FAB WHEELS DIGEST (F.W.D.): Bugatti Chiron (2017-?)

The Bugatti Chiron is a mid-engined two-seated sports car developed and manufactured in Molsheim, France, by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. as the successor to the Bugatti Veyron. The Chiron was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2016. The car was based on the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept car. The car is named after the Monegasque driver Louis Chiron.

It packs a 8.0-liter W-16 quad-turbo engine producing 1,479 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. It is estimated to hit 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. A peak speed of 377 km/h (234 mph). Base price at US$2,998,000. Only 500 will be made.

Although the basic architecture is unchanged, the mighty W-16 has been redesigned to reliably produce 8 percent more power and 9 percent more torque than in the Veyron Super Sport. The extra grunt comes courtesy of four turbochargers that are 69 percent bigger than those used on the Super Sport engine.

The engine sits in an all-new carbon-fiber monocoque with a torsional stiffness of 50,000 Nm/degree—comparable to that of a Le Mans LMP1 prototype. The suspension is height adjustable and features adaptive shocks. In conjunction with electronic control of the power steering, the all-wheel-drive system’s torque distribution, the rear differential, the active aerodynamics and the stability and braking control systems, engineers have crafted five selectable drive protocols—Lift, EB, Autobahn, Handling, and Top Speed.

From the driver’s seat, riding the military-spec thrust of 1,479 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque in conjunction with all-wheel drive and massive tires, it feels every bit that quick. On the road the Chiron’s top speed is electronically limited to 261 mph. It will go faster. The Chiron will easily beat the Veyron Super Sport’s 268-mph production car V-max record, insists Bugatti boss Wolfgang Dürheimer. The Chiron resets the benchmark because it’s also smoother, more refined and, crucially, more fun to drive than its storied predecessor. (motortrend.com & wikipedia)

2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport

The Bugatti Chiron Sport derivative makes its debut at the 2018 Geneva motor show. The Chiron Sport gains a firmer suspension set-up that’s activated only in the car’s ‘Handling’ mode and features a revised damper control strategy. The rear differential setting has also been optimised with an all new dynamic torque vectoring function to help the Chiron better utilise its substantial 1,479 bhp output powering through and out of corners.

Fitted with lightweight components including new wheels, carbon fibre windscreen wipers (a production car first) and a specially developed window over the engine compartment. The combined result is a dip in the standard car’s 1,996kg kerb weight of 18kg.

There’s a new four-pipe exhaust outlet mounted centrally at the rear of the car while the interior gets a suite of options to give the Sport a sportier look and feel from the driver’s seat. The price tag for the car stands at 2.65m Euro or £2.36m. For that you get the usual Bugatti Chiron performance figures - 0-62mph in under 2.5s, 0-124mph in under 6.5s and a 261mph limited top speed. (evo.co.uk)