L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano F ounded in 1909 by the Italian-born French designer Ettore Bugatti, Bugatti remains a symbol of luxury, innova- tion, and racing excellence more than 100 years later. Originally headquartered in Molsheim, Alsace, which was then part of Germany, the company became known for producing exquisitely made a u t o m o b i l e s t h a t m e r g e d high-speed capability with r e f i n e d d e s i g n . F r o m t h e beginning, the brand pursued precision engineering and saw e a r l y s u c c e s s i n r a c i n g , i n c l u d i n g i n G r a n d P r i x events that cemented its place in the high-performance auto- motive world. Central to the Bugatti lega- c y i s i t s f o u n d e r , E t t o r e Bugatti, whose perfectionism shaped every aspect of his cars, from engineering to aes- thetics. His son, Jean Bugat- ti, furthered this legacy dur- ing the 1930s, most notably through his work on the Type 57SC Atlantic, which became one of Bugatti's most iconic models. Jean's life was tragi- cally cut short in a car acci- d e n t i n 1 9 3 9 , a l o s s t h a t m a r k e d t h e e n d o f t h e b r a n d ' s f i r s t g o l d e n e r a . Despite this setback, Bugatti's name remained respected within the automotive world, but the brand eventually fell dormant. It wasn't until the 1990s t h a t I t a l i a n e n t r e p r e n e u r Romano Artioli revived Bugatti, unveiling the EB110, f e a t u r i n g a q u a d - t u r - bocharged V12, a supercar t h a t , t h o u g h i m p r e s s i v e , didn't achieve the hoped-for commercial success. In 1998, Volkswagen Group acquired t h e c o m p a n y , s e t t i n g t h e stage for a modern renais- s a n c e . T h e r e s u l t w a s t h e Veyron, a vehicle that shat- tered speed records and pro- pelled Bugatti into the ranks of the world's most desirable cars. Its successor, the Chi- ron, continues Bugatti's lega- cy in the hypercar market, pushing boundaries in power, luxury, and exclusivity. The brand carved a unique space in the luxury car mar- ket, attracting a devoted fol- l o w i n g a m o n g c o l l e c t o r s , celebrities, and high-net- worth individuals who see owning a Bugatti as a symbol of status and accomplish- ment. Indeed, it goes without s a y i n g t h a t B u g a t t i i s a favorite among the world's rich and famous, with several celebrities being known for their exclusive collections, symbols of luxury and perfor- mance. Cristiano Ronaldo, the soccer icon, owns both a V e y r o n a n d a n u l t r a - r a r e Centodieci, a model limited to just ten worldwide . Music m o g u l J a y - Z r e c e i v e d a Bugatti Veyron as a birthday gift from Beyoncé, adding to his impressive collection . Boxing champion Floyd May- weather and TV producer S i m o n C o w e l l h a v e a l s o enjoyed the Bugatti experi- ence: Mayweather owns a Veyron Grand Sport, while Cowell previously owned a Veyron .Last but not least, make-up mogul Kylie Jenner drives a custom Bugatti Chi- ron, which can be frequently spotted around LA. T o d a y , e a c h c a r i s s t i l l a s s e m b l e d b y h a n d a n d Bugatti's attention to detail extends to sourcing high- quality materials globally, which contributes to the price tags often exceeding $2 mil- lion per vehicle. By maintain- i n g l i m i t e d p r o d u c t i o n , Bugatti creates an aura of exclusivity, further enhancing the brand's attractiveness. J u s t l i k e o t h e r i c o n i c automakers recently, Bugatti will soon receive the Holly- wood treatment, with a new biopic under the direc- t i o n o f I t a l i a n p r o d u c e r A n d r e a I e r v o l i n o , t h e same creative force behind recent films about Lamborgh- ini and Ferrari. Although the director for the Bugatti pro- ject hasn't been announced, filming is set to begin in 2025, with a release likely in 2026. The project promises to cap- ture Ettore Bugatti's early career, the evolution of his company, and the passion that fueled his innovations. Shot in key locations across Italy and France, the movie w i l l a i m t o a u t h e n t i c a l l y depict Bugatti's influence on luxury and automotive engi- neering, drawing viewers into the world of one of history's most iconic car brands. Today, Bugatti remains a symbol of incredible luxury, but also of the merging of art and technology, with a legacy defined by high performance, exclusivity, and elegance. The brand continues to innovate, building on its century-old heritage to inspire contempo- rary car design and engineer- ing. What an immense vision Ettore Bugatti had, almost 120 years ago, a vision that keeps on giving us not cars, but true pieces of art. W e a l l h a d pretzels a t l e a s t o n c e i n our lives, b u t h o w m a n y a m o n g u s know they have Italian roots? Legend has it that pretzels, o n e o f t h e w o r l d ' s o l d e s t baked snacks, originated in 7th-century Italy in the Aosta V a l l e y , w h e r e t h e y w e r e crafted by a monk to inspire y o u n g s t u d e n t s . D u r i n g a t i m e w h e n e d u c a t i o n w a s heavily tied to religious prac- tice, this creative servant of G o d w a n t e d t o e n c o u r a g e c h i l d r e n t o l e a r n t h e i r prayers, so he shaped leftover dough into what resembled f o l d e d a r m s — a c o m m o n prayer posture back then. He named the treats pretiola, or "little rewards" in Latin, pre- senting them as small prizes to motivate the children. The monk's invention soon gained p o p u l a r i t y a c r o s s I t a l i a n monasteries and evolved into a symbol of good fortune, often associated with bless- ings and prosperity. This sim- ple, salted snack gradually spread to Christian communi- t i e s t h r o u g h o u t E u r o p e , embedding itself in various traditions. The distinctive shape of pretzels also held symbolic meaning, as the interlocking loops were thought to repre- s e n t u n i t y , a n d i n s o m e regions, they even symbolized the Holy Trinity. Pretzels were used in Switzerland as part of wedding ceremonies in the 17th century to symbolize a love that would never end. In parts of France, pretzels were given to parishioners on G o o d F r i d a y , s y m b o l i z i n g fasting and the abstention from animal products during Lent. By the Middle Ages, the pretzel had become a Lenten staple across monasteries and Christian communities due to its simple, meatless ingredi- ents. In Germany, it evolved into a popular street food, especially in cities like Munich and Stuttgart, where vendors sold soft pretzels at festivals and fairs. Pretzels were even incorporated into secular tra- d i t i o n s , l i k e O k t o b e r f e s t , cementing their place in Ger- man culture. Pretzels made their way to the United States with Ger- man immigrants in the 1700s, especially in Pennsylvania, where they became popular. T o d a y , t h e y a r e e n j o y e d worldwide in various forms, from soft, fresh-baked vari- e t i e s t o h a r d , p a c k a g e d snacks, continuing a tradition rooted in Italian ingenuity and European religious sym- bolism and mirroring a culi- nary legacy that spans conti- nents and centuries. Pretzels were invented in the Middle Ages by an Italian monk (Photo: Kabvisio/ Dreamstime) I b e t y o u d i d n ' t k n o w t h a t pretzels were Italian! Bugatti, an international name with an Italian heart IMPRESA ITALIA MADE IN ITALY TOP BRANDS BUSINESS & ECONOMY A Bugatti Veyron Vitesse (Peeler37/Dreamstime)

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