Preparing the Bugatti Bolide for public roads
Lanzante has confirmed that it is making at least one Bugatti Bolide suitable for public roads. This hypercar with a W16 engine producing 1825 horsepower already has the appropriate components for conversion. Modifications will include new road tires while preserving the natural characteristics of the Bolide.
The Bugatti Bolide was created as a pure track car, an automobile that seemed like it would never leave the circuit. With 1825 horsepower, a carbon body light enough to feel almost fragile, and racing tires that can barely last 40 miles, it was designed to chase records, not to sit in traffic with other cars.
Now, against all odds, one of these rare monsters is being prepared for public roads. This has been made possible thanks to British specialists Lanzante, who are famous for taming the untamed. For the Bolide, this means swapping curbs and pit lanes for speed bumps and roundabouts.
If anyone can handle such a task, it’s Lanzante. The company has built its reputation on giving racing legends a second life on public roads. From the McLaren F1 GTR to the modern Porsche 935 – there are plenty of examples of Lanzante’s expertise. Their latest project, unveiled at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, might be their craziest yet.
Familiar Challenges
We are currently working on the Bugatti Bolide, which has certain similarities with road cars. The engine will meet emissions requirements. We have a very simple, comfortable gearbox and a high level of build quality. There are many good things in this car.
Saying that the Bugatti has many good things might sound silly, but Lanzante isn’t referring to the carbon fiber or Alcantara materials. He was talking about the basic engineering, the details that determine whether a car can be driven to the shops without feeling like a small endurance race.
When Race Cars Go Too Far
Previously, track cars were often modified versions of road cars. Now many of these track cars are pure race cars. Some cars require pre-heating, others have a push-start mechanism where you might only get about three starts before the battery dies. We get them in our workshop, look at them, and say yes or no regarding conversion.
In other words, some cars are so track-oriented that conversion is practically impossible from a practical standpoint. No one wants to push their $3 million Bugatti in traffic and explain no, no, it’s not broken… that’s just how it is, while everyone around smiles at their seemingly failed life choices.
There is no clear timeline for when the road-legal Bolide from Lanzante will appear, but when it does, it will stand out even among the most radical of Bugatti’s creations. Converting one of the wildest cars on earth into something that can be legally parked outside a café is no small feat, and Lanzante seems determined to prove it can be done.
This project demonstrates how technologies initially developed for extreme conditions can find their way into everyday life, pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible in the automotive industry. Such initiatives not only elevate the manufacturer’s status but also open new horizons for car enthusiasts who seek uniqueness and extreme sensations on ordinary roads.