- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
Bugatti Chiron Hypercar. Fastest and most expensive
The Bugatti brand was founded back in 1909, and since 1998 it has been owned by Volkswagen AG, which breathed a new life (and a colossal amount of money) into the French automotive legend. One of the most impressive models was the Chiron coupe, unveiled in 2016. In total, it was planned to release 500 units of this grandiose supercar.
Glorious name
The model is named after the racing driver Louis-Alexander Chiron, who had been an independent Bugatti driver since the 1920s. Chiron was one of the most famous pre-war pilots who participated in the two World Wars. Prior to his sporting career, he served as a personal driver for two French marshals. Louis Chiron returned to racing even after World War II, and received the nickname Old Fox, probably because he was the oldest driver in Formula 1 (58 years old).
Anatomy of the best
Bugatti Chiron is equipped with an 8-liter 16-cylinder engine with four turbochargers with a W configuration, producing 1,500 hp. The car is capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, and its top speed is electronically limited to 420 km/h ‘for safety reasons’. To remove the limiter, you need a special key, which allows you to increase the possible speed to 450 km/h. This all-wheel drive hypercar is equipped with an automatic transmission and is assembled by hand, with only 20 people being involved in the process. It takes 2 months to assemble one car and another 21 days to paint it, which is done by hand. The number of layers of paint and varnish can be up to eight. At every stage, every part of the future car undergoes rigorous checks and stringent tests. So, before installing the interior equipment, the car spends half an hour in a sprinkler chamber that simulates a tropical downpour.
The customer can choose from 23 body colors, 8 carbon trim options, as well as 31 interior trim colors, 8 Alcantara options, 30 stitching colors, 18 carpet colors and 11 seat belt colors. Tires developed by Bugatti’s strategic partner Michelin deserve special mention. The loads that tires must withstand at a speed of 400 km/h are simply colossal: every gram of rubber is subjected to a centrifugal force of 3,800 g, that is, a force that is 3,800 times greater than the acceleration due to gravity. The Chiron is fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires in 2 sizes: 285/30 R20 at the front and 355/25 R21 at the rear.
Interesting facts
- The base price of the car starts from €2.5 million.
- In September 2019, the ‘almost production’ Chiron with the company’s test driver Andy Wallace behind the wheel reached a speed of 490.484 km/h, which became a new world record.
- A full tank of gasoline (100 liters) is enough to drive at 420 km/h for 9 minutes.
- It only takes 60 seconds for the Chiron to accelerate from 0 to 400 km/h and stop again.
- The car is equipped exclusively with Michelin tires. The cost of the kit is up to 42 thousand dollars. Their operating life is 4,000 km.
- The Bugatti Chiron, unlike the Veyron model, makes a profit for the owners.
- The Bugatti Chiron climate system is capable of cooling an 80 square meter apartment.
Modifications
In 2019, Bugatti launched the Chiron Super Sport 300+ into mass production, which set a world speed record and was already able to reach more than 300 miles per hour (483 km/h) during testing, which is reflected in its index. The unique supercar could be purchased for 3.5 million euros, and there were only 30 cars, one of which was sold during the presentation of the hypercar in Molsheim. This modification differs from the usual Chiron by its longer rear end by 25 cm and greater power. The modified profile of the sidewalls and the 25 cm longer rear end act as a ‘tail’ that stabilizes air flows, and a large diffuser increases downforce, so the hidden spoiler appears on command of the electronics only if necessary, and is not used when racing at maximum speed. The Super Sport version is 23 kg lighter than the entry-level Chiron.
In June 2021, Bugatti announced the release of a new version of the Chiron called the Super Sport without the 300+ prefix. And in fact, this is not a new version, but just an additional edition. The car comes with the W16 engine that develops 1,600 hp and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch robotic gearbox. The speed limiter for the new Super Sport version is set to the same 440 km/h as for the Super Sport 300+, while there is no longer any possibility of removing the limiter. The acceleration to 100 km/h occurs in 2.4 seconds. Moreover, it will take the coupe 5.8 seconds to develop 200 km/h and 12.1 seconds to reach 300 km/h. The cost of each such car will be at least 3.2 million euros. The Super Sport features unique diamond-cut five Y-spoke wheels. In addition, the supercar can boast of special tires that can withstand speeds of up to 500 km/h. The interior is finished in leather and aluminum, as well as carbon fiber elements.
