The
much awaited replacement to the Bugatti Veyron, a long-time record
holder of the “world’s fastest car,” is here: This is the Bugatti
Chiron, revealed today in anticipation of the Geneva motor show. In case
you missed the title—yes, it’s very fast.
It’s
also stunning, much like the Vision Gran Turismo concept debuted by the
company last year. In fact it’s so like that virtual car, the design on
the Chiron shocks little; it was kind of expected. And that’s not a bad
thing at all.
Take
the rear-end, for example. No Vera Wang Oscar dress comes close to
presenting a bottom as fabulous. And the swooping curvature along the
side that’s cleverly replicated within the cabin. The whole car screams a
level of detail that a €2.4 million ($2.6 million at today’s exchange
rate) buyer demands. Of which, one third of the proposed 500 Chirons are
already accounted for.
The
lucky few better be ready, however: Bugatti says the 1,500 horsepower
and 1,100 lb.-ft. of torque can effectively “wind” an unprepared driver,
such is the savagery of its acceleration; 62 mph arrives in under 2.5
seconds, but the more impressive figure is that in just 6.5 seconds
you’ll be traveling 125 mph—that’s probably faster than a Honda F1 car.
Top
speed is faster, too: The Chiron is limited to 261 mph in base spec.
However, if you tick the “special package” and follow some safety
instructions, the Chiron can be let loose, potentially surpassing
275-280 mph. Make no mistake, Bugatti cares deeply about the title of
“world’s fastest car.”
As
for the engine that’s going to take it there: An 8.0-liter, quad turbo
W16. The turbochargers in the Chiron are larger than the ones in the
Veyron, which helps make the colossal power that it does. And here it’s a
two-stage system, which is said to eliminate turbo lag; two
turbocharges are spinning from a start, according to Bugatti, while the
other two ramp up at 3,800 rpm. This ensure the 1,100+ lb.-ft. of torque
is on tap between 2,000 and 6,000 rpm, routed through a 7-speed dual
clutch transmission to all four wheels.
Want to see more, be sure to scroll through the gallery above, and check back for live shots of the car on Geneva’s show floor.