Gallery: How Bugatti Crafted the Chiron, the World's Last Truly Great Car
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0101-CHIRON-front-WEB.jpg
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0202-CHIRON-34-front-WEB.jpg
The Chiron’s top speed hasn’t yet been determined, but customers will be limited to 261 mph.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0303-CHIRON-34-front-WEB.jpg
The most eagerly awaited car of the show, Bugatti's Chiron is the successor to the ludicrous Veyron, maybe the best car ever. The Chiron was designed to surpass the Veyron in every aspect. The engineering brief could be summed up as “more.” It is faster, more comfortable, more elegant, more unconscionably and unfathomably powerful. Its massive 16-cylinder engine produces 1,500 horsepower and 1,200 pound-feet of torque. Its top speed remains unknown, but software will limit customers to 261 mph.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0409-CHIRON-engine-bay-WEB.jpg
The Veyron’s 8.0-liter, W16 engine (think two V8’s side by side) has been upgraded to churn out 1,500 horsepower and 1,200 pound-feet of torque.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0504-CHIRON-side-WEB.jpg
There were two keys to getting the Chiron to produce all that extra power and torque.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0605-CHIRON-34-rear-WEB.jpg
The first is a newly developed two-stage turbocharger system.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0706-CHIRON-34-rear-WEB.jpg
The second key to meeting the demand for more power was to keep the Chiron as light as possible.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0807-CHIRON-rear-WEB.jpg
The intake manifold and engine cover parts are made from carbon fiber. The exhaust system is titanium. The team carved unnecessary bits out of the crankshaft to save three pounds.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti0915-CHIRON-grille-WEB.jpg
The aluminum grille can handle a bird strike at top speed without a problem.
Dominic Fraser/Bugatti1016-CHIRON-rear-initial-WEB.jpg
Bugatti1118-CHIRON-driver-side-WEB.jpg
Bugatti kept the interior deliberately simple and focused on the driver.
Bugatti1217-CHIRON-bugatti-line-WEB.jpg
A single file line of four dials climbs the dashboard between the seats, to control the air conditioning system and seat heaters (despite a healthy clientele based in desert climates, Bugatti skipped cooled seats, citing weight concerns).
Bugatti1320-CHIRON-steering-wheel-WEB.jpg
Key functions—the ignition, different driving modes, the paddle shifters—can be reached without removing your hands from the wheel.
Bugatti1422-CHIRON-speedometer-WEB.jpg
The speedometer puts 250 km/h (155 mph) at 12 o'clock.
