When a new generation of Bugatti hyper sports car was introduced with Chiron in 2016, it was revealed that only 500 would ever be built. Now, following an assembly process of around two months in the Atelier, the 400th example has been created by hand at the home of Bugatti Automobiles in Molsheim to be united with its custodian. It’s the culmination of the expertise of 20 highly skilled craftspeople, assembling around 1,800 separate components into an incomparable automotive experience.
In the creation of each Chiron1 it is said that no car will be like any other, such is the vast array of personalization options available to customers. A near-limitless collection of paints, materials, finishes, bespoke touches and accessories are available, resulting in a spectacular breadth of creativity among Chiron customers. For the 400th – a Chiron Super Sport2 – a bare carbon fiber body, tinted dark green has been chosen by its owner.
Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “Every single part of the Chiron is a masterpiece of engineering, and bringing it all together requires the most dedicated and experienced specialists in the world. Simply installing the carbon fiber panels over the advanced monocoque chassis requires a level of precision that only the most skilled craftspeople possess. Our painting or finishing process is so detailed that to achieve the desired effect requires up to eight layers in the top coat alone, each one polished to a perfect, deep and lustrous mirror finish. This level of detail can only be achieved with the right blend of passion and expertise, and to do it to such a high standard so consistently over 400 vehicles and beyond is what defines Bugatti. While marking this important milestone in Chiron history, we also express a deep gratitude to the designers, engineers and craftspeople at Bugatti that continue to accept nothing less than perfection.”
To create this car’s striking bare carbon fiber finish takes patience and a meticulous attention to detail, requiring the expertise and relentless dedication of a team of the most skilled designers and materials engineers in the industry. The weave of the fiber must flow in the correct direction across all separate panels, requiring each sheet to be cut at a specific point and in a specific way. Each panel’s weave must also match up with those that it neighbors, creating one unbroken flow across the car’s body, adding further complexity. Unlike painted carbon fiber, there can also be no imperfections in the material itself; it’s not merely an unpainted carbon fiber body, but an entirely bespoke creation specifically designed to illuminate the inherent beauty of the material.
The complex dark green tinted body is paired elegantly with Super Sport Magnesium Wheels – lightweight and extremely strong – and an engine cover finished in a subtle “Nocturne” shade, while touches of “Fierce”, which blends seamlessly with the tinted carbon fiber panels, are used on several of the exterior details, such as the iconic Bugatti Horse Shoe grille, and EB Logo Wheel Caps.
Inside, this customer has opted for a full leather upholstery combination split of “Green” and “Beluga Black” for the seats. Elsewhere, “Beluga Black” dominates the interior, subtly highlighted with touches like the bare carbon fiber steering wheel top and bottom and the “Black Anodized” interior trim parts; an elegant finish that belies its complex method of creation. Fitted with the optional Sky View roof, this Chiron Super Sport’s interior is flooded with natural light, revealing the intricate craftsmanship of every detail.
At the heart of the Chiron Super Sport is Bugatti’s famed 8.0-liter W16 engine, developing 1,176 kW/1,600 PS – 100 PS more than the original Chiron of 2016 – thanks to a significant reengineering with upgrades like an enlarged quartet of turbochargers. Maximum engine speed increases to 7,100 rpm with maximum torque of 1,600 Nm available between 2,000 and 7,000 rpm. Combined with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission’s controlled shifting, the Chiron Super Sport is capable of accelerating to 300 km/h in 12.1 seconds, with a top speed of 440 km/h.
Just 100 more examples of Bugatti’s latest hyper sports car will be produced, but the production run of 500 cars won’t mark the end of the legendary W16 engine. Two more models will crown this definitive era in the marque’s history. On the road, the W16 Mistral3 will be the ultimate Bugatti roadster, while the track-only Bolide4 provides the purest experience of the W16 engine.
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