1.850 hp Bugatti Bolide hyper sports car goes into series production!

Raw and authentic. The ultimate driving machine, a quintessence of power, lightness and acceleration. When Bugatti presented the Bolide technological concept in autumn 2020, it was initially a drivable experimental vehicle, a one-off. But now Bugatti has announced at “The Quail - A Motorsports Gathering” in California that a small series of the Bolide1 will be produced.

Bugatti Bolide goes into series production!

“We sparked great enthusiasm with the bolide last year. After the presentation, many enthusiasts and collectors asked us to develop a production vehicle of the Bolide experimental vehicle. I was overwhelmed by the reactions and feedback from customers all over the world, ”explains Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “That's why we decided to run a small series of the Bolide in order to give 40 customers the chance to experience this incredible vehicle. Our team is now developing a series model, the ultimate driving machine for the track. ”This makes the bolide the most extreme expansion stage of the legendary 8,0-liter W16.

At the thought experiment in autumn 2020, the French luxury car manufacturer presented the answer to the question: What if Bugatti built a radically light vehicle around the legendary 8,0-liter W16 engine? The result was the experimental study of the Bugatti Bolide, a racetrack-oriented hyper sports car with a W16 engine derived from the series and a minimal body trimmed for maximum downforce. The presentation of this engine in its purest form is the quintessence of the bolide.

Bolide developed around the drive train!

With the strictly limited series car, the developers and designers are creating the most extreme vehicle concept that has ever been designed around the brute drive train of the W16 engine with four turbochargers. A promise of the ultimate Bugatti performance kick. "For me it is a dream come true that we can now turn this radical thought experiment of the bolide into reality as a series, because it is by far the most challenging performance project of my 17-year Bugatti career," explains Achim Anscheidt, Bugatti's chief designer. The design of the Bolide is the purist approach of the stylistic Bugatti philosophy "form follows performance" and is also based on the uncompromising lightweight approach. A dignified bow and a tribute to the brand's glorious racing past in the 1920s.

Many air ducts and the filigree front end are more reminiscent of aerodynamically sophisticated Formula 1 cars than hyper sports cars and determine the visual appearance. In addition, there is a very low height, an intake hood on the roof and an ultra-sporty seating position. The dominant rear wing in combination with the distinctive rear diffuser ensures high downforce and therefore optimal traction. As with other vehicles, the design team relies on a color split. However, the proportion of visible carbon parts increases compared to other models.

Bugatti stands for continuous pursuit of technological innovations. With the W16 engine as the technical symbol of the brand, Bugatti has one of the most extraordinary drives in automotive history. In the Bolide experimental vehicle, racing gasoline with 110 octane provides an output of 1.850 hp, for the production vehicle Bugatti has opted for Super Plus gasoline with 98 octane, which is available worldwide, so that owners can use their vehicle around the world without any problems. The available power is then 1.600 hp and 1.600 Newton meters of torque from 2.250 revolutions. The engineers tuned the drive to higher engine speeds for circuit use, dethrottling the intake and exhaust system, among other things, in order to achieve an even faster, more spontaneous and extreme response. The cooling system for the turbocharger, engine, transmission and differential are also adapted for optimum performance.

Safety standards according to FIA rules

Designers and engineers are currently fine-tuning aerodynamics and driving behavior, and developing the bolide in accordance with international FIA safety standards. In order to ensure the greatest possible safety and sufficient comfort in the pure driving experience, Bugatti redesigned a large number of components. The safety equipment includes, among other things, HANS system compatibility, an automatic fire extinguishing system, pressure refueling with a fuel bladder, central locking for wheels and a six-point belt system.

Optimizations in design, aerodynamics, quality and safety lead to a curb weight of the series vehicle of only 1.450 kilograms and thus a power-to-weight ratio of 0,9 kilograms per hp when using Super Plus petrol. “Customer safety is always our top priority. That is why we decided to offer exclusive Track Days for this extreme vehicle in order to ensure a safe environment at all times and to introduce the customer step-by-step to the breathtaking performance of the racing car, ”says Stephan Winkelmann.

Thanks to the maximum weight savings, customers can experience the full power and torque of the engine - and they will love it. "We are proud that we are staying so visually and technically close to the technical demonstrator with the series vehicle, but at the same time increasing design, quality and vehicle safety," explains Stephan Winkelmann. The new hyper sports car will be developed to series production maturity over the next three years; delivery is planned for 2024, at a unit price of four million euros net and limited to 40 units.

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Bugatti starts series development of the Bolide experimental hyper sports car
Photo credit: Bugatti

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