Bugatti is changing its classic French Racing Blue paint for the electric era
Published on Jul 18, 2022 at 1:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Patrick Jackson
Last updated on Aug 12, 2022 at 3:42 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Since Bugatti was founded in 1909, ‘French Racing Blue’ has been the brand’s signature color.
Almost every one of the brand’s iconic sports cars has worn the shade.
But now, the company is looking to reinvent its classic paint scheme as it begins making electric models.
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Now under the ownership of Croatian company Rimac, reinventing the color “is already being considered as a core part of the brand’s future identity,” Bugatti says.
To celebrate this upcoming change, Bugatti has brought together the spectacular lineup of French Racing Blue cars you see in these photos.
While it might come as a shock, changing up this iconic color is far from unprecedented for Bugatti.
Made famous on the successful Type 35 racing cars of the 1920s, the light blue hue used at the time made Bugatti’s cars instantly recognisable to fans.
Over the years, the main shade of blue has become darker.
And even two-tone combinations of lighter and darker shades have been paired.
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The Type 57 Tank that won Le Mans in 1937 is one such example of the two-tone combination.
Of course, the Chiron has brought back that two-tone paint scheme as well.
A unique blue carbon fiber is another important part of Bugatti’s current identity.
Three other shades of blue are currently offered by the brand, all of which were released in 2007.
Bugatti analyzed the paint on well-preserved examples of classic models to develop them.
Whatever the new Bugatti color is, Bugatti design director Achim Anscheidt says it will be representative of a change in ethos for the brand.
“The creation of a new ‘French Racing Blue’ with sustainability at its heart is already underway,” Ansheidt said.
“We are looking at the whole process from cradle to grave and reassessing all of our materials.
“We need to consider how we harvest wool, how we create textiles, and what is now considered to be an ultra-luxury material in the modern age.”
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A car zealot from a young age, Patrick has put his childhood spent obsessing over motoring magazines and TV shows to good use over the past six years as a journalist. Fuelled by premium octane coffee, he’s contributed to Finder, DriveTribe, WhichCar, Vehicle History and Drive Section.
