Bugatti EB110, First Model, Prototype, EB110 Supersport, EB112
Design evolution from the first working EB110 to Bugatti’s final Italian concept.
Before becoming a series of models, the EB110 was a clear idea. What follows is the evolution of that idea—from the first working prototype to the final EB112—guided by Romano Artioli’s original vision and reshaped, in its final form, by Gianpaolo Benedini.
The complete development sequence of the EB110 — from the Epowood model to the EB112.
Bugatti Granturismo, as imagined by Romano Artioli.
"This was the project.
The reborn Bugatti had to be the most brilliant Gran Turismo ever built: the most powerful, the fastest, most beautiful, and safest. It had to be a four-wheel drive for the best tractions in all weather conditions and road surfaces.
It had to be lightweight, using superior materials like titanium, magnesium, carbon-fiber, and aluminum for maximum acceleration, shorter braking distance, and best road grip with a lightweight and rigid chassis, for improved safety.
The aerodynamics had to allow optimal penetration and keep the car firmly pressed to the asphalt. Being a Gran Turismo, comfort has to be taken into account. Minimizing noise, designing a well-conditioned and draught-free interior, and a soft and responsive stick shift despite the gears' weight."
Excerpt from Romano Artioli's book "Bugatti & Lotus Thriller."
... and re-designed by Gianpaolo Benedini
Romano Artioli chose Paolo Stanzani as Technical Director, because of his work with Lamborghini and Marcello Gandini as Designer. However, Artioli was not impressed by his angular design. Consequently, the conflict led to the respective departure of Gandini and Stanzani.
The role of Technical Director was filled by Nicola Materazzi, a former Chief Engineer at Ferrari.
Gianpaolo Benedini, who designed the "Blue Factory," was commissioned to redo the design.
Above, the maquette Benedini designed. The design is reminiscent of the classic Bugatti, including the rear-wheel covering.
Leggi in italiano
La Bugatti Granturismo come concepita da Romano Artioli.
Per me la Bugatti della rinascita doveva essere la più brillante Gran Turismo mai costruita: la più potente, la più veloce, la più bella, ma anche la più sicura. Doveva quindi avere quattro ruote motrici, perché mettere su strada un’auto potente e velocissima che non abbia il massimo dell’aderenza in ogni condizione meteorologica e di superficie stradale è un azzardo.
Doveva essere leggera, impiegando materiali speciali come titanio, magnesio, fibra di carbonio, alluminio per favorire la massima accelerazione, il minore spazio di frenata e la massima tenuta di strada. Le sospensioni dovevano garantire la migliore aderenza delle ruote alle strade di qualsiasi tipo.
Inoltre serviva un un telaio rigido, robusto, ma molto leggero, che consentisse una perfetta tenuta di strada.
L’aerodinamica doveva permettere una penetrazione dell’aria ottimale, ma assicurare che l’auto restasse saldamente pressata all’asfalto.
Trattandosi di una GT, anche il comfort era da tenere in considerazione: silenziosità, abitacolo ben condizionato e senza spifferi, condizioni di guida ottimali, una leva del cambio morbidissima e immediata, nonostante il peso degli ingranaggi che dovevano sopportare quelle fortissime pressioni sulla trasmissione e freni che riducessero al minimo le distanze in caso di emergenza.
Questo era il progetto che sottoposi a Oliviero Pedrazzi, e lui partì a razzo…
Estratto da libro di di Romano Artioli "Bugatti & Lotus Thriller."
... e disegnata da Gianpaolo Benedini
All’inizio Romano Artioli scelse Paolo Stanzani come direttore tecnico, per la sua esperienza con Lamborghini e Marcello Gandini per il design. Purtroppo lo stile troppo “rigido” del suo design non si sposava con lo stile classico Bugatti, cui si voleva fare riferimento.
In breve il conflitto s’opinioni divenne insanabile e Stanzani e Gandini se ne andarono.
Il ruolo di direttore tecnico fu assegnato a Nicola Materazzi, già capo ingegnere alla Ferrari (suo il progetto della F40). Gianpaolo Benedini, che già aveva disegnato “La Fabbrica Blu” fu invece incaricato di ridisegnare l’EB 110. Sopra il risultato del suo lavoro nel primo modello in resina Epowood.
Bugatti EB110 — From Prototype to EB112
Design evolution from the first working EB110 to Bugatti’s final Italian concept.
Before becoming a series of models, the EB110 was a clear idea.
What follows is the evolution of that idea—from the first working prototype to the final EB112—guided by Romano Artioli’s original vision and reshaped, in its final form, by Gianpaolo Benedini.
Romano Artioli — The Gran Turismo as Vision
The reborn Bugatti had to be the most brilliant Gran Turismo ever built: the most powerful, the fastest, most beautiful, and safest. It had to be a four-wheel drive for the best tractions in all weather conditions and road surfaces.
It had to be lightweight, using superior materials like titanium, magnesium, carbon-fiber, and aluminum for maximum acceleration, shorter braking distance, and best road grip with a lightweight and rigid chassis, for improved safety.
A Necessary Redesign
The original technical and stylistic direction did not survive unchanged.
After early conflicts, Paolo Stanzani and Marcello Gandini left the project. Nicola Materazzi—formerly Ferrari’s chief engineer—assumed technical leadership, while Gianpaolo Benedini, already responsible for the design of the Fabbrica Blu, was asked to redesign the car itself.
What emerged was a form that reconnected the EB110 to Bugatti’s classical lineage—most visibly in the covered rear wheels—while preparing the ground for its final and most radical expression: the EB112.
EB110 Epowood Model
Restyled by Gianpaolo Benedini, with the covered rear wheels, a deliberate reference to the Bugatti Atlantic and Aérolithe.
EB110 Prototipo
The first fully working EB110, still carrying experimental solutions later revised for technical and thermal reasons.
EB110 Production
The definitive Gran Turismo form, refined for series production while preserving the original technical ambition.
EB110 Supersport
A performance-oriented evolution, lighter and more extreme, pushing the EB110 concept to its mechanical limits.
EB112
An Italian Bugatti concept designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro: a four-door Grand Tourer that expanded the EB110 vision beyond the supercar.
Romano Artioli about the Bugatti EB110 Supersport
"The speed performance enthusiasts are willing to give up a few accessories and increase running noise to maximize driving pleasure. Boosting power to 612hp, we removed the radio, air conditioning, and electric window. The front design was the same ff the EB110, while the tailgate was equipped with a fixed-wing, and the air intakes were designed for rough use. The newly brake ventilation, which was necessary for the event of prolonged use on the track.
The interior, in high-quality leather, had been revised to improve functional performance. A lighter polycarbonate replaced the doors crystals and rear window. All these changes reduced the weight of two hundred kilos and gave the car an aggressive image."
Leggi in italiano
La versione Supersport ottimizzata per prestazioni superiori erogava una potenza massima di 450 kW/61 cavalli. Grazie anche all sua leggerezza raggiungeva una velocità massima di 251 kmh.
Romano Artioli nel suo libro "Bugatti & Lotus Thriller." ci racconta di più:
Tra gli appassionati d’auto esiste una categoria di cultori delle prestazioni velocistiche che, pur di ottenere sensazioni più forti, è disposta a rinunciare a qualche accessorio e a ridurre la silenziosità di marcia. Per questi è nata la Supersport, che è una EB 110 GT praticamente pronta per la pista.
Incrementata la potenza a 610 CV, eliminammo dalla dotazione di serie radio, condizionatore e vetri elettrici.
Le prese d’aria erano pensate per un uso esasperato della vettura. I cerchi di nuovo disegno consentivano una maggiore ventilazione dei freni, necessaria in caso di uso prolungato in pista. L’interno, sempre in pelle di altissima qualità, era stato rivisto in chiave funzionale alle prestazioni e aveva subito drastici alleggerimenti. I cristalli porta e il lunotto posteriore erano stati sostituiti dal più leggero policarbonato.
Tutti questi interventi, visibili e non, consentirono di diminuire il peso di duecento chili e donarono alla vettura un’immagine aggressiva…
The Bone of Contention.
The classic Bugattis had the radiator grill in the front, which was also the symbol of the house. Romano Artioli believed it essential to include a nod to that grill in the EB 110. Gandini was absolutely against it, arguing that he would harm aesthetics and aerodynamics, but Benedini found a brilliant solution.
L'oggetto della discordia.
Le Bugatti classiche avevano sul frontale il radiatore che era il simbolo della casa. Romano Artioli riteneva indispensabile che, anche nell'EB 110 ci fosse un richiamo a quell'elemento. Gandini era assolutamente contrario, sostenendo che avrebbe inciso negativamente su estetica ed aereodinamica. L'architetto Benedini risolse brillantemente il problema.
EB110GT — EB110 Supersport — EB112 Images Gallery
Photographs taken by Roberto Bigano from 1990 to 1992.
EB110.
An impressive view of the Prototype of the Bugatti EB 110 as restyled by Gianpaolo Benedini.
EB110.
The Engine.
EB110.
The interior of the Bugatti EB110. In the center of the steering wheel, is the EB logo.
EB110.
The control panel with the briar finishes, the steering wheel with the EB logo, and the Nakamichi hi-fi system.
The Bugatti Monobloc Cast Aluminum Rear Wheel.
The Cast aluminum wheel was invented by Bugatti and patented in 1924.
Bugatti EB110 GT
Bugatti EB 110 Gran Turismo. The final version as restyled by Gianpaolo Benedini.
Bugatti EB110 GT
Bugatti EB 110 Gran Turismo. The final version as restyled by Gianpaolo Benedini.
Bugatti EB110 GT
Bugatti EB 110 Gran Turismo. The final version as restyled by Gianpaolo Benedini.
Bugatti EB110 Supersport.
The Supersport on the rotating platform in the futuristic showroom at Campogalliano.
EB112.
Front view of the Bugatti EB112, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, with luxury leather finishes by Poltroon Frau.
EB112 Horseshoe Grill
A detail of the nose of the EB 112, with the radiator grill taking inspiration from the classic Bugattis.
Copyright Links and Credits
Photography, Copyright & Credits
All photographs © Ikonographia / Roberto Bigano — All Rights Reserved. These images are part of the Ikonographia Visual Archives: Bugatti Automobili & EB110 Archive (1990–1995).
Roberto Bigano served as official photographer for Bugatti Automobili throughout the company's operational years in Campogalliano. This archive was produced from inside the project, with unrestricted access and no editorial constraints. The material is exclusive to Ikonographia and available nowhere else.
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Credits & Acknowledgments
Ikonographia gratefully acknowledges the fundamental contribution of Romano Artioli, founder of Bugatti Automobili, and Gianpaolo Benedini, architect and designer of both the Fabbrica Blu and the EB110, without whose vision, trust, and collaboration this archive would not exist.
Excerpts from Romano Artioli's book "Bugatti & Lotus Thriller" are reproduced with the author's authorization.
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Terms of Use (Summary)
The images presented in this archive are copyrighted and available for licensed use only through Ikonographia Visual Archives.
You may not download, reproduce, publish, or distribute these images without a valid license. For commercial or editorial licensing, please refer to the product pages or contact Ikonographia directly. A full explanation of licensing terms is available in the Shop / Licensing Information section under "Ikonographia — Standard License" and "Ikonographia — Merchandising & Product Use Licenses."
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Ikonographia Mission Statement
Ikonographia is committed to the accurate documentation, preservation, and ethical dissemination of twentieth-century visual culture.
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Archival Notes
These photographs were produced between 1990 and 1995 as part of Roberto Bigano's role as official photographer for Bugatti Automobili. The archive documents the factory, the production process, the design evolution, and the people behind one of the most ambitious automotive projects of the late twentieth century.
The story is told from inside: by the founder who initiated the enterprise, the architect-designer who shaped its form, and the photographer who followed the project throughout its development. All images follow Ikonographia's internal archival standards for resolution, color accuracy, and metadata structure to ensure long-term consistency across the collection.
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Further Reading (Selected Sources)
- Romano Artioli, Bugatti & Lotus Thriller — A first-person account of the Bugatti Automobili project by its founder: the dream, the factory, the cars, and the dramatic events that brought it all to an end. Available in English — Amazon US · Italian — Amazon IT
- Romano Artioli — Official Website The story of a boy with a big four-wheel dream.
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Explore the Bugatti Automobili Archive
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Bugatti “Prove Motori” Development Building — Campogalliano, 1991
€89.00 -
La Fabbrica Blu — Bugatti Campogalliano Factory by Gianpaolo Benedini (1991)
€69.00 -
The Production Building — The iconic modular structure with Ettore Bugatti’s EB logo
€69.00 -
Bugatti Design Hall and Offices — Night View, Campogalliano
€49.00
