When the next-generation Bugatti supercar, the Chiron, was launched in 2016, it was announced that only 500 would be produced. Now, after a roughly two-month assembly process in the studio, the 400th prototype has been handcrafted at Bugatti Automobili in Molheim for a reunion with its custodian. It’s the culmination of the expertise of 20 highly qualified craftsmen who assemble approximately 1,800 individual parts into an unrivaled automotive experience.
During the creation of each Chiron1, it is said that no two cars are the same, and that is the range of personalisation options offered to customers. Offering a virtually limitless range of colors, materials, finishes, custom trims and accessories, there is a surprising amount of creativity among Chiron customers. For the 400th car – the Chiron Super Sport2 – its owners opted for an exposed dark green carbon fiber body.
Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “Every single part of the Chiron is a masterpiece of engineering, and bringing it all together requires the most dedicated and experienced specialists in the world. Simply installing the carbon fiber panels over the advanced monocoque chassis requires a level of precision that only the most skilled craftspeople possess. Our painting or finishing process is so detailed that to achieve the desired effect requires up to eight layers in the top coat alone, each one polished to a perfect, deep and lustrous mirror finish. This level of detail can only be achieved with the right blend of passion and expertise, and to do it to such a high standard so consistently over 400 vehicles and beyond is what defines Bugatti. While marking this important milestone in Chiron history, we also express a deep gratitude to the designers, engineers and craftspeople at Bugatti that continue to accept nothing less than perfection.”
Creating the car’s striking bare carbon fiber finish required patience and meticulous attention to detail, which required the expertise and unremitting dedication of the industry’s most experienced team of designers and materials engineers. The webs must flow through each individual web in the correct direction, requiring each web to be cut in a specific way at a specific point. The weave of each panel also had to match the adjacent panels, creating an uninterrupted flow across the car body, adding to the complexity. Also, unlike painted carbon fiber, the material itself must be flawless; it’s not just an unpainted carbon fiber body, but a completely bespoke creation specifically designed to illuminate the material’s inner beauty.
Sophisticated dark green bodywork is elegantly paired with Super Sport magnesium alloy wheels – light and very strong – and a bonnet with a subtle “Nocturne” tone, while a “Fierce” touch that blends seamlessly with the tinted carbon fiber panels uses a few Exterior details such as the iconic Bugatti horseshoe grille and EB logo hubcaps.
Inside, the client opted for an all-leather combination of ‘Green’ and ‘Beluga Black’ seats. Elsewhere, “Beluga Black” dominates the interior and is subtly accentuated by details such as the exposed carbon fiber steering wheel top and bottom and “black anodized” interior trim pieces. Elegant finishes belie its intricate manufacturing process. Equipped with the optional Sky View roof, the interior of this Chiron Super Sport is flooded with natural light and showcases intricate craftsmanship in every detail.
At the heart of the Chiron Super Sport is Bugatti’s famous 8.0-litre W16 engine, which makes 1,176 kW/1,600 hp – 100 hp more than the original 2016 Chiron – thanks to upgraded major overhauls such as an enlarged quad turbo supercharger. The maximum engine speed is increased to 7,100 rpm and a maximum torque of 1,600 Nm is available between 2,000 and 7,000 rpm. Combined with the controlled shifting of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Chiron Super Sport sprints to 300 km/h in just 12.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 440 km/h.
Only 100 more of Bugatti’s latest hypercar will be built, but a 500-unit production run doesn’t mean the end of the legendary W16 engine. Two other models will crown this pivotal era in the brand’s history. On the road, the W16 Mistral3 will be the ultimate Bugatti sports car, while on the track alone, the Bolide4 offers the purest experience of a W16 engine.
FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS
1 CHIRON: WLTP FUEL CONSUMPTION, L/100 KM: LOW PHASE 44.56 / MEDIUM PHASE 24.80 / HIGH PHASE 21.29 / EXTRA HIGH PHASE 21.57 / COMBINED 25.19; CO2 EMISSIONS COMBINED, G/KM: 571.64; EFFICIENCY CLASS: G
2 CHIRON SUPER SPORT: WLTP FUEL CONSUMPTION, L/100 KM: LOW PHASE 40.31 / MEDIUM PHASE 22.15 / HIGH PHASE 17.89 / EXTRA HIGH PHASE 17.12 / COMBINED 21.47; CO2 EMISSIONS COMBINED, G/KM: 486.72; EFFICIENCY CLASS: G
3 W16 MISTRAL: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.
4 BOLIDE: THIS IS A CONCEPT STUDY AND THEREFORE NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC.