The Secret Bugatti Concept by Walter de Silva with W18 engine from 1999
a secret While the world marveled at publicly unveiled concept cars like the 18/3 Chiron and 18/4 Veyron, there was another prototype that never saw the spotlight.
Now on display at the Autostadt museum in Wolfsburg, Germany the car offers a rare glimpse into what Bugatti’s hypercar could have been. This previously hidden gem remained cloaked in secrecy for nearly a decade, only surfacing in 2009 thanks to a photo feature in Italy’s Quattroruote magazine.
At first glance, de Silva’s concept unmistakably channels Bugatti DNA. The horseshoe grille, a signature element of the brand’s identity, appears here in an exaggerated oval shape. The side profile also introduces the now-iconic C-line, a design motif that would go on to define not only the Veyron but its successors, the Chiron and 2024’s new Tourbillon.
The rounded headlights and minimalist taillights appear oddly simple compared to the eventual production car’s refined detailing. Interestingly, the rear section of the concept contributed directly to the Veyron’s final design, influencing both the engine cover and the single, large central exhaust outlet.
Underneath its skin, the concept is just as ambitious. Like the 18/3 Chiron concept unveiled the same year, it was powered by a then-experimental 6.3-liter W18 engine a radical configuration built from three banks of six cylinders.
The Secret Bugatti Concept by Walter de Silva with W18 engine from 1999
