Bugatti has never been shy about calling its cars “works of art”—and with some of them, it’s genuinely true. The company’s latest one-off is no exception. The new Bugatti Destrier made its debut at The Quail in Monterey, where it quickly became one of the biggest stars of the show and our Instagram feed.
Based on the Bugatti Bolide, the Destrier trades its sibling’s track-focused exterior for a sleeker, more elegant shape designed to look like a rolling sculpture—a rolling sculpture still with ridiculous amounts of performance, of course.
The mind behind the Destrier’s look is Clark Wu, Bugatti’s Lead Exterior Designer for Programme Solitaire. Wu had a very specific vision for the car, and we caught up with him in Monterey to get a better idea of how it all came together.
Photo by: Bugatti
Don’t Call It A Softer Bolide
The Destrier may look nothing like the Bolide on which it’s based, but Wu is quick to point out that this isn’t simply a softer version of the track car. It’s meant to be something entirely different.
‘We wouldn’t call it a toned-down version. It’s a completely different approach… The Destrier is the ultimate expression of how extreme coachbuilding can be. It represents the true essence of Bugatti coachbuilding.’
The two cars do share the same monocoque chassis and engine, but almost everything you see has been thoroughly reworked. The upright side intakes that define the Bolide are gone, replaced by a much cleaner treatment that blends the intake into the roof.
‘On the one hand, you have the Bolide, the ultimate track machine we ever produced. Same engine, same monocoque, but as you can see, a completely different expression of how a car should be.’
Photo by: Bugatti
Instead of chasing the most aggressive shape possible, Wu says the Destrier is really about proportion and sculpture.
‘We are aiming for the ultimate elegance. We’re aiming for something that can last forever, something that can come here in 50 years’ time and still [look good].’
That meant refining some of the Bolide’s visual aggression while introducing new Bugatti design elements. The sharp crestline opens up toward the rear, while the signature C-line is emphasized through a combination of bodywork and precisely machined metal.
The metal detailing is set into the bodywork almost like jewelry, with the surrounding carbon-fiber body sitting just above it. The same approach carries through to the center spine and other exterior details.
Wu describes the overall design as a balance between “sharp and soft” and “voluptuous and precision.”
Photo by: Bugatti
Designing Around Extreme Proportions
The Bolide’s underlying proportions gave Bugatti an unusual starting point. With its extreme width, low roof, and exposed corners, Wu says the car offered his team an incredible amount of freedom.
‘Everything about these projects starts off with proportion. And as a designer, especially an exterior designer, there’s no better project than this one because you have the most extreme package, most extreme proportion. You can see all four corners of the car, no matter where you stand next to the car.’
Rather than fighting those proportions, Bugatti’s designers leaned into them.
The result is a car that looks dramatically different from the Bolide despite sharing its basic architecture. The roof intake has been integrated into the body, helping create the lowest visual profile of any Bugatti to date. The Destrier stands just 39.4 inches tall at its highest point.
That minute attention to detail even extends to the headlights.
Bugatti divided each headlight into eight individual elements, for 16 in total as a nod to the W16 engine. The center crease line continues through the assembly, and according to Wu, it isn’t just a styling feature. It actually becomes a structural spine within the headlight itself.
Photo by: Bugatti
The same philosophy carries over to the interior, which uses bespoke colors, materials, and textures developed specifically for the customer. The exterior paint, called Sci-Fi Celeste, is also exclusive to the project. Its multi-layer finish has a subtle sparkle that’s meant to complement the bodywork rather than overwhelm it.
‘We don’t want any individual elements really [to] pop too much into your attention. Everything should work as a whole.’
The attention to detail continues onto the doors, where Bugatti has found a way to carry its signature C-line through the bodywork without interruption.
‘This is the first product where we did this kind of Bugatti line on the door uninterrupted. So when you open the door, this beautiful metal inlay is uninterrupted.’
It’s a small detail, but it says a lot about the thinking behind the Destrier.
A Bugatti Designed To Last
Programme Solitaire is limited to no more than two cars per year, with each one tailored to an individual customer. The process takes years, too, with Bugatti continually refining every detail before the car reaches its owner.
In the Destrier’s case, delivery isn’t scheduled until 2028.
Whether the Destrier actually looks as good 50 years from now as it does today is impossible to know. But that’s clearly the goal. Wu and his team want the Destrier to transcend the trends of its time and become a piece of automotive art that ages as gracefully as the cars that inspired it.
‘We’re aiming for something that can last forever.’
