The new Bugatti Destrier is a 1,578bhp ‘Sculpture of Speed’
Bugatti has revealed the third one-of-one creation from its Solitaire Programme, featuring completely new bodywork and an even more luxurious cabin.
The Bugatti Destrier follows previous Solitaire commissions, Brouillard and F.K.P. Hommage, and is styled as a Bolide art piece. Named after the ‘finest and strongest type of medieval knight’s horse’, Destrier boasts 1.578bhp of output thanks to its W16 engine.
Exterior Design
Based on the Bolide’s carbon fibre monocoque, the Destrier has a few tweaks to Bugatti’s design language and sees the signature Bugatti C-line pausing just before the front wheel well, allowing bare bodywork to show through before resuming its path.
At the front, the Destrier is characterised by a wider horseshoe grille, while at the rear, the blended wing has hints of Chiron about it. Overall, there’s a smoothness to its silhouette that gives it a much more streamlined feel, which Bugatti says is a deliberate nod to classic models like the Type 57G and Type 57C "Tank" racers that won Le Mans outright in 1937 and 1939, as well as the Type 57SC Atlantic.
Frank Heyl, Director of Design at Bugatti, said: “The Bolide gave us the most extreme proportions we have ever created, and by freeing them from the Bolide’s relentless pursuit of downforce, we let them speak as pure sculpture.”
The commission is finished in a bespoke colour, Sapphire Celeste, which has been created specifically for this exclusive model and its owner. There’s a diamond-like sparkle within the paintwork and even the exposed carbon fibre on the front splitter and rear diffuser is tinted to complement the precise Sapphire Celeste colour. In the engine bay, brightwork components have a hammered surface finish which Bugatti says is a ‘subtle nod to the hand-beaten armour of a medieval knight’.
Interior
Inside, the Destrier pivots from the Bolide’s stripped-back, motorsport-focused cockpit and gives it a warmer feel. Leather and nubuck materials in an ‘Ambre Voyageur’ brown colour are both used in the cabin, alongside an advanced 3-D knitted textile which has previously seen its technique used in haute couture and performance sportswear.
A geometric feel throughout the interior is emphasised through contrasting stitch lines, while the hammered brightwork finish seen on parts of the exterior is seen on the door opener, air vents, steering wheel hub, and entry plate. A reminder of Bugatti’s French origins is seen with a small French flag at the heart of the cabin.
The Destrier’s logo and one-of-one status are both referenced on the oil filler cap.
People will get to see the Bugatti Destrier for the first time when it’s unveiled during Monterey Car Week, culminating in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 16, 2026.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Bugatti