The Bugatti Bolide was initially not intended to be street legal. That is, until now. | Carscoops

      Lanzante has established a reputation for transforming several track-only supercars into road-legal vehicles.

      The company has announced that it is working on making at least one Bugatti Bolide compliant for road use.

      The hypercar, featuring a powerful 1,825-hp W16 engine, is already equipped with the necessary elements for this conversion.

      Modifications will involve fitting new road tires while preserving the essence of the Bolide.

      Originally designed as a pure track vehicle, the Bugatti Bolide was intended to remain on the racing circuit. With its impressive 1,825 horsepower, a lightweight carbon-fiber body that feels almost delicate, and racing tires that can barely endure 40 miles, it was engineered for record-breaking performance, not daily driving.

      Now, against all expectations, one of these extraordinary machines is being adapted for public roads, thanks to the expertise of British specialists Lanzante, known for successfully adapting some of the most challenging cars. For the Bolide, this means replacing curbs and pit lanes with speed bumps and roundabouts.

      If anyone can achieve this remarkable conversion, it’s Lanzante. The company has built its reputation by transforming racing legends for use on public roads, showcasing their skills with models like the McLaren F1 GTR and the modern Porsche 935. Their latest endeavor, unveiled at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, may be their most ambitious project yet.

      In discussion with CarBuzz, Lanzante's CEO, Dean Lanzante, confirmed that the Bolide has the necessary DNA for conversion and that they are actively working on it. “We are currently doing the Bugatti Bolide, which shares some elements with road cars. The engine will comply with emissions standards, it features a user-friendly gearbox, and the build quality is exceptional,” Lanzante explained. “There are numerous favorable aspects of that car.”

      While stating that a Bugatti has many “good things” may sound odd, Lanzante is not referring to materials like carbon fiber or Alcantara. He was emphasizing the essential engineering components that dictate whether a car can be driven for errands without feeling like a grueling endurance event.

      Lanzante pointed out that earlier iterations of track cars were often modified versions of road cars. “Track cars used to be adaptations of road cars significantly modified for racing,” he mentioned. “Now, many of these track cars are purely racing vehicles. Some require preheating, while others have mechanisms that allow only a few starts before the battery dies. When we assess them in our workshop, we determine if a conversion is feasible.”

      In essences, some vehicles are so heavily oriented towards racing that converting them becomes nearly impractical. No one wants to have to bump start their $3-million Bugatti in traffic and explain, “No, it’s not broken… this is how it’s designed,” only to be met with amused looks from bystanders.

      There is currently no defined timeline for when Lanzante's road-ready Bolide will be available, but once it is, it will stand out even amongst Bugatti's most extreme offerings. Transforming one of the wildest cars into something that can be legally parked outside a café is a challenging task, and Lanzante is committed to demonstrating that it can be accomplished.