11 Bugatti masterpieces are illuminated by the dappled sunlight through the palm trees of the Arabian Gulf. With fresh sea breezes blowing the air, a fleet of groundbreaking supercars is ready to hit the streets. The second annual UAE Bugatti Owners Conference heads southwest from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. Known for its towering skyscrapers, Dubai is a city full of vision and innovation. The Burj Khalifa, home to the world’s tallest building, is the ideal backdrop for the equally extraordinary Bugatti (11 vehicles in total), who gather in the morning at the famed luxury hotel and resort Habtoor Palace.
For the second year in a row, the event is organised by Al Habtoor Motors, Bugatti’s official partner in the United Arab Emirates, in collaboration with Bugatti Auto. Align. Joseph Tayar, general manager of the Prestige division responsible for the luxury brand portfolio, commented: “Bugatti Owners Drive is a great opportunity for us to reconnect with our customers and appreciate their support and passion for showcasing the brand. . We believe in building the best in the region Practice, and believe that the event will soon become a brand regular event.”
With 176 cylinders ready to fire, the car stands proudly among the tall stone pillars that adorn the hotel’s entrance. The highly exclusive vehicle group includes the a, 4, Veyron, Veyron Grand Sport and Veyron Sport Vitesse. Two and one complete the model range. Before we get started, it’s time for a short briefing by Andy Wallace – motorsport legend, Le Manwinner and Bugatti Pilote Officiel. Together with the management of Al Habtoor Motors, the official partner of Bugatti in the United Arab Emirates, customers are guided through their itinerary before announcing their final destination, which is not announced until the last minute.
Kostas Psarris, Regional Director Middle East & Asia, commented: “The UAE is home to many of Bugatti’s most passionate and loyal customers. Witnessing eleven of Bugatti’s greatest creations drive in convoy through downtown Dubai and Abu Dhabi was a true representation of the brand’s presence and popularity in the region. The 2 Annual Bugatti Owners Drive is just a small gesture of our appreciation for our UAE owners, and there will no doubt be many future occasions during which we will celebrate our shared admiration for some of the finest automobiles in the world.”
Along a route of 150 kilometers, customers set off in convoy on a scenic coastal road towards Saadiyat Island – a cultural hub with natural white sand beaches – in the complete luxury of their W16-powered machines. The cabin of both the Chiron and the Veyron are famous for their unrivalled attention to detail and quality of materials. Stunning the automotive world when it rolled out of the Molsheim Atelier, the Veyron’s leather-filled interior fitted with expertly finished aluminum switchgear remains a truly sumptuous environment.
Joined by its younger sibling, the Chiron is the fastest, most powerful and most refined supercar ever, and its original formula has been refined since its launch in 2016. Now in its final production phase, an unusually large number of customers require fewer than 40 Chiron slots, which have yet to be allocated as part of the car’s 500-year production run. In keeping with that, Bugatti brought two Chiron Pur Sports and a Super Sport, as these versions of the iconic road car will make up the final 40 examples in full.
As the most dynamic and fastest-accelerating Chiron, the Pur Sport still has to find a peak it can’t reach. With its enlarged rear wing and high downforce settings, the Chiron Pur Sport is designed to conquer curves with supreme sovereignty. A tuned chassis combined with dynamic torque vectoring complements the 1,500 horsepower of the supercar’s 8.0-liter W16 engine. Speeding down the E11 highway between Dubai and Saadiyat Island, the Chiron Super Sport showcases the true power of the Chiron family. Called the ultimate Grand Touring because it can cover the ground like no other car, it’s Bugatti’s fastest production car with a top speed of 440 km/h. With a newly designed 8.0-litre 1,600 hp W16 engine housed in the vehicle’s “longtail” body – extended by around 25cm for optimum airflow – the Chiron looks super sporty in terms of longitudinal performance.
The journey is coming to an end and the final destination is now within easy reach. The Emirates Palace Hotel, known for hosting royals, presidents and diplomats, loomed as the convoy arrived in the capital, Abu Dhabi. A private jetty overlooking a dazzling natural bay and Qasr Al Watan – the presidential palace of the UAE – awaits drivers to park in a semicircle in front of the venue. To wrap up the unforgettable second annual Bugatti Owners Tour in the UAE, music from electric harpists filled the marina, where a four-course lunch was served.