Early Bugatti Veyron prototypes had some truly wild rear-wing setups during testing
Published on Jan 25, 2026 at 6:29 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jan 22, 2026 at 10:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
During the testing stages, the early Bugatti Veyron prototypes had some truly wild rear-wing setups.
In the early stages of any development, there will be some design quirks that get phased out over time.
So it can be odd to look back and see what could have been.
With the 20th anniversary of the Veyron upon us, we’re looking back at the early prototypes and one very strange design choice.
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What did early prototypes of the Bugatti Veyron look like?
Cast your mind back to the early 2000s.
The Veyron was not yet the titan of the car world it is today – it was in the prototype stages.
It wouldn’t be released in its final form until 2005, where it would go on to be named Top Gear‘s Best Car Driven All Year award.
As if that wasn’t enough, the TV show also named it the 2000s Car of the Decade.
But before things got to that point, there was a lot of testing that needed to take place.
Loris Bicocchi was Bugatti’s high-speed testing expert at the time of the project.
Testing this hypercar out was revolutionary for him, as it challenged everything he thought he knew about speed.
We don’t doubt that there’ll be more behind-the-scene details to come out.
But here’s one thing that a writer over at Jalopnik noticed about the early prototypes – ‘goofy wings’ on the rear.
“The wing seems to be even taller than the production one will get in handling mode, and the shape and width just don’t look right,” Daniel Golson noted.
“As development continued, the shape and size of the wing evolved to be a simpler, sleeker profile.”
We’re sure that the car would have still been a smash hit either way, but it’s probably for the best that the design was modified.
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We love seeing prototypes getting unveiled
There’s something thrilling about seeing a car prototype.
It’s like getting a peek behind the curtain before the official reveal.
You may recall the prototype of this British-built electric sports car – the first of its kind.
It’s fun to imagine how we might look back on these prototypes a few years down the line, when the real deal car is out on the roads.
Will it be with nostalgic fondness or a sense of ‘What were they thinking?’
Bugatti Veyron timeline:
2000: Decision is made to build a 1,000hp production car, and development begins.
2001-2004: Early prototypes undergo testing, with the first roadworthy prototype being completed in August 2003.
2005: The Veyron is launched, winning Top Gear‘s Best Car Driven All Year award in the process.
2006 – 2010: Production ramps up.
2010: Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is introduced, setting a world record of 267.856mph.
2014 – 2015: The end of Veyron production, with total production capped at 450.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
