Hypercar Reviews · Profile & review in progress
Bugatti Chiron
A quad-turbo W16 hypercar that followed the Veyron.
The Bugatti Chiron is the car that took the Veyron's absurd numbers and pushed them further: a quad-turbocharged W16 engine, 1,500 metric horsepower, and a production run that ended with a car named for a 300-mph milestone. Here's the background ahead of our review.
Bugatti's revival
Ettore Bugatti founded his company in Molsheim, Alsace, in 1909, and it became famous for elegant, fast cars such as the Type 35 race car and Type 57. The original company faded after World War II. Volkswagen Group acquired the Bugatti brand in 1998 and launched the Veyron 16.4 in 2005, the first production car with more than 1,000 metric horsepower and a top speed above 400 km/h. In 2021, Bugatti became part of a joint venture with Croatian electric-car company Rimac, forming Bugatti Rimac.
The Chiron
The Chiron debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. It's named after Louis Chiron, a Monaco-born racing driver who drove for Bugatti in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Engine: 8.0-liter W16 with four turbochargers, producing 1,500 PS (about 1,479 hp) and 1,600 Nm of torque in standard form, per Bugatti.
- Drivetrain: all-wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
- Performance: Bugatti quoted 0–100 km/h in under 2.5 seconds. Top speed was electronically limited to 420 km/h (about 261 mph) for road use.
- Production: limited to 500 cars across Chiron variants. Bugatti completed the 500th Chiron in 2024.
Variants
- Chiron Sport: lighter and sharper handling.
- Chiron Pur Sport: focused on handling, with a large fixed rear wing and shorter gearing.
- Chiron Super Sport: optimized for top speed with longer bodywork and 1,600 PS.
- Chiron Profilée: a one-off that set an auction record for a new car when sold in 2023.
The 300-mph run
In August 2019, at Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany, a modified, longtail Chiron prototype driven by Andy Wallace reached 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h), making it the first production-based car to exceed 300 mph, according to Bugatti. Because it was a one-way run with a pre-production car, it wasn't recognized as an official production car record under Guinness rules. Bugatti then built 30 Chiron Super Sport 300+ cars inspired by the record car, electronically limited to 440 km/h.
What's next
Bugatti announced its successor, the Tourbillon, in 2024. It replaces the W16 with a naturally aspirated V16 hybrid system. The Mistral, a roadster, was the final W16 model.
What we'll evaluate
- Performance: acceleration, braking, and how usable the performance is.
- Engineering: powertrain, cooling, aerodynamics, chassis.
- Design: exterior, interior, materials.
- Rarity: production numbers and market.
Ownership notes
Hypercars come with costs to match. Reports of Bugatti maintenance costs — including tire and wheel replacement — have been widely discussed in the enthusiast press. Bugatti offers dedicated service programs. Ownership typically requires buying through the manufacturer's dealer network, and secondary market values depend heavily on specification and mileage.
Status
No ratings have been assigned. We'll publish scores only if and when the hosts have meaningful experience with one. Until then, this is a profile, not a review.
Engineering challenges
At the Chiron's speeds, cooling, tires, and aerodynamics become enormous engineering problems. Bugatti has described an extensive network of radiators to manage heat from the W16. Tires had to be specially developed and tested to withstand the forces at more than 400 km/h. An active rear wing adjusts for downforce and also acts as an air brake.
Ratings
Ratings are editorial opinions and will be added once the hosts have spent time with this car. No scores have been assigned yet.
The verdict
Coming soon.
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