Test drive Bugatti Chiron: Almighty

Driving one of the most exclusive vehicles of all time

In fact, there shouldn't be a car like the Bugatti Veyron at all. In general, and from a purely economic point of view. On the other hand, he now has an heir ... And with his 1500 hp. and the 1600 Nm Chiron can change you forever. How? Please prepare six baths, 30 soccer fields and a soccer ball and listen ...

Scientists say that the human body quickly gets rid of the sudden release of adrenaline - the process should not take more than three minutes.

Man has always strived for the unattainable and impossible, but few of the lucky ones in the history of our civilization have managed to turn to dust, having achieved what was considered insurmountable until now. Maybe we should envision the Shiron development process in preparation for a space mission. Not to the moon, because the Bugatti were already there with the Veyron, but somewhere further away.

Well, we know Renz, he likes to exaggerate, you tell yourself, and remember that Bugatti cars are just cars after all. But this is not true. Because Chiron is an achievement, something really special, something sublime.

Of course, you can always try to put on the mask of a pragmatic, meticulous and absurdly objective German automotive journalist who will assume that he will not allow himself to be impressed by such trivial things as power. However, this doesn't work. Because Chiron is from another dimension.

A sense of uniqueness

For example, its very existence. Even its predecessor, which has 1001 hp. The Veyron was the kind of car that we a priori believed that they could not exist at all. And after the Veyron was born, everyone decided that it would be a unique, one-time occurrence.

However, the circulation reached 450 copies, and one of the many features of the model is that the number of sales significantly exceeds the number of buyers. There are only 320 privileged people in the Veyron's circle of owners.

The average Veyron owner has 42 cars, three private jets, three helicopters, a yacht and five homes. And he certainly doesn't need to consult his bank if he decides to transfer € 2 to buy the fastest non-professional sports car on the planet.

And while people in those circles don't like to rush, it's a good idea to do so now, because half of the Chiron's limited production of 500 units has already been ordered and the first cars have been delivered to their owners.

If you still have doubts about whether Bugatti models are worth the money, we will try to clarify a few examples of impressive technological efforts focused on an area of ​​9,22 square meters to create the most powerful and fastest production cars in the world.

Let's start with the engine, the power of which already reaches 1500 hp. – 50% higher than the Veyron and 25% more than Supersport's potential. To do this, the engine is equipped with larger turbochargers - two on each of the two eight-cylinder modules that form the eight-liter W16.

So that turbines with a 69% increased volume do not get out of dissonance and do not crash at low speeds, they are already switched on sequentially. In each row, a maximum total pressure of 1,85 bar is initially taken up by a single turbocharger.

This alone is enough to mobilize a full 1500 hp. and 1600 Nm of the engine, and the task of the second turbocharger is to maintain the desired level of power and torque. Thus, after reaching 2000 rpm, a valve opens on both sides, which allows the other two compressors to heat up. At 3800 rpm they are already fully in the game. By "completely" here we really mean completely.

These numbers are not just numbers

Peak pressure in the combustion chambers reaches 160 bar, and each rod is acted upon by 336 g - 336 times more than gravity. The oil pump delivers 120 liters per minute to the engine and dry sump, the fuel pump delivers 14,7 liters of gasoline from a 100-liter tank, and the engine absorbs 1000 liters of atmospheric air per second.

All this leads to the release of heat with a power of up to 3000 hp. To withstand this heat load of the lubricant, the engine must pump 880 liters of fluid into the cooling system every minute - with it you can fill the six baths mentioned at the beginning.

Now about the football fields. Six catalysts are involved in the treatment of exhaust gases, the total active surface of which in expanded form would be 230 square meters, which is equal to the area of ​​approximately 266 football fields.

In the same vein, there are 50 control modules or composite body elements reinforced with carbon fiber, where only the orientation of the surface structure in a harmonious whole requires two months of work. Also noteworthy is the twist resistance of the carbon fiber frame structure of 50 Nm per degree of deflection.

The total length of carbon fibers used to reinforce the body is 1 million kilometers, and it takes a further two months to manufacture. Why miss the rear wing, the area of ​​which is increased by a third compared to the Veyron, which in the “Handling” mode increases the pressure to 3600 kg and which at speeds of 350 km/h and above provides aerodynamic braking.

To do this, the wing changes its angle of attack up to 180 degrees, which leads to an additional 49 kilograms of pressure and, in combination with a braking system with four ceramic discs, allows a negative acceleration of up to 600 g.

There isn't much to explain about the Chiron, whose uniqueness really comes from the fact that it can be driven like any other car. There is no doubt that your grandmother can get behind the wheel and go for bread - only you can get back a little faster than usual. And break one or two world speed records on the road ...

Mr. Wallace, Le Mann racer, puts his finger on the start button. The engine explodes and goes to idle. Yes, and the sound is good here. Chiron pulls off gently and heads for the road, crunching softly on the gravel in the alley. The display shows 12 hp. used power.

The dual-clutch transmission shifts seven gears smoothly, allowing the engine to run just above idle. Portugal was informed of Chiron's presence. Three sections of the road network have been halted specifically for him - a good idea, because what this Bugatti is capable of when accelerating has nothing to do with what most people understand as acceleration. It's time for the soccer ball...

Andy pedal down on the soft rug on the floor. What follows is the sensation one would get if you were sitting on a soccer ball while taking a penalty. Imagine the last minute of the World Cup finals, followed by four turbochargers as the collective image of four of football's biggest stars, simultaneously approaching the ball and pushing it forward with all their might.

It's the feel of a direct-loading Bugatti with all-wheel drive at full power - no braking, no tire noise, no electronic traction games. The 21-inch Michelin crashes into the asphalt, while the Chiron literally flies forward. Two and a half seconds to 100 km/h, 13,6 to 300 km/h. Absolutely amazing.

After a few minutes, a few more accelerations, and many miles later, the Chiron quietly deviates and comes to a stop in a roadside parking lot.

The stability is impressive, and the suspension diligently smoothes out any bumps in the road without missing anything, even in tighter highway driving. The steering remains precise and keeps the Chiron calm.