Tiny Terror: The Bugatti Baby II is a Pocket Rocket with Full-size Soul

I can still recall the first time when I sat in something which could not have possibly made me sweat. It is not a hypercar, a street racing car, or even the fastest car. It is a toy, of sorts. Its small woody rim was in my hands giving me full assurance of its build. I was able to look out from the cockpit, resembling a postage stamp. Then I activated the speed key, the little motor started buzzing, and all the futility of toy cars disappeared. I was a kid for ten minutes, and the next ten I was a grown man with a smiling face that pained my jaw.

In a single sentence that is the Bugatti Baby II, the most affordable in Bugatti’s arsenal. It resembles a loyal childhood relic, though it drives like a well thought-out miniature of a grand prix car. You can buy one. If you can afford it. If you want to. It is a tiny club for anyone to join, given that the total number of Bugattis in the world, at least the modern ones, is only over 1,100 cars.

What is the Bugatti Baby II?

The Baby II is a three-quarter size electric replica of the famous old Bugatti, the Type 35. It was constructed by The Little Car Company in collaboration with Bugatti and is a fully engineered and drivable vehicle, though it is aimed mostly at children and can carry adults with them in a ride. It steals style, geometry and details of the 1920s Type 35, one of the best race car models Bugatti ever created, but has a modern electric motor, a removable battery and a range of selectable drive modes. It is not merely a replica. It is a new, tiny Bugatti.

Why Bugatti brought it back

Bugatti did not produce the Baby II due to lack of another toy. The half-size Baby created by Ettore Bugatti in the 1920s turned out to be a cultural icon. The affluent customers desired their own. The contemporary Baby II is an ode to tradition. It also has a subtler mission: it demonstrates that Bugatti craftsmanship can be reduced to another level without losing its spirit. Lastly, it is pure emotional marketing. Individuals gather experiences and things. Bugatti sells both.

A brief history

In 1926 Ettore Bugatti constructed a half-size Type 35 for his son. Customers adored it and a limited-run production ensued. Now take a leap of one century. To commemorate the 110th anniversary of Bugatti, the company partnered with the U.K firm Little Car Company to make a bigger three-quarter scale Baby. The manufacturer only promised 500 units, and most of them were booked shortly. Then the pandemic came and dropped a few customers. So, a few slots of the baby Bugatti reopened for customers.

Design and build quality

Looking the Baby II closely, I can spot the things that matter.

A scaled Bugatti “macaron” is stamped on sterling silver on the grille. The dash is milled metal. The Nardi steering wheel is a wooden removable item. Switchgear echoes the Type 35. Materials range from composite in the entry-level cars, carbon fibre in Vitesse, and hand-beaten aluminum on the Pur Sang. Even small parts such as the T-handle drive selector are executed with care. It appears as if it belongs to a museum and it drives like a featherweight race car. The fitting and finishing are beyond what one would expect from a toy. That is deliberate.

Baby II Specs:

Please note that automotive news outlets reported slightly different price points. Of course, range would depend heavily on driving style. The numbers mentioned above come from the manufacturer and different test reports.

Performance and driving experience – what it actually feels like on track

Slowly accelerate the Baby II and you believe that you are driving a go-kart. Push it and reality comes to order. Pushing the pedal slowly brings instant acceleration. In high-power mode, the Baby lunges with an electric shove. Bugatti mentions a 0 to 60 km/h time in approximately six seconds. The car feels much faster than its speed at 40-plus mph.

I could not find weatherproof cocoon. Wind and noise are immediate. Tires are narrow, similar to what we see in motorcycles, therefore grip disappears faster than you imagine. The chassis allows you to experience all the bumps and links in the suspension. The regenerative braking is rough and frequently sufficient to do a mild lap. Tap the optional Speed Key and the vehicle breaks loose. With this it will lose traction, make you correct, and that is the fun.

Two things to be clear about. To begin with, the Baby II is not comfortable. Seats are simple, ergonomics is cramped, and long runs are tiresome. Second, its range drops rapidly when you drive it as a mini race car. It allows less than 30 miles in spirited use.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Pure, disarming fun. It makes you grin the way few modern cars do.
• Extraordinary craftsmanship for something in this segment.
• Faithful Type 35 styling with many authentic touches.
• Removable battery and multiple power levels make it usable and flexible.
• Limited production gives it collector appeal.

Cons

• Very expensive. Prices are in territory of real sports cars.
• Not comfortable for adults. Tight cockpit, basic seating.
• Limited practical range when used hard.
• Safety features are minimal compared to modern cars.
• Weight and other full technical specs are not broadly published.

Final thoughts from the driver’s seat

You can argue all day about value. You can compare prices to used sports cars or sensible EVs. That misses the point. The Baby II is not rational. It exists to be adored, to be driven, and to be admired. It captures a slice of the same spirit found in one of the most expensive Bugattis, the La Voiture Noire, but scales it down into something you can actually fit in a small garage. The feeling of being low, exposed, and very close to every moving part of a vehicle is vanishingly rare. Bugatti captured that, then wrapped it in craftsmanship so obsessive it almost feels unfair.

If you ask me whether I would recommend buying one as a daily driver I will laugh. If you ask whether you should drive one if you ever have the chance, bring a helmet. Take the lot. Go twice.

Questions most people ask about Baby II