The Bugatti Chiron was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show during March 2016 and is described as the world’s fastest production car. The Chiron is named after Monaco driver, Louis Chiron.
The specifications are impressive even to those not familiar with mechanical engineering and the vehicle is indeed a thing of beauty. Its carbon fibre body architecture has been described as melted scoop of ice-cream styling and reminiscent of Bugatti’s 1930's era art-deco masterpieces.
Maximum speed is limited to 420 km/h for road use purposes and it is believed the vehicle is otherwise capable of more than 463 km/h. Acceleration of 0-100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds is impressive by any standard.
The 8 litre W16 quad-turbocharged engine delivers 1,103 kW / 1,479 bhp.
The starting price tag is US$2.66 million and no more than five hundred Chirons will be built.
Exhaust is routed from the turbos to a titanium exhaust system which weighs approx 20 kg and which is apparently extremely light compared with other 16-cylinder engines. Bugatti describes the catalytic converters as being six times as large as those usually fitted to a medium-sized car.
Torque is routed to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The clutch is described as the largest, highest-performing equipment ever fitted to a car. The heat-exchanger system requires in excess of 49 litres of coolant circulating through two separate cooling loops. One loop holds 12.1 litres of liquid and cools the turbochargers’ intercoolers. The other loop services the engine and pumps 37 litres of coolant into three radiators. There are also heat-exchangers for the engine, transmission, rear-differential and hydraulic oils in addition to those associated with cabin heating and air conditioning.
The predecessor to the Chiron was the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. That vehicle’s tyres came at US$42,000 per set and required the replacement of all four wheels after three tire swaps at an additional cost of US$69,000. Tyre requirements for the Chiron are described as being more economical.
