Brand new Bugatti for less than £30,000?

Legendary luxury marque Bugatti is giving 500 customers the chance to buy a retro-chic car for the price of a mid-sized SUV.

The Baby II is a three-quarters-size replica of the iconic Bugatti Type 35, so in theory it can be driven by both adults and children.

The car is a tribute to the half-scale Type 35 built for Ettore Bugatti’s youngest son, Roland, on the occasion of his fourth birthday in 1926.

What Ettore and his eldest son Jean had intended as a one-off car, became an official Bugatti vehicle. The feedback from customers visiting Molsheim had been so positive that it went into production and was sold between 1927 and 1936. The Bugatti ‘Baby’ was born.

Only 500 Baby II cars will be built and they will be priced from 30,000 euros, or around £25,800 (plus taxes and delivery).

Just like the original Baby, the Baby II has a rear-wheel-drive battery-powered electric powertrain. Unlike its predecessor, the Baby II features removable lithium-ion battery packs, a limited slip differential and even regenerative braking.

The junior car will come with two selectable power modes for drivers of different statures: a 1kW ‘child mode’ with the top speed limited to 20 km/h, and a 4kW ‘adult mode’ with the top speed limited to 45 km/h.

In addition, for those enthusiasts who crave even more pace, an optional ‘Speed Key’ upgrade is available (just like the Speed Key for its big brother, the Chiron!), which allows power of up to 10kW and disengages the speed limiter.

The cockpit of the Baby II features Bugatti’s signature turned aluminium dashboard, a leather seat, a scale recreation of the Type 35’s distinctive four-spoke steering wheel and custom Bugatti instruments.

The exterior of the car is painted in traditional French Racing Blue, although buyers will be able to order in a range of alternative colours.

The signature eight-spoke aluminium alloy wheels are scale replicas of Ettore Bugatti’s ground-breaking 1924 design, and house modern brakes on each wheel. Finally, powerful headlights light the way ahead for drivers young and old, whether you’re exploring new landscapes or lapping the local karting track.

Despite being the smallest member of the Bugatti family, the Baby II has a lot in common with its bigger brothers.

Proudly displayed on the nose of the car is Bugatti’s famous ‘Macaron’ badge, made of 50g of solid silver, just like the Chiron.

Each car also comes with a limited-edition numbered plaque and cars ordered in 2019 will also incorporate a badge to commemorate Bugatti’s 110th anniversary.