Bugatti Chiron debuts – 1,500 PS, 1,600 Nm, 420 km/h

Finally, here is the new Bugatti Chiron — successor of the legendary Bugatti Veyron. Built at the car maker’s headquarters in Molsheim, just 500 units of this monster will ever be made, with a third of that already booked by eager buyers.

For how much, you ask? Try 2.4 million euros (RM11 million). The Bugatti Chiron will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show, but deliveries to customers will only begin later this year in September.

Its design has got Bugatti written all over it, with the Veyron’s general shape pretty much intact. More aggressive lines are used throughout, though, with Bugatti saying that the Chiron’s look is inspired by the Type 57SC Atlantic – a model that was shaped by designer Jean Bugatti, son of the brand’s founder, Ettore.

On to figures that matter most, and the Chiron features an updated 8.0 litre W16 engine with 25% more power than its predecessor. As such, output figures stand at 1,500 PS and 1,600 Nm of torque — the latter is available from 2,000 to 6,000 rpm. This Chiron delivers 300 PS more than the Bugatti Veyron SuperSport.

Its zero to 100 km/h figures haven’t been revealed, but we expect it to be around the 2.5-second mark. Top speed is said to be 420 km/h, which Bugatti explains is for “road use.” Traditionally, a second key is required to unlock that level of performance. The French automaker teases the point that the car is capable of higher speeds, saying that,“this is by no means the end of the road for the Bugatti Chiron.”

There are four new, larger turbochargers that are controlled by Bugatti two-stage turbocharging. Several key engine components have also been upgraded to compensate for the weight increase caused by the high power output. The charge air system and the chain housing are all made of carbon fibre, while the weight of the new crankshaft has also been optimised.

The key factors in the increased power output are higher-performance turbochargers and duplex fuel injection with 32 injectors. Additionally, the charge air cooling system has been improved, with more than 60,000 litres of air per minute pumped through the engine. Bugatti also says that in just one minute, 800 litres of water is circulated through the entire engine.

Moving off the line, the Chiron only uses two of its turbochargers. The other two units are only activated at around 3,800 rpm. This is done to achieve a more liner power curve from the 2,000 rpm mark. The huge amount of torque in the low engine speed range and power output can also be controlled better this way.

Bugatti also claims that the Chiron is equipped with the “largest, highest-performance clutch ever fitted to a passenger car.” The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been specially designed by Bugatti to handle the Chiron’s 1,600 Nm of torque. Needless to say, a permanent four-wheel drive system is featured.

Other performance enhancing items include a new carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, adaptive ride control with five driving programs, a titanium exhaust system and specially designed tyres among several other unique items. The Chiron’s exterior also features active aerodynamics.

The sum of these items are said to make the Chiron a better all-round performance vehicle — not just one dedicated to the pursuit of maximum speed. “The Chiron is the quintessential ultimate super sports car: ultra-modern, incredibly fast, agile and powerful with a stylistically demanding design and the highest possible levels of comfort,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer, president of Bugatti.

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