Mar 12, 2019 | By Thomas
For its 110th birthday, French car manufacturer Bugatti is digging up the Bugatti Type 35, the company's famous racing car also called the Bugatti Baby, and giving it a modern makeover.
In 1926 Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean decided to build a half-scale Type 35 for Ettore’s youngest son, Roland, on the occasion of his fourth birthday. The car became so popular that the Bugatti Baby became one of the first limited edition miniature cars in history. To celebrate the company’s 110th anniversary Bugatti revealed a 3D printed design model at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show on Monday. Unlike the original, which was only suitable for the youngest drivers, the baby II is an electric 3/4-scale tribute to the type 35, so adults can drive it too.
The Baby II features a rear-wheel-drive battery-powered electric powertrain with removable lithium-ion battery packs. It has regenerative braking, and there's even a limited-slip rear end. The standard Baby II has two different power modes, 1kW 'child mode' with a top speed of 20km/h (about 12 mph), and a 4kW 'adult mode' that reaches a top speed of 45km/h (about 28 mph). Similar to the full size Bugatti uber cars, the Baby II also comes with an optional 'Speed Key' upgrade. This unleashes the full 10kW (13.4hp) fury of the car’s motors, and also removes the speed limiter.
The cockpit of the Baby II features Bugatti’s signature turned aluminium dashboard, a leather seat, a custom instrument cluster, and a four-spoke steering wheel. The exterior of the car is painted in traditional French Racing Blue, although buyers will be able to order in a range of alternative colours. The Baby II will sport eight-spoke aluminum alloy wheels and house modern brakes on each wheel, giving it the look of a classic racer.
The Baby II is based on a precise 3D scan of a full-size Type 35 that competed in the 1924 French Grand Prix. The car it displayed at Palexpo used 3D printing, but Bugatti will hand build the full production model.
The Bugatti Baby II will start production in autumn / fall 2019 and will cost 30,000 EUR ($33,780) for starters. It is a strictly limited run, just like the original: only 500 cars will be built.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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