(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – One might think that a Bugatti W16 Mistral is already exclusive enough in its base form. After all, this roadster marks the ultimate finale of the legendary 8.0-liter W16 engine – a triumphant farewell with 1,600 hp, built only 99 times. But for some customers, mere rarity is just the starting point.
Read more June 2, 1996: When Michael Schumacher became the «Rain Master»
Here comes the “Sur Mesure” program into play, Bugatti’s in-house department for the finest craftsmanship, where customer wishes are transformed into drivable works of art. The latest result of this department bears the poetic name “Le Retour du Jeune Prince” (The Return of the Little Prince).
The story of this vehicle began in October 2023, when a long-time Bugatti collector met with Jascha Straub, head of Bugatti Sur Mesure, in Molsheim. The goal: to create a vehicle that is not only a tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s world literature “The Little Prince,” but also to the customer’s own literary work that continues the story of the prince. It is precisely this kind of personal narrative that Bugatti, under the direction of design chief Sabine Consolini, has translated into a visual concept.
A starry sky of copper and silver
When standing in front of the “Le Retour du Jeune Prince,” the extraordinary color scheme immediately catches the eye. The team developed its own color palette of warm copper and bronze tones that create a metallic shine and are meant to evoke the gentle reflection of moonlight on the earth. These earthy tones react particularly intensely to changing light, which is intended to further emphasize the sculptural forms of the Mistral. Even the iconic horseshoe grille was modified: its inner 3D lines now follow the dynamic flow of the front hood, giving the front end an even stronger forward orientation.
Even more attention to detail is evident when circling the noble vehicle. On the rear flanks and the top of the rear wing, there is a hand-painted starry sky. Each of these silver stars was incorporated directly into the paint in a time-consuming process of layering and refinement.
Photo series: Bugatti W16 Mistral “Le Retour du Jeune Prince”
And as befits a project of this magnitude, there is also an “Easter Egg”: When the airbrake extends at high speeds or during braking, a hidden composition on the underside of the wing becomes visible. It shows a reinterpretation of probably the most famous scene from the book – the prince and the fox.
Read more Problems on Three Levels: Mick Schumacher Explains Detroit Chaos
More costly distinctions from the “series”: The Bugatti logo on the grille (the “Macaron”) is bordered with gold, while the brake calipers are copper-colored. Even the wheel hubs bear the “EB” emblems in matching colors. Those who look into the engine bay will also discover individual engravings of the main characters of the story on the massive W16 engine.
A rose for eternity in the gear lever
The literary journey continues in the interior. Bugatti uses two leather tones here: “Terre d’Or,” a light, bright beige, and “Driftwood,” a darker, earthier tone. The door panels are true masterpieces of saddlery; here the moon is embroidered into the leather, surrounded by countless star motifs that extend throughout the cockpit to the headrests. The center console features brown visible carbon decorated with star details.
The absolute highlight of the interior is the gear lever. It contains a delicate silver rose that looks like a precious jewel. To make this miniature form as realistic as possible, a real flower was captured by 3D scan and then faithfully reproduced in silver. It is a direct reference to the Little Prince’s rose – a symbol of tenderness and memory.
Technically, the Mistral remains the known beast: The 8.0-liter W16 sends its 1,600 hp through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to all four wheels. Performance becomes almost secondary with this special specimen, but the certainty that one could theoretically drive over 400 km/h with the poetry of the Little Prince gives this unique piece a very special touch. The “Le Retour du Jeune Prince” is thus less a car and more a bound book of carbon and leather – created to be read, remembered, and felt.
Read more GTWC Monza: KVDL apologizes after second major crash
Even more very special Bugattis
Bugatti Veyron Chassis 5.1: The forgotten prototype
Bugatti W16 Mistral “Fly Bug”: The super-special insect
