Bugatti Veyron Vitesse "Black Bess" released

The name for this fifth legend comes from Bugatti's Type 18 "Black Bess", which, back in 1913, was one of the first ever street-legal super sports cars. As one of the fastest road cars of its era, the Black Bess was considered a worthy ancestor for the current Bugatti Veyron.

Like the previous "Les Legends" releases, the Black Bess is limited to just three units. The previous Legends releases have all sold out, and this one is expected to do the same before the end of the Beijing show, despite an eye-watering _2.15 million (AU$3.18 million) pricetag per unit.

Black Bess - original legend vs modern 'legend'
The original Type 18 Black Bess, sold between 1912 and 1914, featured a 5.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, with a three-bearing crankshaft, overhead camshaft three-valve heads (and chain drive. capable of 73kW and a top speed of 160kph - heady stuff back in 1913! Its modern namesake is based on the targa-topped Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse roadster, which means an 8-litre W16 engine producing 882kW and 1500Nm at 3000 - 5000rpm and a top speed of 408kph.

Black Bess Legend - Exterior
Externally, the modern Black Bess features carbon fibre panels painted black, with gold accents that echo the brass elements of the original, things like the grille surround, 'EB' badging, wheel hubs. 'Speed stripes' to give the impressions of freestanding mudguards, while gold 'Black Bess' badging sits on the rear engine cover and on the fuel cap.

Black Bess legend - Interior
Inside, the most interesting feature on the new Black Bess is the images on the door panels and rear storage cover, all of which are hand-painted onto the leather. Bugatti's Head Designer, Achim Anscheidt, explained that the process, which adds to the individuality of each car, has been developed and processed to ensure it withstands wear and weather.

The images painted on these panels show the original Type 18 Black Bess, along with a Morane Saulnier Type H flown by French World War I ace, Roland Garros (the same Roland Garros whose name adorns the stadium for the French Open tennis grand slam).

Beige leather upholstery dominates the interior, with complementary "Havanna" tan trim for elements of the dash, door panels and centre console. The centre console itself, along with the shifter, is trimmed in rosewood. In another nod to the Type 18 original, the new Black Bess's steering wheel is finished in "Crimson" leather, which is continued on the seat belts, and picked up on the stitching for the outer bolsters of the seats.

The gold exterior is continued inside on things like the 'EB' badging and the dancing elephant which is the symbol for the Legends Edition models.

If you're thinking of adding a Black Bess Veyron Vitesse to your garage, you're probably too late, as all the previous four Legends Editions released so far have sold out shortly after they were announced.