Bugatti builds excitement for a reborn Atlantic

Bugatti is expected to pull the drapes off a Chiron-based hypercar with styling inspired by the legendary Type 57C Atlantic sports car that was made between 1935 and 1938.

Fuelling rumours that the exotic French brand is about to unveil an Atlantic-inspired hypercar, Bugatti has begun posting pictures of the original Atlantic on its social media with the caption: "Jean Bugatti’s 57 SC Atlantic cannot be re-created, but what do you think? Can we translate its design language into the 21st century?"

It's thought the car the French hypercar-maker is referencing could be the one-off $25 million coach-built Divo- or Chiron-based car that's reportedly been created for Ferdinand Piech, the Volkswagen Group’s former Supervisory Board Chairman.

If true, it's thought the one-off creation will pay tribute to the Atlantic's beautiful design by attempting to ape its teardrop styling while sporting a modern take on the original car's prominent dorsal fin that will stretch over the rear engine cover to the front screen.

The one-off hypercar will be yet another statement of intent that Bugatti intends to become a coachbuilder as well as a car-maker following the Bugatti Divo’s reveal at the 2018 Pebble Beach car show.

Thought to have been created to be a lighter, even faster version of the Chiron or Divo, the unnamed Bugatti hypercar destined for Piech’s collection could come with a mildly uprated version of the 1120kW/1600Nm quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine.

That means the one-off Bugatti should hit 100km/h in a fraction more than two seconds and top out in excess of 420km/h.

Originally, Bugatti made just four Atlantics, unveiling the small coupe back in 1935 at the Paris motor show.

The first concept used advanced (at the time) composites but, for the production car, Bugatti sensibly stuck with less-flammable aluminium for the Atlantic's aeroplane-inspired body.

Claimed to be the most advanced car of the time, the Atlantic stunned the car world with its new double overhead-cam 3.3-litre supercharged inline eight-cylinder engine that allowed the car to crack a genuine 200km/h.

Today, just three Bugatti Atlantics remain, only adding to the allure of one of the most coveted (and valuable) cars ever made.

Renowned fashion designer and car collector, Ralph Lauren, is lucky enough to count himself as an owner.

Back in 2010 an Atlantic changed hands for more than $40 million. Today, the remaining cars are each thought to be worth at least double that.

As well as the Atlantic tribute, Bugatti has already confirmed it will use the Geneva motor show to celebrate its 100th anniversary by unveiling a limited-run Bugatti Chiron Sport 110 ans — a special-edition based on the car-maker’s 420km/h hypercar.