The number of the beast

HAD AN EXCHANGE with someone the other day who was adamant that the modern incarnation of Bugatti bears so little relation to the original that it shouldn’t be allowed to exist, whether under the guardianship of Romano Artioli, VAG, Rimac or anyone else That made me wonder how few of the current motor manufacturers would exist (or how long any of the now-defunct British marques would have lasted) if you applied the same criteria to them

Then it made me realise that, even ignoring a few interim attempts to revive the dormant brand, Bugatti in its modern guise has been alive and kicking (with gaps) for longer than the original family-run business was moribund after fizzling out in 1952. Indeed, modern Bugatti has now been churning out road cars for only a few years less than Ettore’s original company did.

And that is a glorious past it rarely misses an opportunity to hark back to. After all, the first car under Romano Artioli’s tenure was the EB110, so called to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Ettore’s birth. Now that magic number of 110 has cropped up again, but this time written out in Italian and evoking the car that put Bugatti back on the map in 1987 – as well as conveniently marking the 110th anniversary of the company ’ s birth when it was announced three years ago.

Only ten of the Chiron-based Centodiecis have been built, the last being finished just before Christmas, and Octane is the first magazine in the world to properly road-test one – a big moment for us

Of course, it is also an epochal moment for the company as a whole, with Bugatti having transferred to Croation EV maker Rimac and another significant chapter in the marque ’ s history beginning So was my friend right, does that yet further remove Bugatti from Ettore’s company, make hollow its celebration of those anniversaries of the old company, which it is so good at? Well, for me, how much it can trade off its past without looking cynical all comes down to how it conducts itself with respect to its history – all its history

Only time will tell

James Elliott, editor in chief

Gf Williams

‘By total coincidence I have known the owner of the Observer BMW 6-series for more than ten years, after I photographed his Noble M600 Fair to say he has eclectic tastes! The BMW is certainly an interesting car, with its unusual opening roof – and it’s unique, as the only one made’

Find out more on pages 82-90

Jonny Fleetwood

‘I have a soft spot for classic American cars: they are what got me started in the industry and I still love to photograph them Big lazy engines and lovely lines – one day I’ll have one in my garage The Jag XK120 was so different yet much more suited to a blast on British country roads’ Z/28 Camaro: see pages 98-106; XK120: pages 118-126.

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