Gillette’s Bugatti Razor, Like The Car, Is Sleek But Expensive

One of the most storied names in the annals of automotive history, the Bugatti nameplate was affixed to some of the world’s greatest and grandest sports cars during motoring’s Golden Age. Though Ettore Bugatti’s original company was never able to rise from the ashes of World War II, Volkswagen purchased the rights to build vehicles under the Bugatti name in 1998. They’re now among the most beautiful and exclusive hypercars on the road, with rolling works of art like the Bugatti Chiron and its offshoots costing in excess of $3 million.

That’s a lot of money even by wealthy automotive enthusiasts’ standards. However, even if finances prohibit you from ever becoming a Bugatti owner, at least you can now shave like one. Developed in collaboration with Proctor & Gamble’s Gillette division, the new Bugatti Special Edition Heated Razor is claimed to give a truly exceptional shave that, as the company puts it, delivers “a hot towel, sensorial, experience at home.” 

The Bugatti-themed razor is actually the latest version of GilletteLabs’ original heated model that debuted in 2018. This time around, however, it comes fabricated from lightweight aluminum-zinc materials inspired by the anodized aluminum and titanium cabin trim from the lithe and lively Chiron Pur Sport. It’s finished in “Bugatti Agile Bleu,” which is a legendary French racing color that has been reinterpreted for the Pur Sport, and is adorned with a mini version of Bugatti’s famed Macaron badge.

However, unlike the vehicle from which it draws its inspiration, the Bugatti Special Edition Heated Razor is built for comfort, rather than speed. Instead of the sports car’s 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine, the razor packs an onboard warming unit that’s powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A disposable five-blade cartridge heats at the push of button in less than a second to a selectable 109 or 122 degrees Fahrenheit to replicate the relaxing effect of a bona fide barbershop shave.

 “Just as each Bugatti embodies the incomparable driving experience, this ultra-precise razor was developed not just to shave, but to create the utmost luxury at-home shaving experience,” says Gary Coombe, CEO, P&G Grooming.

The GilletteLabs Special Edition Heated Razor starter set includes the charging pad, a magnetic dock connector, smart plug, two blade cartridges, and a cleaning cloth. Like all things Bugatti, however, it doesn’t come cheap at $179. Replacement five-blade cartridges cost $25 for four and $50 for eight. A subscription plan can deliver refills to your door on a regular basis, with every fourth shipment free. A wireless-charging travel case completes the ensemble at another $50. You can order one here.

If that’s still too rich for your blood, we suppose the heated razor’s overall effect could be replicated by running a $13 Gillette Mach3 razor under hot tap water before scraping it across one’s facial stubble. Unfortunately, not only would this be shaving with far less elegance and sophistication, you’d lose the ability to proclaim your status as owning a Bugatti, even if it’s one that ordinarily sits upon a bathroom shelf instead of within a heated garage.