tuningblog.eu Your magazine about tuning the car
BUGATTI BOLIDE - WHAT IF ... Bugatti developed an extreme, race track-focused hyper sports car with an unprecedented power-to-weight ratio of just 0,67 kg / hp? Reduced, raw, authentic. With the technological concept of the Bugatti Bolide1, the French luxury car manufacturer presents the answer to the question, what if Bugatti only built a radically light vehicle around the iconic 8,0-liter W16 engine? The experimental study of the Bugatti Bolide is a racetrack-oriented hyper sports car - with a W16 engine derived from the series as the drive and a minimal body trimmed for maximum downforce. And the promise of the ultimate Bugatti performance kick.
an incredible 0,67 kilograms per horsepower
Bugatti Bolide is the most extreme, uncompromising, fastest and lightest vehicle concept in the company's recent history - with an unimaginable power-to-weight ratio of 0,67 kilograms per hp. This is made possible by the combination of a W16 engine with 1.850 hp and a vehicle weight of only 1.240 kilograms. The Bugatti Bolide almost achieves Formula 1 values, the top speed is well over 500 km / h - but without sacrificing maximum handling and maximum agility. The racing car takes 3: 07,1 minutes for a lap of Le Mans and 5: 23,1 minutes for the Nordschleife.
The Idea - What If? An experiment.
"Bugatti stands for the continuous pursuit of technological innovations - all under the sign of its brand values of Excellence, Courage, Dedication. But Bugatti never stands still either. We always strive for new and exciting goals, so this one question always stays in the back of our mind: what if?“, Says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. "We asked ourselves how we could represent the mighty W16 engine as a technical symbol of the brand in its purest form - only with four wheels, engine, gearbox, steering wheel and the only luxury two seats. It was important in the considerations to trim our iconic drive without any limitation in terms of power to weight ratio. The Bugatti Bolide was born out of this consideration. An uncompromising experiment, a thoroughbred, a Pur Sang, which in its brutal exclusivity convinces with high performance, low weight and a driving experience in new dimensions. The ride in the bolide is like riding a cannonball."
The technology - drive systematically designed for racetracks
"The bolide is the ultimate answer to the question of what if Bugatti could build a hyper sports car suitable for the racetrack that meets the safety requirements of the FIA. Designed around the W16 drive train with a minimum of bodywork and incredible performance data. The result is the smallest possible shell so that the W16 can unfold freely, for a breathtakingly high-performance vehicle“, Explains Stefan Ellrott, member of the Bugatti management and head of technical development. "The Bugatti Bolide is packed with Bugatti know-how. In addition, it serves as an innovative knowledge carrier for future technologies. The bolide is much more than just a mind game."
"The bolide was one of the technologically and organizationally most ambitious projects of my career“, Says Frank Götzke. After the Veyron 16.4 and the Chiron2, the engineer also contributed the basic technical design of the third Bugatti model of the modern era. In just eight months he created a completely new vehicle around the well-known Bugatti W16 all-wheel drive train, which was heavily modified for the Bolide project.
1.850 PS and 1.850 Newtonmeter torque
The centerpiece is the 8,0-liter W16 engine with 1.850 hp and 1.850 Newton meters of torque. Bugatti consistently designed the drive system for circuit use, and specially adjusted the engine and gearbox to higher speeds. This includes dethrottling of the intake and exhaust systems in order to achieve an even faster, more spontaneous and extreme response. The four newly developed turbochargers have optimized blades in order to be able to build up more boost pressure and power at higher speeds. In order to achieve optimal lubrication even with extremely high centrifugal forces, the oil circuit, oil pressure, check valves, baffles, oil tanks, oil reservoirs and pump design of the dry sump lubrication are optimized. At the same time, the weight of the drive is significantly reduced.
Instead of water-to-air intercooling, the Bugatti Bolide has air-to-air intercooling with water pre-cooling for optimum performance on racetracks. The flow comes from the front of the vehicle via an internal and external air duct on each side of the vehicle. The two water coolers, which are arranged in front of the front axle, offer a more effective radiator network in terms of flow technology than is common in Formula 1. Three air-flow oil coolers for the engine, transmission and differential, each with water pre-cooling, lower the temperature even on racing laps that are demanding in terms of driving dynamics. Newly developed and hybrid CFRP-titaniumTurbofan-Radial compressors ventilate and cool the high-performance racing brake system.
Power-to-weight ratio of 0,67 kg / hp
In order to achieve a dry weight of 1.240 kilograms, all the current and future feasible materials were pulled out for the materials and manufacturing processes used. All screw and connection elements of the bolide are made entirely of titanium. In addition, hollow, thin-walled functional components made of an aerospace titanium alloy are used in many places, which come from the 3D printer and are extremely thin with wall thicknesses of up to 0,5 millimeters, but with a tensile strength of 1.250 Newtons per square millimeter are very stable. Hybrid components such as the 0,5 meter long auxiliary drive shaft combine wound high-strength and high-rigidity carbon fibers with 3D-printed titanium end fittings and can withstand continuous operating temperatures of up to 260 degrees Celsius. In this example, this reduces the weight by around half to 1,5 kilograms and, by reducing the rotating mass, increases the engine's ability to turn. The forces acting on the front and rear wings are also transmitted by ultra-light but very strong titanium elements. The front ones weigh only 600 grams, the rear an astonishing 325 grams.
morphable outer skin of the intake hood
The morphable outer skin of the intake hood on the roof is a world first. This offers an active flow optimization: When driving slowly, the surface of the hood remains smooth, when driving fast, a field of bubbles bulges out. This reduces the air resistance of the scoop by 10 percent and ensures 17 percent less lift, and the flow to the rear wing is optimized. At 320 km / h the downforce on the rear wing is 1.800 kilograms and on the front wing it is 800 kilograms.
As in Formula 1, the bolide decelerates with a racing brake with discs and ceramic linings, and the brake calipers weigh only 2,4 kilograms each. The forged magnesium wheels with central locking weigh 7,4 kilograms at the front and 8,4 kilograms at the rear - and that with a very wide tire size of 340 millimeters on the front and 400 millimeters on the rear axle (Chiron: 285 mm at the front, 355 mm back). A compressed air-operated lifting system with four pistons makes it easier to change tires, while a rapid refueling system enables pressure refueling.
Among other things, push-rod kinematics with horizontal dampers ensure precise driving behavior. The oil reservoirs are arranged inside the dampers, which improves aerodynamics. Weighing just 100 grams, the pushrods are designed as a thin-walled and aerodynamically efficient titanium lightweight construction with a buckling load of 3,5 tons, which corresponds to a dry weight of approximately two Chiron. The welded wishbones made of aviation stainless steel have a tensile strength of 1.200 Newtons per square millimeter and are also designed as wing profiles.
Light carbon monocoque
The Bugatti team developed a lightweight carbon monocoque around the drive. The integral front end flanged to it, like the aerodynamically fully effective underbody and the monocoque itself, are also made of high-strength carbon fibers. The single fiber tensile strength of the fibers used is 6.750 Newtons per square millimeter, the single fiber stiffness is 350.000 Newtons per square millimeter. Areas that can otherwise only be achieved in the aerospace industry. The rear frame, designed as a welded steel assembly, offers a maximum tensile strength of 1.200 Newtons per square millimeter, despite a wall thickness of only one millimeter - this is made possible by the use of high-strength stainless steel, which is otherwise used in aviation.
With a total height of just 995 millimeters, the technical concept of the Bugatti Bolide is exactly as high as the historic Bugatti Type 35, depending on the steering wheel and stub disk, and around 300 millimeters flatter than the Chiron. The wheelbase is 2,75 meters, the width is 1,99 meters. As with an LMP1 racing car, occupants fold up the front-hinged doors at an angle, sit down on a sill only 35 millimeters wide, as with a Type 70, and then position their feet in the interior. Thanks to the drop side, which is around 35 millimeters lower than the Type 150, the procedure is quick and easy - up to a height of 2 meters.
The safety equipment designed in accordance with FIA regulations ensures safety. These include, among other things, HANS system compatibility, an automatic fire extinguishing system, a towing device, pressure refueling with a fuel bladder, central locking for wheels, lightweight polycarbonate windows and a six-point belt system. The monocoque side floors with integrated carbon cooling water pipe elements are designed as side crash structures as well as structural reinforcement of the monocoque. The driver sees all driver-relevant data on a motorsport display. Both the pedals and the front passenger footrest can be moved 150 millimeters for an optimal fit.
The design - the quintessence of form follows performance
For Achim Anscheidt, Director Design at Bugatti, the Bolide experimental vehicle is a very special project. "I.In my 16 years at Bugatti, I have never worked on a more extreme vehicle concept". The design of the Bugatti Bolide is radically tailored to the idea of the lightweight construction concept and thus subordinates the design principle to the goal of a fascinating power-to-weight ratio of 0,67 kg / hp that is suitable for the race track.
"It is the very first time that my team has had the freedom to create an absolutely minimalist concept around the W16 engine. The result is the most provocative proportions of a modern Bugatti and the distilled quintessence of our Bugatti design ethos form follows performance“, Says Anscheidt. The Bugatti Bolide, however, is more of a technical, not stylistically driven project.
The stylistic challenge was to transform the unyielding requirements of aerodynamics and lightweight construction into an aesthetic that reflects the unambiguous Bugatti DNA, but at the same time also illustrates the ambition of a fascinating power-to-weight ratio. The overall appearance is determined by air ducts that are more reminiscent of aerodynamically sophisticated Formula 1 cars than classic sports cars. The filigree and semi-open-looking front end is a vivid example of the combination of air duct knowledge, lightweight construction requirements and aesthetic dynamics.
The drama of the overall proportions is made clear by the aerodynamically favorable overall height of just 995 millimeters. The ultra-sporty seating position of the driver allows the crouched shape of a low-flying automobile. It is therefore not surprising that the Bugatti Bolide cites the so-called X-planes of aviation history in its perception and shows a clear X-signature from every perspective. It is indirectly reminiscent of the Bell X-1 jet aircraft, with which Captain Charles “Chuck” Yeager was the first person to break the sound barrier in 1947 with Mach 1,06. The "X-periment" Bugatti Bolide has the shape of an aerodynamically optimized uncompromising racing car, an ultra-sporty performance superlative - without any luxury.
As with other Bugatti vehicles, the Bugatti design team also uses a color split for the Bolide. However, the proportion of visible carbon parts increases to up to 60 percent compared to other models. Only around 40 percent of the surfaces are painted - in a reinterpretation of the historic French Racing Blue.
"With the Veyron 16.4, Bugatti managed to create a new segment 15 years ago: that of the sovereign hyper sports car. With the Chiron introduced in 2016, we have consistently developed this segment further. The models are evidence of power and elegance, and combine technology, design, luxury and quality in a unique way to create a previously unknown mixture“, Explains Anscheidt. "In contrast, the Bugatti Bolide is an absolute rebel. You can tell from him that he only wants to transport the pure power of the W16 engine optically and technically unadulterated. Reduced, raw and authentic - like freshly caught sashimi."
The DNA - Bugatti Type 35
With the Type 35, Bugatti produced the most successful racing car of all time. The open-top sports car scored over 2.000 victories between 1924 and 1930. Today the Type 35 is a legend in the history of motorsport. In its time it was inimitable in terms of technology, design and performance, and it is still today. For the first time Ettore Bugatti used a double roller bearing and triple ball bearing crank operation. He let the engine rotate at up to 6.000 rpm to move the eight pistons. Two carburettors increased the output to an initial 95 hp. With the engine, the first Type 35 reached speeds of over 190 km / h. In later evolutionary models Type 35 B with 2,3-liter eight-cylinder and compressor, the output increased to up to 140 hp, and the Bugatti reached more than 215 km / h.
In addition to their high performance, the engines were primarily characterized by their reliability and durability. And by lightness. Ettore Bugatti relied uncompromisingly on lightweight construction and the best possible drivability. He developed special smooth running wheels to reduce the unsprung masses and thus improve the suspension behavior. The new hollow-drilled and forged front axle weighed only 10 kilograms and was still stable. A ready-to-run Bugatti Type 750 weighs only around 35 kilograms. A masterpiece in terms of power-to-weight ratio.
The result - a racetrack-oriented thoroughbred of modernity
The Bugatti Bolide is the technical concept of a race track-ready hyper sports car without competition. The combination of 1.850 HP and 1.240 kilograms dry weight ensures an unbelievable power-to-weight ratio. The bolide with the W16 engine is the absolute top of the combustion engine in automotive engineering. “For the first time we are showing what the W16 drive can really do. We've stripped the vehicle of any ballast, illustrated the engine with the lightest possible chassis, and combined it to create the ultimate Bugatti for the ultimate driving experience. With the Bolide, we are presenting Bugatti enthusiasts all over the world with our interpretation of a modern Bugatti racing car and making their dearest dreams come true, ”explains Stephan Winkelmann. It has not yet been decided whether the Bugatti Bolide will go into series production. If we get more information, there will of course be an update for this report. You will be informed of this if you simply do ours Feed subscribe to. Have fun watching the pictures and stay true to us!
Photos: Bugatti
Of course, that wasn't the end of it. Our tuning magazine has tens of thousands more tuning reports in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. Or are you particularly interested in the Bugatti brand? Then the following excerpt is sure to be just the thing.
|
Halftime - Chiron Sport "Edition Noire Sportive" 2020
|
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - less weight & more sport!
|
Does the Volkswagen Group sell Bugatti to Rimac?
|
1.825 PS and +500 km / h - crazy Bugatti bolide revealed!
"Tuningblog.eu" - we keep you up to date on the subject of car tuning and car styling with our tuning magazine and present you the latest tuned vehicles from all over the world every day. It's best to subscribe to ours Feed and you will be automatically informed as soon as there is something new for this post and of course also to all other contributions.
