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The effects of aerodynamics on the car body and influencing how air flows over it have been studied since the 1920s. As designers came to see how certain shapes and features could reduce drag and improve performance in various ways, the styling also evolved… sometimes to extremes as with the teardrop shapes.

The quest to lower wind resistance has never been greater, especially in this age of hybrids and electric cars where every bit of resistance removed means less of the motor’s power is wasted overcoming it.

And while you might think that sportcars, with their high-powered engines, don’t really need the assistance of good aerodynamics, this aspect is even more advanced. Even the Bugatti Bolide, a concept hyper sportscar with a 1,850 ps W16 8-litre engine has many aerodynamic innovations that contribute to its ability to reach a top speed claimed to be well over 500 km/h.

Morphable outer skin
Chief among them is the Dimple Airscoop – a new technology for which a patent application was submitted a few weeks ago by Nils Ballerstein, one of the engineers at Bugatti. Since the beginning of 2020, he has been preparing a doctoral thesis project to develop a special morphable outer skin for the company’s New Technologies department – and this has now been used for the first time in the Bugatti Bolide.

The idea for the invention began in 2019, while Ballerstein was doing his master’s degree thesis. The young engineer was undertaking research for Bugatti, looking at new 3D-printed brake calipers made of titanium which cooled water as it flowed through. In order to improve the heat transfer and dissipate heat more selectively, he used a dimple pattern inside the channels. The rounded dents in the boundary layer produce turbulence – similar a golf ball.

Bugatti Bolide Dimple concept

The result was that the fluid mixes better in the channels – and the temperature in the brake caliper drops. “I was positively surprised when I saw the results with the surface patterns. I then wondered whether the same effect couldn’t be achieved with airflow,” recalled Ballerstein.

Same advantages as golf ball design
For non-scientists, the effect of the aerodynamic design is similar that that of golf balls: the dimples on the surface minimise air drag to such an extent that the ball travels about twice as far with the same impact force compared to an identical golf ball without the dimples.

Bugatti Bolide Dimple concept

The same principle applies – the dimples create turbulence on the surface of the golf ball so that air adheres better to the surface, thereby reducing the vortex flow in the slipstream of the ball and subsequently also the drag.

Ballerstein simulated test objects with dimple patterns in order to establish a factual basis to underpin his idea. After completing his master’s thesis, he stayed on with Bugatti while also starting his doctorate at the Institute of Aircraft Design and Lightweight Structures at the Technische Universitat (Technical University) Braunschweig in Germany. He sees the Bolide project as a perfect way to advance his idea.

“Everything about the Bolide is exceptional and extreme. The dimples further improve the car’s already excellent aerodynamics, thereby increasing agility and efficiency,” explained Frank Gotzke, Head of New Technologies at Bugatti.

A world first
The morphable outer skin of the intake scoop on the roof is a world first. It ensures active airflow optimisation. When the hypercar is driven at a slow speed, the surface of the scoop remains smooth; at fast speeds, a field of dimples bulges out. The 60 individual elements extend variably by up to 10 mm depending on the speed – if this benefits the driving state.

From about 80 km/h upwards, air is the dominant resistance factor, and from about 120 km/h upwards, the dimples significantly improve the car’s aerodynamics by reducing this resistance. As with the golf ball, the pattern causes a more turbulent boundary layer, which means that the air flowing around it adheres to the surface for longer and does not detach until later. As a result, the detachment and recirculation areas are reduced and the car’s cd value decreases.

In order to respond swiftly to changes in speed, the dimples extend and retract very quickly, within tenths of a second, in the same way as the active rear wing on the Veyron and the Chiron, for example.

The Bolide is an experimental study to create a track-only hyper sportscar featuring the W16 engine. No plans for production yet so it’s a superfast testbed for developing new technologies.

10% less drag
The overall result is that the dimples reduce the aerodynamic drag of the scoop by 10% and also decrease lift by 17%. Airflow to the rear wing is also optimised; at 320 km/h, the downforce on the rear wing is 1,800 kgs while on the front wing, it is 800 kgs.

Another benefit is that the lower aerodynamic drag also reduces the car’s fuel or energy consumption. “This is why the new technology is so crucial – not just for Bugatti. Optimised airflow can save energy on all vehicles,” explained  Ballerstein. “We’re still in the development phase, but tests so far show that dimples improve aerodynamics, thereby reducing drag and increasing efficiency.”

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Hand-sketched racing scenes on and in the car, diamond-cut aluminium and a reminiscence that have come true of Bugatti’s glorious Grand Prix days. These can be found on the Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’, which honours the brand’s famous racing drivers from the last century.

“Bugatti has had close associations with aviation since the company was established more than 110 years ago. Many successful Bugatti racing drivers, such as Albert Divo, Robert Benoist and Bartolomeo ‘Meo’ Costantini, flew for the French Air Force, the French aviator legend Roland Garros privately drove a Bugatti Type 18 to be as fast on the road as in the air,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “It is therefore almost an obligation for us today to pay tribute to the legends of that time and dedicate a special edition to them.”

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

The ‘Daredevils’ who raced the car
Ettore Bugatti admired the fearless character and technical expertise of his drivers who were fascinated by high speeds – and also mastered them. On the road, the racing drivers benefited from the experience gained in aircraft cockpits. Known as the ‘Daredevils’, many of them were former flying aces, daredevils, technically skilled pilots who flew without fear.

They in turn admired Ettore Bugatti for his talent as an engineer and were fascinated by his agile, light and speedy cars, embodying on the road what their planes were in the sky. Roland Garros even called him the ‘incomparable artist who alone knows, how to give life to steel’.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

The company’s founder was always inspired by aviation. Sometime around 1915, he personally designed aircraft engines and from 1937, he also developed an entire aircraft intended to break speed records. The project was stopped because of the outbreak of the Second World War, but Bugatti kept in close personal contact with the pilots throughout his life.

The ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ edition
These legends of aviation are honoured with the ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ edition, based on the Chiron Sport and limited to 20 cars. The new edition references many features of the historic aircraft in which Bugatti pilots flew. In addition to the unusual colour of the paintwork, each car comes with a special full leather interior with hand-drawn sketches and diamond-cut aluminium.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

A striking feature of the Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ is its special, matt-grey ‘Gris Serpent’ paintwork. This is, a modern interpretation of the exterior colour of the aircraft from the 1920s. On the extending rear spoiler is a high-contrast, white gloss centre stripe.

The front wings are adorned with the ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ logo. The ‘Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge’ tricolour in Blue, White and Red decorates the front area of the side sills made of exposed black carbonfibre.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

The horseshoe-shaped radiator grille also has a black gloss finish. The radiator grille mesh is made of laser-cut and deep-drawn aluminium, on which the dynamic pattern of the stitched seams is repeated on the leather seats, reminiscent of planes flying in formation in an air parade.

The door entry lights project the edition logo onto the ground when the doors are opened. The door sills are made of brushed aluminium with the special edition logo on the middle console inlays. The W16 engine cover is made of black exposed carbonfibre and the lightweight components are contrasted by white lettering. Black exposed carbonfibre and a black-coated exhaust trim cover made of 3D printed, high-temperature-resistant Inconel dominate the rear.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

Interior almost completely in leather
The interior also visually evokes aircraft from the past century. Fine ‘Gaucho’ leather for the entire cabin, the light brown colour  reminiscent of natural leather in those aircraft of days gone by. The natural material is contrasted only by aluminium trim.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

As would be expected, each car will have special edition numbering ‘1 of 20’. Customers can also specify comfort seats and the ‘Sky View’ glass roof to look into the sky like in open-top aircraft of the past century.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

On the door panels there is a hand-sketched racing scene between the Nieuport 17 aircraft and a Bugatti Type 13, which symbolizes the two souls honoured by the edition. The Type 13 is a very special model in Bugatti’s 110-year history as it was the first model to bear the name ‘Bugatti’.

2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’

Capable of more than 420 km/h
The Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ has the standard W16 engine with a displacement of 8 litres. Delivering up to 1,500 ps/1,600 Nm, its maximum speed is somewhere beyond 420 km/h but limited to that speed.

Bugatti will start production of the special edition towards the end of 2020. In the meantime, if you are keen to own one of the 20 units, the price starts from 2.88 million euros (around RM14 million).

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For a manufacturer to make a production model, the design cannot be too complex so as to not be too expensive to manufacture, and safety and emission regulations also need to be met. Designing a car for track use offer more freedom technical though safety is still important and there are also competition regulations to conform to.

Concept cars are the best then as they can do not need to meet regulations and can be have advanced technology that is still not ready for commercialisation. Typically, they show the design direction of the brand, and perhaps some new ideas being explored.

This is the case with the Bugatti Bolide, which is being presented as the answer to the question ‘what if Bugatti built a radically light vehicle around its iconic 8.0-litre W16 engine?’. The Bolide concept is a track-oriented hyper sportscar derived from production model intended to be the most extreme, uncompromising, fastest and lightest Bugatti concept car in the company’s recent history.

Bugatti Bolide

A ‘what if’ experiment
“Bugatti stands for the continuous quest for technological innovations – in alignment with the company’s brand values of excellence, courage, dedication. And Bugatti never stands still. We are perpetually aiming for new and exciting goals, and the question that we always keep in mind is: what if?” said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti.

“We asked ourselves how we could realise the mighty W16 engine as a technical symbol of the brand in its purest form – with solely four wheels, engine, gearbox, steering wheel and, as the only luxury, two seats. Important aspects of our considerations were fine-tuning our iconic powertrain without any limitations as regards the weight-to-power ratio. These considerations resulted in the Bugatti Bolide.”

Bugatti Bolide

Powertrain designed specifically for the racetrack
Explaining the concept further, Stefan Ellrott, member of the Board of Management of Bugatti and Head of Technical Development, said that the Bolide is the ultimate answer to the question of what if Bugatti built a track-focused hyper sportscar that met the FIA’s safety requirements.

Bugatti Bolide

“Designed around the W16 powertrain with the minimum body structure and unbelievable performance data. The result: the smallest possible shell for a breathtaking performance vehicle that allows the W16 to truly come into its own,” he explained. “All of Bugatti’s expertise has been condensed into the Bugatti Bolide. It is therefore an innovative information source for future technologies. The Bolide is thus more than just an intellectual exercise.”

In terms of technology and organisation, the Bolide is one of the most ambitious projects for its lead engineer, Frank Gotzke. After playing a crucial role in the development of the Veyron 16.4 and the Chiron, he was given the responsibility for the technical concept of the Bolide. In only 8 months, he created a completely new sportscar around the Bugatti W16 all-wheel drive powertrain, which was highly modified for the project.

The 8-litre 16-cylinder 1,850 ps engine was engineered specifically for use on the racetrack and has an optimised engine and gearbox, especially for higher engine speeds. Among other things,  there are 4 specially developed turbochargers with optimised blades in order to build up more boost pressure and power at higher engine speeds. In order to achieve optimum lubrication even under extremely high centrifugal forces, the oil circuit, oil pressure, check valves, baffles, oil tanks, oil reservoirs, and pump design of the dry sump lubrication have been optimised. The weight of the drive system is also significantly reduced.

Instead of water-to-air intercooling, the Bolide has air-to-air intercooling with water pre-cooling for optimal performance on the racetrack. Two water coolers, which are arranged in front of the front axle, provide a more effective radiator system in terms of flow than is customary even in Formula 1. Three air-cooled oil coolers for engine, transmission, and differential with water pre-cooling reduce the temperature, while newly developed and hybrid carbon titanium turbofan radial compressors ventilate and cool the high-performance racing brake system.

Bugatti Bolide

In order to achieve a dry weight of 1,240 kgs for that impressive weight-to-power ratio of 0.67 kg per ps, every avenue was explored, both in terms of what is currently feasible and what will be possible in the future. These included expensive features like having all the screw and fastening elements of the made completely out of titanium. In addition, hollow, thin-walled functional components made of an aerospace titanium alloy are used in many places.

A worldwide innovation is the morphable outer skin of the intake scoop on the roof, which provides active airflow optimisation. If the car is driven at a slow speed, the surface of the scoop remains smooth. In contrast, a field of bubbles bulges out when driven at fast speeds. This reduces the aerodynamic drag of the scoop by 10% and ensures a 17% reduction in lift forces. In addition, the flow onto the rear wing is optimised. At 320 km/h, the downforce is at 1,800 kgs at the rear wing and 800 kgs at the front wing.

Bugatti Bolide

As in Formula 1, the Bolide uses lightweight brakes with ceramic discs and coatings. The front forged magnesium rims with central lock weigh 7.4 kgs, while the rear ones weigh 8.4 kgs.

Carbonfibre monocoque
The Bugatti team developed a light monocoque made of carbonfibre around the drive. The integral front end flanged to it is also made of high-strength carbonfibres, as are the fully aerodynamically effective underbody and the monocoque itself. The rear frame is designed as a welded steel assembly made of high-strength stainless steel usually found in aviation.

Bugatti Bolide

With an overall height of only 995 millimetres, the Bugatti Bolide is exactly the same height as the historic Bugatti Type 35, and about 300 millimetres flatter than the Chiron. Like in an LMP1 racing car, the occupants fold up the doors that are hinged at the front at an angle, sit on a sill that is only 70 mm wide and then position their feet in the interior.

Bugatti Bolide

Bugatti Bolide

Inspired by X-1 experimental jets
The stylistic challenge was to transform the unyielding demands of aerodynamics and lightweight construction into an aesthetic that reflects the unique Bugatti DNA, but at the same time illustrates the ambition of an impressive weight-to-power ratio. The overall appearance is dominated by air ducts that are more reminiscent of aerodynamically sophisticated Formula 1 racing cars than classic sportscars.

The appearance of the Bolide invokes the so-called ‘X-planes’ of aviation history that pushed the edge of the performance envelope. It is indirectly reminiscent of the Bell X-1 jet aircraft which was flown by Chuck Yeager, who was the first person to break the sound barrier in 1947. The Bolide does not get up to that speed, of course, but it is claimed to be able to go past 500 km/h.

Bugatti Bolide

“For the first time, we are showing what the W16 engine is really capable of. We have freed the vehicle of all baggage and have illustrated and combined the engine with the lightest possible chassis to create the ultimate Bugatti and to ensure the ultimate driving experience. With the Bolide, we are presenting our interpretation of a Bugatti track car of modern times to Bugatti enthusiasts all over the world and finally make their most fervent wishes come true,” said Winkelmann, adding that production plans are not decided yet.

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At the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, Bugatti announced a new ‘baby’ as its 110th birthday present to itself. It was the reimagining of the original Bugatti Baby, developed in partnership with The Little Car Company, for enthusiasts old and new.

A year later, the company has completed the design and testing phase, with production of 500 units commencing. When it was first announced, all 500 cars were booked within just 3 weeks but as some customers have had a change in circumstances due to recent global events, there are now a few units still available. Prices range from €30,000 to €43,500 (equivalent to RM150,000 – RM216,000).

2020 Bugatti Baby II

Like the original but bigger
The original Bugatti Baby was born in 1926 when Ettore and his son Jean decided to build a scaled-down Type 35 for Ettore’s youngest son, Roland, on the occasion of his fourth birthday. They had intended the present as a one-off car but customers who saw it were so enthusiastic that the Baby went into production and was sold between 1927 and 1936.

Cherished by Bugatti enthusiasts worldwide, no collection is complete without a Baby. However, with only around 500 ever made, they have been the preserve of the lucky few.

Bugatti T 52 Baby and Bugatti 35
The original Baby, referred to internally as T 52, was a scaled-down version of the Type 35 (above). It was meant to be a one-off for Bugatti’s son but customers liked it so much that Bugatti built another 500.

While the original Bugatti Baby was a 50% scale version of the car that brought Automobiles Ettore Bugatti to fame in the 1920s, the Bugatti Baby II (as it is referred to) offers more in terms of size and considerably more in terms of performance.

Eight-year olds would struggle to fit in the original half-scale Baby whereas, at 75% scale and designed for ages 14 and above, the Baby II has definitely become more of a young adult. Those who have had the opportunity to drive it describe it as ‘more of an unruly teenager than a Baby’.

“Ettore Bugatti himself was already interested in catering to the children of Bugatti enthusiasts and designed the Type 52 miniature car as a genuine Bugatti. That was a sensation at the time,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “We are continuing this tradition with the new edition of the Bugatti Baby II, and I am delighted that we have found The Little Car Company, a partner that shares the same values as us. With the Bugatti Baby II, we invite a young generation of enthusiasts to fall in love with the wonderful world of Bugatti.”

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Iconic design, today’s technology
The Bugatti Baby II is available in three versions – a base model, the Vitesse and Pur Sang. The base model has a composite body and a 1.4-kWh battery pack. With the Vitesse, there’s a more powerful 2.8-kWh battery pack in the carbonfibre body. Its upgraded powertrain includes a Speed Key like its big brother, the Chiron.

The Pur Sang version is targeted at collectors. This offers the same powertrain as the Vitesse but with hand-formed aluminium bodywork. Using the same traditional coachbuilding techniques as the original Bugatti Type 35, each aluminium body takes more than 200 hours of skilled craftsmanship to create.

2020 Bugatti Baby II

Variable speed limit and power
Still rear wheel drive like the original, all versions of the Baby II have a limited slip differential, high performance hydraulic brakes and selectable driving modes. The Base model can be limited to 20 km/h in Novice mode while Expert mode limits speed 45 km/h with a maximum of 4 kW of power.

The Vitesse and Pur Sang versions include the Novice and Expert driving modes but also offer extra performance from the upgraded powertrain, unlocked by the legendary Bugatti Speed Key. This allows for up to 10 kW (13.4 bhp) to be used. With a total weight of just 230 kgs, the Baby II will be spinning the Michelin tyres as it sprints from standstill to a 70 km/h top speed. Depending on the weight of the driver, 0 – 60 km/h could be done in just 6 seconds.

2020 Bugatti Baby II

Although the Baby II would not be legal on public roads so its driver won’t be travelling to the grocery shop down the road, the base lithium-ion battery pack combined with regenerative braking can give up to 25 kms of range on a single charge, with the larger battery pack in the Vitesse & Pur Sang doubling that figure. That means longer driving sessions on the test course around the home.

Like the full-sized electric cars, there’s the same balance of performance or range. If the driver prefers to enjoy the full performance of the Baby II, then the range would of course be less. If recharging is too time-consuming, the battery pack can be easily taken out and replaced with one already charged and ready to do.

2020 Bugatti Baby II
Andy Wallace, a British racing driver who is also Bugatti’s test driver, was involved in tuning the handling of the Baby II.

Authentic handling too
When it comes to handling, the Baby II is completely true to its mythical predecessor, the Bugatti Type 35. Based on a digital 3D scan of an original Lyon GP car with identical geometry and suspension, the handling is as authentic as an enthusiast could hope for.

The only nod to modernity is the introduction of adjustable dampers, allowing tailoring of the handling in ways not possible in the Type 35’s heyday. Bugatti’s test driver, Andy Wallace, was also involved in the final development of the tuning and set-up of the Baby II.

2020 Bugatti Baby II

Other features which will appeal to enthusiasts include faithful working replicas of the original Type 35’s instruments, with some adaption for modernity. The turned aluminium dashboard is as present and correct as it was on the original Type 35, and custom ‘EB’ switches operate the LED headlights.

The car can even be customised in multiple colours for both the exterior and interior, including the exact same solid shades available on the Chiron, and an online configurator is available.

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In 2019, Bugatti and Jacob & Co. signed a partnership to create unique timepieces. To inaugurate this partnership led by performance, two timepieces were created. These watches, based on the Twin Turbo Furious and the Epic X Chrono, were directly inspired by the unique design and spirit of Bugatti hypercars.

This year, new watches in the Twin Turbo Furious collection are being introduced, as well as now the Bugatti Chiron, a completely new line. After the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon, the watchmaker has created the Twin Turbo Furious  300+ – inspired by the fastest hypercar ever created.

Chiron Super Sport 300+

Last year, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ made Bugatti the first carmaker to break through the mythical 300 mph (480 km/h) barrier. Behind the steering wheel of the car was Le Mans winner Andy Wallace who set the world speed record at 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h).

Only 3 pieces for sale
In order to celebrate the world’s fastest series production hyper sportscar, Jacob & Co. captured the essence of the Super Sport 300+ in the design as well as the sophisticated technology of their new creation.  Only three pieces will be made for sale.

Chiron Super Sport 300+

The Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti 300+ features a black titanium twin triple-axis tourbillon movement, that includes a decimal minute repeater and a mono-pusher chronograph with reference time. It is housed in a forged carbon and black DLC titanium case, to echo the exposed carbonfibre bodywork of the record-breaking hyper sports car.

Exclusive technology
The presence of a tourbillon in a watch’s movement already places a timepiece among the elite of the watchmaking world. Jacob & Co.’s Twin Turbo Furious goes one step further incorporating two accelerated triple axis tourbillons into its striking design. The tourbillons work together to compensate for the effects of gravity on the precision of the movement.

Twin Turbo Furious 300+

Another very rare component is the Twin Turbo Furious 300+’ decimal minute repeater. In order to simplify the audible indication of time, the Twin Turbo Furious chimes on demand the ten minutes intervals after the hours and before the minutes.

“In Jacob & Co., we have found a partner who understands the way we see exclusivity and how every object carrying the Bugatti name has to combine extreme power and the most sophisticated technology with pure luxury and the unmistakable Bugatti aesthetics and elegance. The Twin Turbo Furious is another product created in the spirit of this partnership,” said Bugatti President, Stephan Winkelmann.

Chiron Super Sport 300+

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The rear end breaks out slightly into a controlled drift, the tyres start to squeal. Sven Bohnhorst reacts with lightning speed and countersteers briefly. He keeps his foot on the accelerator, drifting with a smile on his face.

Bohnhorst, a chassis setup engineer at Bugatti, is testing the new Chiron Pur Sport at the limits of its handling dynamics. The aim is to improve the vehicle even further and to tune the chassis, steering and dampers even more precisely.

Aiming for ‘the perfect driving experience’
His starting point is in the area of fine nuances and minute details. These are almost imperceptible individually but will later convey the complete picture of a perfect driving experience to customers. After weeks of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his colleagues were finally able to return to testing the new Chiron Pur Sport on a racetrack.

2020 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport

“The track at Bilster Berg with its very own topographic relief is challenging and demands a high level of concentration. It’s a technical circuit with varying radii, fast and slow sectors and severe elevation changes. A genuine challenge for us chassis developers,” explained Bohnhorst.

The track goes up and down, making the car lighter in some places, and pressing it down into the dips with significant spring compression. These are ideal conditions for fine-tuning the running gear and safety systems. This is where engineers can test and take the Chiron Pur Sport to its limits.

ESC Sport+ driving mode
Particularly suitable for this purpose: the new ESC Sport+ driving mode. Experienced drivers can activate this mode when driving on racetracks. For this first time, this mode allows larger drift angle with much easier controlled drifting – the driver is able to stay on the throttle much longer to control the rear end before the ESC kicks in. This turns the Chiron Pur Sport into an extreme Chiron derivative at the other end of the performance spectrum, a model with very active driving characteristics that is made for cornering.

A lap in the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport hyper sportscar (w/VIDEO)

2020 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport

“The combination of an uncompromisingly sporty and harder chassis set-up, new tyres with a softer rubber compound geared towards lateral dynamics, and the shorter transmission ratio make it possible to manoeuvre the Chiron Pur Sport out of any corner safely and at lightning speed. An incredible feeling at the wheel that makes the adrenalin flow,” said Bohnhorst enthusiastically.

‘A car for those who have petrol in their blood’
The new hyper sportscar is much firmer, dynamic and direct to drive than the Chiron. It generates more grip, understeers less and provides neutral handling even in fast corner combinations. “It’s a car for drivers, for all those who have petrol in their blood. I never want to get out again!” he exclaimed happily.

Even though Bugatti usually tests on longer race circuits like the handling track in Nardo or on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Bohnhorst feels at home at Bilster Berg which he knows well. “I now know exactly how to drive around the track. Because the Pur Sport offers such confident handling, it is easy to familiarize yourself with the special characteristics of the track,” he explained.

2020 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport

The 8-litre W16-cylinder engine with 1,500 ps/1,600 Nm does not get as much attention during such tests as the engineers are not primarily focused on lap times. Instead, they want the Chiron Pur Sport to handle perfectly even in extreme situations.

“In terms of development, we are close to reaching our goals – the Chiron Pur Sport is very precise and extremely agile to drive, even on such a tight handling course,” added Bohnhorst.

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After two years, Bugatti Divo hyper sportscar will be delivered to customers starting this year with the development process now entering its final phase. Only 40 will be built, each with a base price of 5 million euros.

“At the beginning of 2018, our aim was to develop a particularly sporty vehicle as the first project under the leadership of new Bugatti President, Stephan Winkelmann. We had lengthy discussions – and above all we listened to our customers. Some of them were longing for an agile and corner-hungry car. That’s definitely what the Divo has turned out to be,” recalled Pierre Rommelfanger, project manager for limited edition models at Bugatti.

A short time later, a small team of experts began development. The goal they set themselves was clear: the Divo was to be very different from the Chiron in exclusivity and performance – without sacrificing comfort and supremacy.

Bugatti Divo

Within a few months an initial design model was created and presented to Chiron owners in France, with explanations provided in one-on-one discussions. “Every Divo customer owns a Chiron, knows what the brand stands for and is a true Bugatti enthusiast. Our customers instantly understood the sporty approach of the Divo and supported our project,” said Winkelmann proudly.

Over 5,000 kms of chassis development
The Divo is powered by the 1,500 ps/1,600 Nm 8.0-litre W16 engine which can rocket the Divo from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 2.4 seconds. To achieve this, the engineers did extensive computer simulations to know the exact axle load data and used the figures to design the chassis set-up. The first prototype was run on various testing grounds, winding roads and racetracks. Over 5,000 kms were covered across all speed ranges up to 380 km/h to carry out chassis development.

Bugatti Divo

Bugatti Divo

Agility was gained by having less weight (35 kgs lower than the Chiron), more downforce and a more direct chassis set-up. This includes a change in wheel camber on the front and rear axles, harder springs and a more front-oriented balance. As a result, the Divo’s top speed is limited to 380 km/h.

The engineers made full use of the weight reduction to increase downforce, going to the limit of the tyres’ load capacity. This gives the Divo 90 kgs more downforce, increasing to 456 kgs at maximum speed.

“The Divo is entirely different to drive than the Chiron, even though both are fitted with the powerful W16 engine. This is particularly evident when driving on roads with plenty of bends. With even more precise steering and greater downforce, the Divo drives through corners even faster and more predictably,” explained Lars Fischer, Head of Chassis Testing and Application.

Bugatti Divo

Optimum aerodynamics
Particular effort was focussed on developing the aerodynamic properties of the Divo. The bonnet has air inlets that reduce the frontal area of the vehicle and improve the airflow. An optimised air curtain provides enhanced air ducting in the front and rear areas of the sides. Meanwhile, the newly shaped front spoiler serves to increase downforce, directing more air to the front air intakes. This supplies the cooling system with a greater air mass and increases overall cooling capacity.

Four independent air sources on each side of the car cool the brakes. Air comes from the high-pressure area above the front bumper, from the intakes on the front wings, from the intake at the front radiator and from the diffusers in front of the tyres. Blades guide the cold air onto the brake discs, while a heat shield directs the hot air directly through the wheels to the outside.

Bugatti Divo

The roof profile was optimised too. In conjunction with the modified rear end, a high air mass flow into the engine compartment is achieved, thereby benefiting temperature management. At the same time, these measures prevent the air above the car from swirling and developing turbulence at the rear wing. Its angle can be adjusted for individual driving modes and functions as an air brake too.

Differentiated from the Chiron
In terms of design, too, the Divo is clearly differentiated from the Chiron yet still instantly recognisable as a Bugatti. The design team under Achim Anscheidt have configured the body form of the Divo for lateral acceleration, focusing on optimum aerodynamic and thermodynamic efficiency.

The extremely compact and lightweight LED headlights have a flat light aperture of only 35 mm and are particularly striking, as are the highly complex 3D tail light modules. These form part of the rear grille, which is partly produced using a 3D printing process and has special lightweight fins. A total of 44 of these fins illuminate to form the tail light system.

Bugatti Divo

Bugatti Divo

Inside the car, sports seats with high side bolsters hold the occupants securely in their seats even when cornering at very high speeds. The steering wheel is partially covered in Alcantara and has enlarged steering wheel-mounted shift paddles on both sides.

About the hypercar’s name
With the Divo, Bugatti continues its tradition of naming cars after legendary racing drivers. In this case, the hypercar’s name honours Albert Divo, a French pilot and racing driver and, for some time, also a works driver for Bugatti. Among other things, he won the Targa Florio in 1928 and 1929. The legendary event, which was held annually on a mountain track in Sicily up until 1977, was certainly one of the toughest endurance races of its time. Bugatti won the race 5 times in a row with the Type 35.

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There are many enthusiasts in the motoring community who are interested in Bugatti’s “La Voiture Noire”, which is labelled as arguably the most valuable and expensive car in the world. To pay tribute to this masterpiece, the Bugatti “Chiron Noire” has been introduced and it comes in two different stylings for those with deep pockets. (more…)

The Villa d’Este annual event have seen many fine examples of automobile royalty known on this planet for many years now. Any motoring enthusiast would a few heartbeats upon witnessing some of the fine examples on display but a particular Bugatti La Voiture Noire stands out like a golden rose amongst other beauty and stunning roses. (more…)

Seorang rakyat Singapura menjadi pemilik Bugatti Chiron di Asia Tenggara apabila menerima penghantaran kereta itu beberapa hari sebelum Tahun Baru Cina baru-baru ini.

Chiron merupakan antara kereta terpantas dan paling mewah dalam segmen ‘supercars’ dengan hanya 500 unit dihasilkan bagi pasaran seluruh dunia.

Istimewanya, pemilihan warna jentera ini adalah tertakluk sepenuhnya kepada permintaan pembeli dan pemilik ini memilih warna gabungan di antara ‘Atlantic Blue’ dan ‘French Racing Blue’ seperti Chiron pertama yang ditayangkan di Pameran Kereta Antarabangsa Geneva 2016.

Jentera luar biasa itu akan disimpan di sebuah tempat kemudahan kawalan iklim di Wearnes Automotive sekaligus menandakan kereta Chiron pertama di antara 20 unit yang akan diserahkan kepada pelanggan di sekitar benua Asia menjelang 2020.

 

 

 

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