Bugatti EB112: 30 Years Later, The Unproduced Four-Door Supercar Celebrates Milestone

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Three decades ago, car enthusiasts and industry insiders gathered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1993 to witness the grand unveiling of the Bugatti EB112. This four-door supercar, derived from the iconic EB110 sports car, immediately caught attention with its daring design and groundbreaking features, leaving a lasting impact that resonates to this day.

While the EB112 never entered mass production, it remains a testament to Bugatti's innovation and design excellence, featuring an all-aluminum body and a carbon fiber chassis shared with its predecessor. The initial reactions to the EB112 were mixed, as its unconventional aesthetics challenged traditional car design norms.

However, as people took a closer look, the car began to receive accolades. In fact, Automobile Magazine boldly declared it "The most beautiful car in the world" during its debut. Tragically, the fate of the EB112 as a production vehicle was thwarted by the bankruptcy of Bugatti Automobili S.p.A.

in 1995. Nevertheless, its influence on Bugatti's modern-day design language cannot be understated.

EB112 Legacy: Pastor's Completion

Entrepreneur Gildo Pallanca Pastor entered the picture in the late 1990s when he acquired certain assets of Bugatti, including three partially completed EB112 liftbacks and spare parts.

Working under the banner of the Monaco Racing Team, Pastor's team completed two of the three vehicles in 1998. One boasted a sleek black exterior, while the other featured an anthracite hue. Notably, each car displayed subtle differences, such as unique taillight placements and aerodynamic enhancements.

Under the hood, the Bugatti EB112 housed a formidable naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine, delivering an impressive 460 horsepower (338 kilowatts) and 435 pound-feet (590 Newton-meters) of torque. Combined with a six-speed manual transmission and a sophisticated four-wheel-drive system, the supercar sprinted from 0 to 62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) in just 4.3 seconds, reaching a top speed of 186 mph (300 kph).

Giorgetto Giugiaro, the visionary designer behind the EB112 concept, praised the car for seamlessly blending nostalgic styling elements from Bugatti's iconic models of the late Thirties with innovative mechanicals. The EB112 was not only a dream car but also a precursor to the high-performance fastback models that are popular today, boasting design, technology, and engineering features far ahead of its time.

Although the Bugatti EB112 never became a mass-produced reality, its significance as a groundbreaking concept car and a symbol of Bugatti's ingenuity remains undisputed. As automotive enthusiasts commemorate its 30th anniversary, the legend of the EB112 continues to inspire and influence the future of automotive design and engineering.