Bugatti returned to the electric car segment after a decades-long hiatus releasing a single-seater roadster that costs less than a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The problem is, this is a limited-edition model known as Baby II, which is a smaller replica of the race-winning Type 35 that blurs the line between a car and a toy.
Developed with The Little Car Company, Baby II is a modern recreation of the original Baby that company founder Ettore Bugatti built for his son Roland in 1926. It was 50% smaller than the fully electric Type 35 with wooden brakes. and conceived as a unique model. Bugatti’s customers quickly found out about the Baby (who was also known as Type 52) and requested one for their children. Finally, about 500 units were made.
Fast-forward to 2020, and the Baby II continues where its predecessor left off with a body that’s only 25% smaller than the Type 35. Adults can drive it, images released by the company show test pilot Andy Wallace. He has fun behind the wheel, but it’s probably too small for the average NBA player. Its interior features a group of instruments such as the Type 35, a quick-release steering wheel and adjustable seats, among other equipment.
Shoppers have three variants called Base, Vitesse, and Pur Sang to choose from. The base model has a composite body, a 1.4 kilowatt-hour battery, and hydraulic brakes. Its electric motor sends 1.3 horsepower to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential when the driver selects the Novice mode, but that figure increases to 5.8 horsepower when the Expert mode is checked. Its top speed is recorded at 30 mph. The Vitesse and Pur Sang have a 2.8 kilowatt-hour battery, and receive an improved powertrain that generates 13.4 horsepower when the driver uses the Bugatti speed key. Both are capable of 42 mph. Vitesse models have a carbon fiber body, while the Pur Sang has an aluminum body that takes about 200 hours to form by hand.
The range varies from 15 to 31 miles depending on the model selected, and owners can change the battery in seconds instead of waiting for a charge. And while the Baby II is like a great toy, it should offer surprisingly sharp handling. Bugatti explained that he 3D scanned the Type 35 that won the Lyon Grand Prix and used that data to create a reduced suspension. However, he added adjustable dampers.
Bugatti will make 500 examples of Baby II. The price ranges from 30,000 euros (approximately $ 35,000) for the base model to 58,500 euros (almost $ 68,000) for the Pur Sang variant. Although all production was discussed in 2019, some customers ended up canceling their order due to the economic downturn, so there are still a handful of construction spaces available. The firm said it will fill them in on a first-come, first-served basis. Enthusiasts who want to add this little battery-powered Bugatti to their collection can register their interest on the model’s website.
Customer requests also shaped the first (and only) adult electric car Bugatti has ever built. Called Type 56, it was a car-shaped two-seater with a tiller instead of a steering wheel that Ettore Bugatti built to use on his property. He intended to make a single example of the 20 mph Type 56, but he ended up making 10 units after customers visiting his property in Molsheim, France saw it and asked to buy one. Four units are accounted for in 2020, including a largely unrestored 1931 model that Bugatti allowed us to drive in 2018.
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