This is the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, a new, more road friendly version of the limited edition Chiron Super Sport 300+. It’s on sale now, priced from €3.2 million (around AUD$4.93 million), with the first deliveries of a production run of 60 models expected to arrive early next year.
Like the standard Chiron, the Super Sport is powered by a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W12. But, thanks to some larger turbochargers, redesigned cylinder heads and a new oil pump, the engine now has an extra 73kW, taking its maximum output to 1,176kW and a whopping 1,600Nm.
Bugatti says that’s enough grunt to get from 0–200km/h in 5.8 seconds, which is half a second quicker than the new Volkswagen Golf GTI takes to get from 0–100km/h. 0-300km/h takes just 12.1 seconds and, the firm says that the car is capable of speeds up to 440km/h.
To handle the extra performance, the Chiron Super Sport features four-wheel drive and a host of chassis upgrades specifically designed for high-speed driving. There’s a tighter steering rack, new dampers and stiffer springs, all which Bugatti says lend to a setup that’s more stable than the normal Chiron.
Bugatti has also commissioned a set of specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Currently, they’re the only road-legal rubber that’s rated to drive consistently at speeds of up to 500km/h, verified with the same test bench used to develop the tyres for the Space Shuttle.
It isn’t just mechanical grip that’s keeping the Chiron on the tarmac, though – it gets a significant new aerodynamic package. The biggest changes are at the rear, with the firm fitting a 25cm longer tail and diffuser that’s designed to stabilise the car at speed.
Bugatti says the new rear has significantly reduced the Chiron’s wind resistance. By allowing the car’s active rear spoiler to remain tucked into the bodywork, the diffuser does most of the aerodynamic work. The revised rear is balanced by a new front splitter, new side skirts and some new vents for the front wings, which expel turbulent air from the wheel arches.
Other tweaks include an enormous quad-exit exhaust system and diamond cut alloy wheels. The Chiron Pur Sport’s magnesium wheels are also available as an optional extra, and shave a few more grams off the hypercar’s kerb weight.
Save for some new Chiron Super Sport branded seats, little has changed in the car’s cabin. It features the same carbon fibre dashboard, leather upholstery and aluminium trim, along with the same instrument cluster and infotainment setup.
Luke Wilkinson