Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Sang Bleu (2009) revealed

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

17 August 2009 11:00

Bugatti has launched another special edition Veyron as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations. Revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – where Bugatti was one of the featured marques – the Sang Bleu is the first limited edition of the targa-top Grand Sport, which was itself first unveiled at the Pebble Beach 12 months ago.

Sang Bleu? Sounds very blue-blooded aristocracy!

Ah yes, that'll be the new one-off colour. It might look like an ordinary two-tone paint job but the carbonfibre is actually tinted in 'royal blue', while the shiny silver is polished aluminium. The Grand Sport’s revised air intakes are also blue, the wheels are highlighted in blue and diamond-cut for a two-tone finish, while the leather-lined interior features blue trim details. And if you haven’t guessed it already, yes, Sang Bleu is French for blue blood. Very royal.

The mechanicals are unchanged though, meaning you still get the same quad-turbo 8.0-litre W16 engine with 987bhp, while this one-off is expected to command a price tag in excess of £1.4m.

It’s the sixth special edition Veyron this year (after the Bleu Centenaire from the 2009 Geneva show and the four Type 35-inspired vehicles at Villa d’Este) but the best will be saved to last – Bugatti will reveal a saloon concept to prospective customers on the eve of the Frankfurt motor show.

If reaction is positive, it will replace the Veyron at the Molsheim factory when the planned run of 300 coupes and 150 Grand Sports has finished – so far 250 hard tops and 20 targas have been sold.

So far we've been referring to the new uber-saloon as the Royale, but we hear that the name Bordeaux is in the mix. We'll confirm more details as soon as we hear them...

By Ben Pulman