At the time of its release, the Venturi Atlantique 300 Biturbo was considered one of the world's fastest production cars.

There was a time when the public associated French cars with speed, power, and elegance. In fact, some French car models like the Venturi Atlantique 300 Biturbo had far more in common with the Ferrari than the mass-produced Peugeot and Citroën automobiles. For those who follow the updates in the French luxury industry, the news of a sophisticated and powerful sports car is hardly surprising, considering the exceptionality of the “Made in France” brand.

However, even fans of the Venturi brand won’t remember all the complex details that came to define the Atlantique 300 Biturbo, such as that this was the last “French model” before the Venturi company relocated to Monaco.

Produced in a limited series and destined only for the lucky few, the Atlantique 300 Biturbo captured the attention of the international public, thanks to its legendary speed and sleek look. At the time of its release, the Atlantique 300 Biturbo was considered one of the world's fastest production vehicles, reaching the top speed of 171 miles per hour. Moreover, it could speed up from 0 to 62 miles per hour in a record time of 4.7 seconds.

Nonetheless, speed and performance were not Atlantique 300 Biturbo’s only selling points; so, what transformed the 300 Biturbo into a timeless icon of French prodigiousness?

Related: Venturi Atlantique: Take A Look At This Porsche-Rivalling French Car From The 90s

Autozine rightfully points out that “Renault took over Alpine and guided it towards building grand tourers.” Without a doubt, Renault’s input and brand strategy have transformed Venturi. Not only did Renault build an automobile that could compete with the legendary sport cars of the era, but the French car manufacturer also gave Venturi an identity. Apart from that, the initial production engine and gearbox originated from the Renault Alpine GTA.

The Venturi Atlantique 300 Biturbo was powered by a fierce three-liter V6 twin-turbo engine that brought the power up to 310 PS (228 kW; 306 hp) at 6,200 rpm and 394 N⋅m (291 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3,800 rpm. To be sure, this performance put the Atlentique 300 Turbo in the same segment with the Lotus Esprit V8.

The 300 Biturbo came with a 5-speed manual gearbox, which gave drivers greater control over this superfast car.

Those who were lucky enough to have driven this beast were impressed with the comfort and richness of the cabin. Some drivers even said that the Venturi Atlantique 300 Biturbo has the same opulent interior as an Aston Martin. While luxury is debatable, one thing is for sure: this is a very stylish beast that impresses with its refined details and cabin technology. For example, the adjustable electric seats will let drivers find the perfect driving position, while making the entire experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Meanwhile, the Connolly leather is a nice final touch that makes the cabin look even more elegant and posh.

The Venturi Atlantique 300 Biturbo had a length of 13.9 ft, a width of 6 ft and height of 3.87 ft. These generous dimensions made that the size of the cabin was considerable; thus, even large passengers could enjoy a secure and agreeable voyage.

Atlantique 300 Biturbo’s body shell had several elements that were evocative of the Ferrari. From the smooth curves that improve the aerodynamic drag to the sleek look that brought to mind images with the Ferrari cars from the '90s, everything about the Atlantique 300 Biturbo screams high-performance car with a Ferrari soul. Not for nothing, Carscoops calls the Venturi Atlantique, “the French Ferrari."

Related: Rare Grand Tourer: A Look Back At The Ferrari 365 GTC/4

As most know, building high performance cars is an expensive business. Considering the limited production numbers of Venturi and the high costs associated with manufacturing them, it is hardly surprising that in 2000 the company went bankrupt again. Luckily, soon after, it was acquired by Monégasque business executive, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, who transformed the legendary car brand into an electric sports car company. Having said that, the company also found success with the ROKiT Venturi Racing team. Just recently, the team won the 2022 Berlin E-Prix.

The Venturi Atlantique 300 Biturbo was always a gem that reached stubbornly high prices, but with the time, this car became even more expensive. But price is not the only impediment to owning one. Given the rarity of the Atlantique, it is not likely that drivers can find one too easily. To that extent, don’t expect to find one of these cars in a junkyard or your regular used car dealership.

As for pricing, last March, a 1997 Venturi 300 Atlantique was auctioned for $145,532 in Paris. We predict a Biturbo will bring in a higher sum.

Eugenia Akhim is a luxury car aficionado. She naturally gravitates towards the legendary 911 and the classic Ferrari because they are fun to drive and have a killer aesthetic. In her column, expect to read more about turbo-powered vehicles.