A dream comes true: a year ago, Bugatti unveiled the Bolide study – the result, so to speak, when the dream factory itself is dreaming. But the wealthy clientele not only wanted to dream of the 1850 hp racing car, but also wanted to put it in the luxury garages at home. And so the Bugatti dream factory starts the real production machines.
“I was overwhelmed by the reactions and feedback from customers all over the world,” explains Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann, “which is why we decided to run a small series of the Bolide to give 40 customers the chance to experience this incredible vehicle . ” And what better atmosphere to present this spectacular small series than the noble event “The Quail” at the Monterey Autoweek in California (USA)?
For the racetrack only
The bolide will be a much more extreme hyper athlete than the previous versions of Veyron and Chiron. Not intended for the road, but solely for the racetrack. Accordingly, it is more reminiscent of a Le Mans touring car with elements of a Formula 1 vehicle.
In addition to the martial face, the design of the flat Bugatti bolide is dominated by the open rear and a massive wing. The rear wing in combination with the diffuser ensures high downforce and correspondingly optimal traction.
Powerful flyweight
The Bugatti Bolide is powered by what is probably the most spectacular combustion engine in the world. The eight-liter W16 cylinder with 1600 PS (1176 kW) and 1600 Nm maximum torque from 2250 rpm from the Chiron gets an atmospheric performance boost to 1850 PS (1360 kW) thanks to racing fuel with 110 octane. With a weight of 1450 kilograms, the Frenchman has a power-to-weight ratio of less than one kilogram per horsepower.
The engineers tuned the drive to higher speeds for circuit use. Among other things, they dethrottle the intake and exhaust systems in order to achieve an even faster, more spontaneous and extreme response. The cooling system for the turbocharger, engine, transmission and differential are also adapted for optimum performance. The safety equipment includes, among other things, HANS system compatibility, an automatic fire extinguishing system, pressure refueling with a fuel bladder, central locking for wheels and a six-point belt system.
Wait three years
The new hyper sports car will be developed to series production maturity over the next three years; the first deliveries are planned for 2024. And what does a dream come true cost? Four million euros, net. At the current rate and tariffs, the Swiss price should be between 4.5 and 5 million francs. And the bolide also means the end of an era for Bugatti: The French dream forge belonging to the VW Group will then become electric as the subsidiary of the Croatian electro-climber Rimac.