Bugatti Chiron L’Ébé - 24k Gold, 5 Years in the Making
Bugatti partnered with Poellath GmbH & Co. KG, a Bavarian mining company to develop a new gold Macaron on its horseshoe grille, inspired by Art Deco styles of the 1920s. It took five years to develop the new gold trim on the grille of the Chiron L’Ébé. It took a great deal of research and testing before Bugatti and the mining company finally succeeded in creating this ultimate piece of bling.
Based on the solid 970 sterling silver Macaron usually found on Chirons, it’s nickel-plated. The nickel serves as the foundation for the gold finish which is applied as a thin layer that measures between three and four micrometers and is then polished until it provides a mirror-like finish. The vast majority of the process is performed manually and requires more than ten hours to complete.
The Chiron L’Ébé is finished with other gold elements in addition to the Macaron including the EB emblem on the gas and oil cap and the EB emblem on the rear, both of which have a gold finish. The greatest challenge faced by Bugatti designers was the size of the horseshoe, more than 44 cm in length and 40 cm in width. That size means it is where the gold finish is most obvious and therefore it requires the greatest amount of expertise and experience with the finishing process to apply the gold flawlessly as befits a Bugatti.
The Chiron L’Ébé is named after Ettore Bugatti’s oldest daughter who is said to have had a greater insight into the Bugatti brand’s history than anyone else. Ettore Bugatti even incorporated his own initials into her first name which must have helped create a strong link between the two as shown in her book, “The Story of Bugatti.”