A-Z Supercars: B. Engineering Edonis

What’s the most exciting supercar no-one’s ever heard of? Well, the Edonis has to be in with a shout. Italian company B. Engineering created this extraordinary supercar from leftover Bugatti EB110 chassis and engines after the early-1990s iteration of Bugatti folded (the B stood for Bugatti, and the staff included several ex-factory personnel).

Ditching the EB110’s four-wheel drive and adding two large turbos in place of the donor car’s four smaller units made for a truly savage creation, and the Edonis had the looks to match, with a body seemingly constructed entirely out of cooling ducts.

But then the Edonis’s startling appearance is just one reason why it deserves to be remembered with a degree of awe and affection. Another was its exquisite steering. The Edonis changed direction like a Ferrari F40 – with sublime precision and beautifully judged feel. Few supercars since have had a finer helm.

And then there was the utter brutality of its twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V12, enlarged from the EB110’s 3.5 litres. So savage, sudden and relentless was the contribution of its IHI blowers, the Edonis was quite capable of ambushing the driver’s senses and slapping them silly. 
Indeed, as the turbos spooled up, the step-change in accelerative thrust was unsettling to the point of disorientation. And just when you thought it had dumped the lot in the small of your back, there was yet more to come. More throttle, more brain-scrambling push. Added to which, the multi-layered howl of the barely soundproofed V12 was almost frightening. The EB110 was never like this.

The production target was just 21 cars though whether that number was ever sold remains in doubt. Very few have ever appeared on the secondhand market – the last was advertised for £1m euros. Not for everyone, the mad, bad Edonis…

SPECIFICATION

Years made 2001-2006Engine V12, 3760cc, twin-turbo Max power 680bhp @ 8000rpm Torque 542lb ft @ 3200rpm 0-60mph 3.8sec Max speed 227mph Price c£450,000 new