This car leaves you speechless! When Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace loads through for the first time, I’m at a loss for words. What’s happening here? It feels like my head can’t keep up. Full throttle, full braking – bang, it’s all over after just five seconds and I have to sort myself out first. I’m sitting in the passenger seat of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport. But let’s start at the beginning.
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All versions of the Bugatti Chiron at a glance
For those who have lost track of the many versions of the Chiron, here are all the models at a glance: In 2016, the 1500 hp Chiron will be launched as the successor to the Veyron. Just two years later, Bugatti presented the Chiron Sport, which is 18 kilos lighter and only differs visually in nuances such as the four-pipe exhaust. In 2020 Bugatti unveiled the brutal Chiron Pur Sport, a track-optimized version limited to 60 examples before the French unveiled the Chiron Super Sport in 2021. And as if that wasn’t enough, there are also the coachbuilt models Divo, La Voiture Noire and Centodieci.
The record vehicle Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
There is also a special model of the Chiron Super Sport limited to 30 pieces, the Chiron Super Sport 300+. With this car, Andy Wallace set the record for the fastest production car in the world in August 2019. The prototype reached an incredible 490.484 km/h (304.77 mph). The 30 production vehicles, all of which are delivered in black visible carbon with orange stripes, are limited by Bugatti to 440 km/h – for safety reasons, that’s clear.
Ultimately, the Chiron Super Sport and Chiron Super Sport 300+ only differ in their configuration. Under the long-tail rear, which is around 23 centimeters longer than the normal Chiron, is the same technology, which means something like: I can drive the fastest production car in the world.
An analogue speedometer up to 500 km/h
But first Andy, who drives a VW ID.3 privately, takes over and gives me an introduction. It’s short and sweet: I just have to keep an eye on the tire temperature. From 25 degrees there is practically no more wheelspin, explains the former racing driver and demonstrates this impressively by accelerating in first gear. Nothing happens for a millisecond, then two of the four turbochargers (all four turbochargers from 3800 rpm) get air and the black Chiron catapults itself forward thanks to all-wheel drive, before the XXL brakes (420 mm FA and 400 mm RA) and catch the spoiler acting as an airbrake at least as impressively.
A mix of brown leather and matt carbon ensures a luxurious flair in the cockpit of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport.
The introduction is over in less than five minutes. Now it’s my turn. I quickly took a souvenir selfie with Andy and the Bugatti and I took a seat in the driver’s seat. At the moment, I don’t have a look at the luxurious cockpit lined with brown leather and matt carbon. In front of me is an analog speedometer that goes up to 500 km/h. The thought of the scale being pushed almost to its full potential without the electronics shackle is just plain crazy.
8.0 liter W16 with 1600 hp
I press the start button on the right side of the steering wheel. The monumental 8.0-litre W16 comes to life. At that moment, only one thought came to mind: the sixteen-cylinder is a work of art that will never exist again in this pure form. Thanks to a new turbocharger, a revised valve train and a modified oil pump, the engineers have elicited another 100 hp from the W16 in the Chiron Super Sport with 1600 hp – as if 1500 hp weren’t enough. At the same time, the engine weighs 23 kilos less than that of the Chiron. With a dry weight of around 650 kilos (including transmission), it is anything but light.
Specifications of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
Specifications Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
engine
displacement
performance
Max. Torque
curb weight
acceleration
top speed
consumption
drive
L/W/H
price
1177 kW (1600 hp) at 7050-7100 rpm
1600 Nm at 2250-7000 rpm
0-100 km/h in 2.4 s / 0-200 km/h in 5.8 s / 0-300 km/h in 12.1 s / 0-400 km/h in 28.6 s
440 km/h (electronically limited)
3,808,000 euros (sold out)
The maximum torque of 1600 Nm is already available at a low 2250 rpm. In order to achieve the record speed, the maximum speed was also increased to 7100 rpm (Chiron 6700 rpm) and the ratio of the seven-speed DCT was adjusted. Fun fact: Under full load, seventh gear is only engaged at 403 km/h.
The first meters in the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
To pull away, simply push the leather-clad gear selector to the right and take your foot off the brake. Anyone who taps the gas a little too briskly now makes a small leap forward – a typical DKG peculiarity that does not stop at Bugatti either.
It can’t just go straight: It’s surprising how agile the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, which weighs around two tons, can be moved on winding country roads.
The first meters in the fastest production car in the world are unspectacular. The Chiron Super Sport is easy and calm to drive. Well, with a width of 2.18 meters (including exterior mirrors), some side streets are a bit narrow, but the Chiron can easily cope with bumps in speed thanks to the lift mode.
Top speed mode in the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
While we don’t even use 100 of the 1600 hp in town, Andy explains to me that the three driving modes (EB, Autobahn, Handling) have no effect whatsoever on the engine/transmission characteristics, but only on the ride height and the control systems. In order to be able to drive faster than 380 km/h, the “Top Speed” mode must be selected. To activate it, a second key must be inserted into an ignition lock to the left of the driver’s seat. The car then carries out a number of checks on its own and if everything fits, the “Top Speed” mode is activated, in which the ride height is reduced to 80 mm on the front axle and 89 mm on the rear axle. At the same time, the rear wing is flattened to provide as little resistance as possible. Now the Chiron Super Sport is ready to drive at 440 km/h.
However, that wouldn’t be a good idea on the country road, so I’ll stay in “EB” mode for the time being. Time for the first little intermediate sprint. Second gear, half throttle. In the blink of an eye there are 100 km/h, I take my foot off the gas, which the four turbochargers acknowledge with an unbelievable hiss.
Three driving modes plus lift mode. The up arrow raises the front end of the Chiron Super Sport by ten millimeters.
In order to be able to experience the potential of the Chiron Super Sport even to some extent, it goes on a closed track. Here, the Bugatti surprises me in fast corners with an unexpected agility – how the Chiron Super Sport directly implements even small steering movements is unexpected. Of course, we’re still talking about a car that tips the scales at 1995 kilos when curb, but the Bugatti feels a lot lighter in the corners. Short straights between two curves are almost absorbed by the Super Sport. In every intermediate sprint, no matter how small, it cracks the 200 km/h mark before the carbon-ceramic brakes with eight-piston calipers on the front axle and six-piston calipers on the rear axle catch it again.
Launch control in the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
But I saved Bugatti’s parade discipline for last: launch control! Launch control is started on the Chiron in the same way as on most cars: put your left foot firmly on the brake, activate launch control on the steering wheel, and step on the gas with your right foot. But the Chiron has a special feature: the system is automatically deactivated after just two seconds, but the mighty W16 needs around 1.1 to 1.2 seconds to build up full boost pressure. So the delta is narrow, the pressure is huge. Sitting next to me is Andy Wallace, not only the Bugatti test driver, but also an overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
picture gallery
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
Now I have to deliver. Left foot on the brake, press the button, full throttle, wait a moment – at this point I feel like a dragster pilot – and fire at will. I still can’t really put into words what follows now, the world seems to stand still for a moment. The next moment the Chiron Super Sport doesn’t start moving, it jumps forward. All four tires have minimal slip and then it just goes forward. It’s a good thing that the DCT automatically shifts up just before the rev limiter even in manual mode, because I wouldn’t have been able to keep up. After a few seconds, the fourth gear is 270 km/h and I brake as hard as I can, the ABS regulates, standstill. Andy is satisfied and exclaims: “Wow, that was amazing!”
The “Top Speed” mode can only be activated with the “Speed-Key”. Only then does the Chiron Super Sport drive at 440 km/h.
0-300 km/h in 12.1 seconds
Meanwhile, I still can’t understand what just happened. I knew the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport was fast, after all the numbers are almost scary. It goes from a standstill to 200 km/h in 5.8 seconds. 300 km/h is reached after just 12.1 seconds and 0-400 km/h should only take 28.6 seconds in the Super Sport. Ultimately, however, these are only values on a piece of paper. Experiencing this acceleration for yourself is incomparable, so far I’m trying to put the experience into words, but it seems like the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is temporarily overriding the physical limits. Incomprehensible!
The price of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
The price is also unbelievable. The basic cost of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is 3.8 million euros gross, with each owner investing an average of another 300,000 to 350,000 euros in extras. And even if you unexpectedly hit the Eurojackpot and want to buy a Chiron Super Sport at short notice – no chance, because all 500 planned Chirons (including 70 to 80 Super Sport) have been sold out since last year and even the waiting list is full. And guess what? I can understand it!
A unique experience: only a few people have the pleasure of seeing a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport live.
Conclusion by Jan Götze
I’m still speechless. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is by far the fastest car I’ve ever driven. The traction is almost infinite, as is the propulsion. At the same time, the 1600 hp hyper sports car is easy to maneuver in the city and is super luxurious. After this trip, I only have one question: “What should top that?”
