[Auto] Bugatti Type 35 D, a neoclassical prototype from 2015 until now unknown

[G h o s t l y.]

 

Uedelhoven Studios is not yet a big name in the automotive industry, but the truth is that it is responsible for creating some prototypes for big brands like the AI: ME from Audi, or the Prophecy and the elegant 45 from Hyundai. The company began work on a prototype for Bugatti in 2015, a design exercise that may well have made its way onto the production line, but we have not been aware of its existence until now. This is the Bugatti Type 35 D.

The main goal of the German designers was to keep the brand's most successful racing car recognizable, and unlike the Baby II, this Bugatti Type 35 D is a large-scale version of the aforementioned. The prototype has bare wheels and suspension elements in plain view, while the shape of the radiator grille remains recognizable as that of a Bugatti car, as is the blue paint. But the proportions are new: it is noticeably longer and lower than the sports car from which it takes inspiration.

 

A look at the sides highlights many of the key differences between the vehicles of the 1920s and 30s and those of the modern era. For example, the wheels and tires are much wider, and various parts of the set are made of carbon fiber, such as the side skirts or the prominent rear diffuser that helps to stick the car to the asphalt. There is no way to be sure of the dimensions of the Bugatti Type 35 D, but it certainly looks a bit larger than the original car (3,680mm long and 1,320mm wide).

Inside, both the driver and the passenger can enjoy a minimalist and luxurious space, in accordance with what is seen in other models of the brand such as the Veyron or the Chriron. The entire cabin was lined with premium cowhide, combining it with wood and more carbon fiber. Also, the pilot can look at a vintage-inspired instrument cluster, with round dials, and a digital gear indicator between the analog clock under the gear selector and the start / stop button on the two-seater.

 

Now, what drives the prototype is a mystery. The original Bugatti Type 35 took in the Type 29's 2.0-liter inline eight-cylinder powerplant. With an overhead camshaft (SHOC), this engine could go up to 6,000 revolutions to deliver 90 hp. It's not a lot of power by today's standards, but it was unheard of for a car from the late 1920s. However, without being particularly powerful, it managed to win over 2,000 times thanks to its driveability and reliability.

“This was a project started by Walter de Silva for Volkswagen Konzern Design in 2015 and built by Uedelhoven Studios. The Bugatti Type 35 D was purely a concept car to see what was possible as a brand. The team behind him consisted of several designers from the Volkswagen Group, including Alessandro Dambrosio, Stefan Sielaff, Tancredi de Aguilar and Klaus Süttner, ”a spokesperson for the German design studio told Autoblog. We have no doubt that we would be delighted to see him on the streets one day.