Establishing that unparalleled and revered Bugatti legacy at Villa d’Este were two icons of Bugatti craftsmanship: the W16 Mistral, the brand’s modern day ultimate roadster, and the Type 57S Roadster coachbuilt by Corsica, an iconic open two-seater masterpiece from 1936.
Befitting its beautiful natural surroundings at a gathering dedicated purely to elegance and design, the W16 Mistral – which competed in the Class ‘Concept Cars & Prototypes’ –effortlessly connected to the prestigious sense of occasion and the desire for adventure. The roadster – named after a powerful wind in the south of France – exudes freedom, elegance, and performance, embodying the spirit of Bugatti. The W16 Mistral’s striking X-themed taillights and vertically refined four headlights illuminated Lake Como upon this exclusive gathering.
“The W16 Mistral continues Bugatti’s wonderful heritage in creating some of the world’s finest roadsters. Every surface – and each component – of the W16 Mistral has been crafted with the intention to not just set new standards for beauty, but to also play a vital role in achieving completely new levels of performance, a fitting farewell to our legendary W16 engine,” said Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles.
The W16 Mistral is the latest in a legacy-defining series of iconic roadsters designed and developed throughout the ages by Bugatti. This year at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a rare Type 57S Roadster coachbuilt by Corsica also competed – in the Class B ‘Grande Vitesse: Pre-War Weekend Racers’ series. Between 1933 and the outbreak of the war, the Type 57 was the only production vehicle from Bugatti. At the Paris Auto Salon in 1935, Jean Bugatti launched his masterpiece with the presentation of the Type 57S. Bugatti produced a total of 40 Type 57S roadsters between 1936 and 1938.
The car presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, whose first owner was the famous British racing driver Nicky Embiricos, and is now in the stewardship of only its third owner and many of the essential components are still original today. As a true jewel of Bugatti’s legacy, the Type 57S combines the same principles that today are at the core of the W16 Mistral: freedom, elegance and performance.
The Concorso d’Eleganza for automobiles was first held at Villa d’Este in 1929, and since then Bugatti has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the gathering. Recent highlights have included the Bugatti Bolide1 and La Voiture Noire2 taking the premiere prize in the ‘Concept Cars & Prototypes’ category at the last two events. Models from Bugatti’s illustrious past, including a 1938 Type 57SC Atlantic, a 1937 Type 57S Cabriolet coachbuilt by Vanvooren, and a 1934 Type 59 Grand Prix car have all been awarded milestone accolades in recent years at Villa d’Este.
