Bugatti’s one-off Brouillard wins top honour at Chantilly after owner handover
The first creation from Bugatti's new Programme Solitaire was unveiled to its owner at the Château de Chantilly before claiming the concours's 'Best of Show' award.
Bugatti delivered its one-of-one Brouillard to its owner at the Château de Chantilly this weekend, an unveiling that preceded the car’s victory in the top award for concept cars, restomods and one-offs at the 2026 Chantilly Arts & Elegance. The handover marked the first realisation of Bugatti’s Programme Solitaire, a new coachbuilding initiative centred on bespoke vehicles developed through close collaboration between the marque and individual customers.
The private presentation took place inside the Château’s Dôme of the Great Staples, where the owner formally took delivery of the car in the presence of family, friends and the Bugatti development team. According to Bugatti, the vehicle was created to be “born from personal vision, yet inseparable from the history, artistry and engineering values of Molsheim”—a philosophy that sits at the heart of Programme Solitaire.
From unveiling to parade
After the private celebration, Brouillard entered the Concours d’Élégance’s Concept Class, where it was presented by Mate Rimac and Christophe Piochon. The car led the Bugatti Parade around the Château grounds, joined by historic racing and road models spanning the marque’s heritage, including a 1925 Type 35 that won the event’s dedicated Bugatti race-car class. The Brouillard’s placement at the head of this procession of vintage and contemporary vehicles created a visual connection between the marque’s earliest innovations and its latest coachbuilt interpretation of Ettore Bugatti’s founding principle of combining beauty, innovation and performance.
The Château as stage
Chantilly proved an apt setting for the unveiling. Hendrik Malinowski, managing director of Bugatti, said the event “has always felt deeply aligned with our brand, bringing together French elegance, craftsmanship, heritage and the pleasure of sharing extraordinary automobiles in an incomparable setting.” Sunday’s Garden Party included hot-air balloon rides, boat tours on the Grand Canal and horse-drawn carriage rides, reviving the social atmosphere of early concours gatherings.
Programme Solitaire’s debut
Brouillard’s appearance at Chantilly also served as a showcase for Bugatti’s modern coachbuilding approach. The brand’s Paris team displayed a curated collection of personalised creations developed over the past two decades. Guests also attended lunch at the Polo Club with Rimac, Malinowski and Frank Heyl, Bugatti’s director of design. The assembled vehicles illustrated the different methods by which Bugatti has pursued personalisation and performance in its modern era.
The award
Brouillard’s Best of Show accolade came as the owner drove the hypercar around Le Nôtre’s Water Mirrors, offering the first public sighting of the car in motion. For Bugatti, the convergence of Brouillard’s private handover, public debut and concours victory at a single venue demonstrated the core intent of Programme Solitaire.
This article was compiled by the CityLifeBytes editorial desk from the official announcements and reporting listed under Sources.
