken line. It is a story of three acts: the original era of Ettore and Jean Bugatti in Molsheim (1909–1950s), the modern era of the Volkswagen Group (1998–present), and the often-overlooked “Italian interlude” of the 1990s. The Bugatti Centodieci (Italian for “110”) is a tribute to that middle chapter.
Based on the Chiron architecture, the Centodieci is a limited-series hypercar (only 10 units) designed to celebrate the brand’s 110th anniversary while paying specific homage to the Bugatti EB110, the car that briefly returned the brand to the top of the automotive world in 1991.
The History: Why the EB110 Matters
To understand the Centodieci, you must understand the EB110. In 1987, Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli bought the rights to the Bugatti brand. He built a state-of-the-art factory in Campogalliano, Italy (near Ferrari and Lamborghini), and recruited the best engineers in the region.
The result was the EB110:
- Carbon Fiber Chassis: One of the first production cars to use one.
- Quad-Turbo V12: A screaming 3.5-liter engine with 5 valves per cylinder.
- AWD: Permanent all-wheel drive.
- Performance: It was faster than the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959.
Despite its brilliance, a global recession forced Artioli into bankruptcy in 1995. The factory closed, and the Bugatti dream went dormant again until VW bought it. For years, Bugatti (under VW) largely ignored the Italian era, focusing on the French heritage. The Centodieci changes that; it is an official acknowledgment that the EB110 is a legitimate and crucial part of the Bugatti bloodline.
Design Analysis: Retro-Futurism
Translating the design of a 1990s wedge-shaped supercar onto the curvaceous, muscular body of a modern Chiron was a massive challenge. Design Director Achim Anscheidt had to capture the spirit of the EB110 without creating a retro pastiche.
The Front Visage
The Chiron is defined by its massive horseshoe grille. The EB110, however, had a tiny horseshoe, reflecting the smaller cooling needs of the 90s. The Centodieci adopts a much smaller, sharper horseshoe grille, flanked by horizontal, slat-like vents. The headlights are extremely narrow slits, giving the car a focused, robotic squint that mimics the pop-up look of the 90s without actually moving.
The “Cheese Grater” Vents
The most obvious nod to the EB110 SS (Super Sport) is the replacement of the Chiron’s signature “C-line” (the curve that loops around the door). In its place are five round air intakes arranged in a diamond pattern behind the side window. On the EB110, these vents channeled air into the engine bay. On the Centodieci, they do the same, but the engineering required to make them functional was immense. The Chiron’s C-line is a giant intake; replacing it with five small holes meant the airflow had to be accelerated and guided with extreme precision to prevent the W16 engine from suffocating.
The Rear Design
The rear is dominated by a massive fixed rear wing (adjustable mechanically, but not actively like the Chiron’s). Below it sits a continuous light strip that spans the entire width of the car, filled with OLED elements that create a “falling” effect. The diffuser is enormous, housing 2+2 exhaust pipes arranged vertically, another direct reference to the EB110.
Thermal Engineering: Cooling 1,600 Horsepower
The Centodieci isn’t just a body kit. It features the most powerful iteration of the W16 engine used in a production Bugatti at the time.
- Power: 1,600 PS (1,176 kW; 1,578 hp). This is 100 hp more than the standard Chiron.
- Weight: 20 kg lighter than the Chiron.
- Power-to-Weight: 1.13 kg per hp.
To manage the thermals of a 1,600 hp engine with the restrictive “retro” air intakes, Bugatti engineers had to rework the entire cooling package.
- Oil Coolers: The oil coolers are carbon-fiber reinforced to save weight.
- Airflow Guide: Internal flaps and guides were 3D-modeled to ensure that every molecule of air entering the five side vents was directed exactly where it was needed.
- Engine Bay: The glass engine cover exposes the W16 like a jewel, but it also traps heat. A dedicated extraction system forces hot air out the rear mesh grille.
Performance Specs
- 0-100 km/h (62 mph): 2.4 seconds
- 0-200 km/h (124 mph): 6.1 seconds
- 0-300 km/h (186 mph): 13.1 seconds
- Top Speed: Electronically limited to 380 km/h (236 mph).
Like the Divo, the Centodieci is limited to 380 km/h. The increased downforce and the thermal limits of the new bodywork make 400+ km/h runs risky/unnecessary. This car is about acceleration and presence, not breaking land speed records.
Exclusivity and Value
Bugatti built only 10 units of the Centodieci.
- Price: €8 million (net).
- Availability: Sold out immediately.
- Notable Owners: Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the 10 owners, reportedly taking delivery of his car in 2022.
The Centodieci represents the pinnacle of Bugatti’s “few-off” strategy. It allows the brand to explore different facets of its history and offer something truly unique to its most loyal customers. While the Veyron and Chiron were “mass production” (450 and 500 units respectively), the Centodieci is true automotive haute couture—hand-built, bespoke, and historically significant.
Centodieci vs. EB110 SS: The Numbers Game
It is fascinating to see how far engineering has come in 30 years.
| Feature | Bugatti EB110 SS (1992) | Bugatti Centodieci (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5L Quad-Turbo V12 | 8.0L Quad-Turbo W16 |
| Power | 612 hp | 1,600 hp |
| Torque | 650 Nm | 1,600 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.2 seconds | 2.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 355 km/h | 380 km/h (Limited) |
| Weight | 1,570 kg | 1,976 kg |
While the Centodieci is vastly more powerful, the EB110 was actually lighter. This highlights the “weight penalty” of modern safety standards, hybrid systems (though the Centodieci isn’t hybrid), and luxury features. However, the sheer force of the W16 overcomes the mass, making the Centodieci significantly faster in every metric.