Bugatti Veyron Vitesse Legends Edition (2013) first official pictures

Yes, it’s another special edition Bugatti Veyron. Frankly, it’s good news for owners of regular, non-limited edition Veyrons, whose cars are surely soon to be more exclusive than the endless commemorative iterations of Bugatti’s 1000bhp icon.

Bugatti is paying tribute to six of the most important individuals in the marque’s 104-year history, and will be unveiling a new special edition Veyron every two months for the next year. The first is the car pictured right: the Jean-Pierre Wimille version.

A French driver, pictured right, who won Bugatti two victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: in 1937, driving a Bugatti 57G ‘Tank’ co-driven by Robert Benoist, and again in 1939, this time supported by Pierre Veyron in a 57C Tank. Yes, that’s the very same ‘Veyron’ who lends his name to Bugatti’s supercar – making them all special legend editions, really…

Jean-Pierre Wimille also drove Bugatti’s final competitive racing victory, at the Bois de Boulogne in 1947, behind the wheel of a 4.7-litre Monoposto Type 59/50 B. Wimille died in a car accident in 1949.

The Wimille Edition is inspired by the 1937 Le Mans-winning car, which was decked out in French racing blue. This Veyron reinterprets the finish with blue clear-coated carbon fibre and a light Wimille Bleu paintwork finish.

Naturally, you get a matching interior scheme, complete with a Le Mans track map picked out on the rear bulkhead. Mechanically, the Veyron Legend Editions are all identical to standard the Veyron Vitesse.

Mounted amidships is a quad-turbocharged, 8.0-litre W16 engine, developing 1183bhp and 1106lb ft. Driving all four wheels via a seven-speed paddleshift gearbox, the Veyron Vitesse launches to 62mph in 2.6sec, and has a Guinness World Record-verified top speed of 254mph. Expect a price tag of more than £1.5m if you’re feeling flush.

By Ollie Kew