The Bugatti EB 218 was the second concept car presented by Bugatti under Volkswagen Group ownership. The four-door saloon designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro was shown at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, one year after the two-door EB 118.
Bugatti EB 218 at a glance
| Maker | Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. |
|---|---|
| Class | four-door saloon concept |
| Debut | Geneva Motor Show, 1999 |
| Designer | Giorgetto Giugiaro, Italdesign |
| Based on | EB 112 concept of 1993 |
| Engine | W18, three banks of six cylinders |
| Power | 563 PS (414 kW; 555 hp) |
| Torque | 649 N·m (479 lb·ft) |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm (118.1 in) |
| Length | 5,385 mm (212.0 in) |
| Drive | permanent four-wheel drive |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article.
History of the Bugatti EB 218
An update of the EB 112
The EB 218 was commissioned from Giorgetto Giugiaro, who had also designed the EB 112 of 1993 and the two-door EB 118. It can be seen as an update of the EB 112, the concept saloon introduced by the Italian Bugatti Automobili SpA. The new car was longer than the old one by 315 mm (12.4 in), with a 3,000 mm wheelbase and a total length of 5,385 mm, and it was distinguished by a redesigned bonnet, bumpers and lights.
Shape and interior
The overall design is far less controversial than the EB 112’s ‘droopy hatchback-saloon’ shape, thanks to a more conventional three-box profile. Inside, the car was simple but very luxurious, with beige leather seats and a large wooden dashboard that held all the instruments and vents. The design drew inspiration from the classic Type 101 Guillore.
The W18
The EB 218 used the same Volkswagen-designed W18 engine and permanent four-wheel drive as the EB 118, with power of 563 PS (414 kW; 555 hp) and torque of 649 N·m. The engine was unusual for its firing order and had three banks of six cylinders set at sixty degrees to each other. This was a true W engine, unlike the W16 and W12 of later Volkswagen Group cars, which are built from pairs of VR cylinder banks; the same W18 and four-wheel drive appeared in the 18/3 Chiron concept of 1999.
A concept only
The EB 218 made its debut at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show. Like the EB 118, it was never put into production: Bugatti chose instead to develop a sports car based on the 18/3 Chiron. The two concepts were shown together at Geneva and Tokyo in 1999.
Design and features
- W18 engine: three banks of six cylinders, 563 PS and 649 N·m.
- Long saloon body: 5,385 mm overall on a 3,000 mm wheelbase, 315 mm longer than the EB 112.
- Luxury interior: beige leather and a large wooden dashboard.
- Four-wheel drive: the permanent system of the Lamborghini Diablo VT.
Bugatti EB 218 versions
- EB 218 (1999): the only version, a four-door concept saloon.
The EB 218 was the four-door sister of the EB 118; a decade later the idea of a four-door Bugatti returned with the 16C Galibier. More cars are in the Bugatti collection.
Sources
- Bugatti EB 218, English Wikipedia: design, dimensions, engine, debut
