The Bugatti Tourbillon is one of the most beautiful cars in the world. The name, a tribute to a watchmaking innovation from the early 1800s, is fitting. It’s the effects of time that Bugatti understands well. One of the cars that inspired the Tourbillon, the “La Voiture Noire” Type 57 SC Atlantic, was lost to time after the tragic death of young Jean Bugatti in 1939.
They say time is money, and both seem in limited supply today. Many of us admire cars like the Bugatti Tourbillon from afar, with its starting MSRP in the $4.6 million neighborhood. Money aside, if only that Cosworth-engineered 8.3-liter V16 engine could take us back in time, the very thing that inspired the Tourbillon itself.
For most people, the availability of millions of discretionary dollars to buy a hypercar isn’t realistic. Yet, turning back time isn’t possible for any of us, regardless of our account balance. However, we might be able to get close enough to that dream Bugatti while embracing some lost innocence with the release of two new LEGO models.
Our dream Bugatti cars have arrived
Clear off the kitchen table
The Technic Chiron Pur Sport and the Speed Champions Vision Gran Turismo are the latest offerings in the collaboration between Bugatti and LEGO. Chiron Pur Sport joins the Bolide under the Technic theme as the Vision Gran Turismo joins the Centodieci (Italian for the number “110”) under the Speed Champions theme.
The Chiron Pur Sport is a sleek orange-and-black combo, while the Vision Gran Turismo is a vibrant shade of blue. Both pay homage to the French manufacturers’ legacy, motorsports especially.
If you have kids who love cars and LEGOs, this is a fun project for one night after work or on a low-key Saturday. Bugatti cars are hand-built at the state-of-the-art Atelier factory in Molsheim, but you can get pretty close with your kitchen table, your overhead lights, and a cup of coffee. As you are participating in the art of mini hypercar manufacturing, you may start to recall the LEGO sets you had as a youth.
These Bugatti sets reminded me of Christmas morning in 1990, when I opened up the LEGO Forbidden Island set my parents got me. I might not ever afford an actual Bugatti, but the memories of making that monkey hold the pistol on that pirate hideout are priceless.
More than just a toy
The passion for cars often starts young
In the epicenter of the automotive industry here in Detroit, many events and conferences have panel sessions and fireside chats about what the future workforce will look like. One of the main concerns is the potential shortage of engineering and manufacturing talent as vehicles become more advanced across multiple segments, including powertrains, infotainment systems, and active safety features that serve as the building blocks for fully autonomous cars, consumer trust notwithstanding.
For youngsters interested in a future STEM education and career fields like automotive, a Bugatti LEGO set is an excellent primer. It’s an affordable and enjoyable way to get a young person’s mind thinking like an automotive designer or engineer. It’s a way to help the young person in your life build something to an exacting standard while having fun, both of which are important aspects of the automotive world.
For us adults, it’s the joy of watching our kids, nieces, or nephews grow and expand their minds. And while affordable sports cars do exist, it’s cool to hold a seemingly unattainable ultra-performance car in the palm of your hand.
“Each model tells a different story about our brand and inspires the next generation of enthusiasts. Expanding our audience from a select group of hypercar owners to millions of fans, gamers, and performance aficionados makes this project particularly fun.” ~ Wiebke Ståhl, Managing Director of Bugatti International.
Don’t need to be a “pro” builder
Convenient app provides instructions
As LEGO describes, Technic themed creations have moving mechanical components just like a real automobile, and the Chiron Pur Sport is no exception, with its functional steering wheel and doors.
If the nearly 800 pieces of the Chiron Pur Sport seem like a tall order at first, start with the Vision Gran Turismo under the Speed Champions theme at less than 300 pieces. Regardless of which car you pick, the main goal is to have fun. There is no rush to build your dream LEGO Bugatti.
If you get stuck, both sets are compatible with the LEGO Builder app, which will again get the young person in your life thinking like an automotive designer or engineer. The app includes digital instructions for the Bugatti models, with 3D renders and zoom-in and rotation capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Build Together feature within the app can guide you in picking a LEGO set based on a shared family experience or passion. In this case, with the Bugatti cars, it’s automotive, but given the wide range of available LEGO themes, the choices are nearly endless.
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport
Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo
LEGO Theme
Technic
Speed Champions
Ages
9+
9+
Pieces
771
284
Dimensions
3 in. (8 cm) high, 11 in. (29 cm) long, 5 in. (13 cm) wide.
1.5 in. (4 cm) high, 5.5 in. (14 cm) long, 3 in. (8 cm) wide.
Unique Bugatti Details
Functional steering, doors, and hood with W16 engine model.
Horseshoe front grille, 8-eye headlights, Michelin tires.
Fun LEGO Details
Includes a code for a playable digital version in Asphalt Legends.
Includes a racing driver figurine wearing a Bugatti outfit and helmet.
Available Now
The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport and Vision Gran Turismo are available now through the Bugatti online store, the official LEGO website, and LEGO retailers.
“Our collaboration with the LEGO Group continues to grow in exciting ways,” Ståhl said. “It is one we thoroughly enjoyed bringing to life.”
