Though its numbers certainly are dizzying – starting with a speedometer that goes up to 500 km/h – they aren’t the only impressive thing about the new Bugatti.
The Chiron, anticipated in the lines of the Vision Gran Turismo concept car, enthrals just about everyone thanks to its technical specs and performance, and does so in a style which leaves no room for purely aesthetic charms.
At Bugatti, “form follows performance”. And indeed, the designers and engineers worked on every single surface to facilitate the airflow necessary for cooling, or aerodynamic spoilers and appendages to stabilise the vehicle at extremely high speeds, or elements able to extract the heat generated by this hypercar’s powerful motor.
The Chiron’s design reinterprets characteristic Bugatti style without altering its DNA, with references to the Type 57SC Atlantic such as the ridge that runs along its entire centre line, smooth surfaces, blocked colours and, on the front, the classic horseshoe grille inherited from the celebrated Type 35. All of which comes in noble materials such as carbon and aluminium.
The cabin is made according to the standards of the French manufacturer, with a central area to perfectly separate driver from passenger, and analogue and digital instruments which, among the multitude of information, includes a “horse counter” to let the driver know how much power is being delivered by the engine. The carbon dashboard features leather-covered sections and aluminium details. All materials found in the Chiron are both noble and authentic.
Record-breaking performance comes from the 16 cylinder motor, 8 litres of displacement and W engine architecture which supplies up to 1,500 hp. Four 2-stage turbochargers reach a maximum torque of 1,600 Nm, going from 0 to 100 in under 2.5 seconds with upper speeds topping out at 380km/h (236 mph)…but with a special speed key it can reach 420 km/h (260 mph).
This technological jewel is manufactured in the Molsheim studio according to highly-qualified procedures and undergoes numerous inspections and production processes of the highest level.
Customers buying the Chiron can configure the vehicle, choosing from 23 different body paints paired with eight carbon fibre selections and 31 leather upholstery options to satisfy the needs of the most demanding clientele with colours and materials from the sample book. A total of 500 copies will be made. The name of the vehicle pays homage to the Monégasque racing driver Louis Chiron who competed and won behind the wheel of the Type 35.
Aesthetics and performance: the magic formula of the Bugatti Chiron. The dream of Ettore Bugatti lives on.
by Antonio Erario
