Bugatti->ke16 stunned the entire world in 2005 by releasing the Veyron->ke1112, its first production vehicle in 10 years. At first it was powered by a quad-turbocharged, 8.0-liter, W-16 engine rated at 987 horsepower, which was later uprated to deliver 1,183 ponies. It is mostly know for being the fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a record sitting at 267.856 mph. Its roadster version, the Grand Sport Vitesse, holds the same benchmark for the world's fastest open-top with a top speed of 254.04 mph. Set to go out of production sometime in 2015, the Veyron is bidding the supercar->ke177 market farewell through a series of "Les Legendes de Bugatti" special-edition models. The final version of the series -- in all the series includes six special editions -- pays tribute to Bugatti founder and designer Ettore Bugatti and Bugatti unveiled it just ahead of its official launch at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

As with most "Legends" Veyrons, it pays tribute to a very special person and an iconic Bugatti model from the company's glorious past. This time around the French selected the Type 41 Royale, a 21-foot-long luxury car->ke505 built in only six units between 1927 and 1933. Needless to say, this is a great way to send the current Veyron into the history books, while an even more impressive successor is being developed.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Bugatti Veyron "Ettore Bugatti".

Exterior

As with all Veyrons included in the "Les Legendes de Bugatti" colection, the Ettore Bugatti edition doesn't stray far from the standard supercar. As its name suggests, it honors company founder and designer Ettore Bugatti and the Type 41 Royale, one of the most recognizable Bugattis ever built.

Based on the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, as are all the other Legends special editions, the Ettore Bugatti Veyron borrows its exterior color combo from the legendary Type 41 Royale. The front end and the doors are made of hand-polished aluminum and finished with a clear coat, while the rest of the body consists of dark-blue exposed carbon-fiber. Both hues are similar to those seen on the Type 41 Royale, and the resemblance is stunning to say the least.

The wheels, on the other hand, have nothing to do with those seen on the classic limousine. Specifically developed for this bespoke Veyron, the polished, diamond-cut rims come in an eight-spoke configuration and feature a subtle, dark-blue finish matching the rear section of the body. The wheels are actually developed from a design created by Ettore himself, while he was studying lighter wheel designs for Bugatti race cars, which makes this limited-edition Veyron that much more special.

Other features that set the Ettore Bugatti Veryon apart from the standard Grand Sport Vitesse include the platinum-finished horseshoe and rear "EB" logo. Additionally, both the fuel and oil caps are engraved with Ettore's signature, a subtle, yet effective detail that only exclusive supercars like the Veyron get to enjoy.

Interior

While the exterior is nearly identical to the standard model save for the special paint and the little details, the interior tells a different story. For the very first time since the Veyron was launched, Bugatti has fitted the supercar's interior with two types of leather. Traditional calf's leather covers parts that are usually touched by hand, including the steering wheel, gear-shift lever, door handles, and center console armrest, while the switches in the door panels and in the roof module are wrapped in an exclusive, natural cordovan leather. The former comes in a natural shade of brown, while the latter boasts a tan hue obtained through a process that took around six months.

The eye-catching details don't stop here though. The dark-blue exposed carbon-fiber adorning the body makes its way into the cabin on the door panels, the cover of the rear center box, and seat stitching. The cover of the rear center box is also fitted with a platinum-coated dancing elephant, which is reminiscent of the hood ornament of the Type 41 Royale. Rounding off the bespoke interior is the “Les Legendes de Bugatti” leather-clad insert in the center console extension and the custom door sills bearing the portrait and signature of Ettore Bugatti.

Drivetrain

Just like all the other special-edition Legends Veyrons, the Ettore Bugatti Veyron is motivated by the same mill powering the standard Grand Sport Vitesse. We're talking about the company's huge, quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 that generates 1,183 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque, and sends them to the wheels through a seven-speed, DSG sequential gearbox. These figures deliver impressive performance figures, as the Veyron needs only 2.6 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph and comes with a top speed of 253 mph.

Although the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse holds the record for the fastest open-top production car at 254.04 mph, customers don't have access to those type of speeds, as the vehicle's velocity is usually limited to 233 mph.

Prices

Produced in only three units, the Ettore Bugatti Veyron is priced at €2.35 million, which means about $3.14 million as of 08/07/2014. The sticker makes the Ettore Bugatti the most expensive Veyron from the Legends series.

Competition

Hennessey Venom GT World's Fastest Edition

John Hennessey has been struggling to create an equally fast vehicle ever since the Bugatti Veyron became the fastest production car in the world. The Texas-based manufacturer finally achieved this in February 2014, when a beefed-up Venom GT hit 270.49 miles per hour at the Kennedy Space Center. However, the speed record wasn’t eligible for a Guinness induction, as Hennessey wasn’t allowed two runs, as required by Guinness and it was two models shy of being considered a "production car."

Although it failed to beat the Veyron on official terms, the impressive run led to the creation of a limited-edition Venom GT called World’s Fastest Edition. Only three units were built and sold for $1.25 million each. The Lotus Exige-based, special-edition supercar is motivated by a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that delivers 1,244 horsepower. The WFE needs 2.7 seconds to sprint from naught to 60 mph and 9.9 seconds to pull a quarter-mile.

Koenigsegg One:1

Introduced at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the One:1 is renowned for its perfect one horsepower per one kilogram ratio. Powered by a twin-turbocharged, 5.0-liter, V-8 engine, the Swedish supercar benefits from 1,340 horsepower and 1,011 pound feet of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and Koenigsegg claims it can reach a top speed of 248 mph. Even more impressive is the fact it can accelerate from 0 to 248 mph in 20 seconds and brake from 248 mph to a standstill in only 10 seconds.

The Koenigsegg One:1 will be built in only six units, all of which have been already sold for a cool $2.4 million each. All told, you won’t be able to buy one anytime soon unless the One:1 hits the used car lot or Koenigsegg launches a new iteration.

Conclusion

Each Bugatti Veyron launched in the Legends series is impressive in its own right, but the Ettore Bugatti is definitely the one that tops them all. It's no wonder the French kept Ettore's name and the Type 41 Royale for the final limited-edition model of the series. Both are of huge importance to the brand, and it seems the Veyron is more than suited to carry both names due to its staggering performance and enormous amount of luxury.

It's terribly expensive, yes, but these overpriced supercars weren't built for the average Joe. It's the sheiks and the wealthy collectors that get to park them in their crowded garages. Unfortunately, these Veyrons won't get to spend too much time at the track, but rather stretch their wheels during fancy parades. That doesn't make them less spectacular, though.