Introducing the $3.9 Million Bugatti Chiron Super Sport

June 08, 2021 – Bugatti’s overarching goal is always to create a premier automotive experience combining both luxury and top speed, two boxes that their newest creation, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, undoubtedly checks off. From a brand that lives by the mantra of form always follows performance, they have done a remarkable job hitting the nail on the head once again. 

Every aspect of the exterior of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport plays a role in its unrivaled aerodynamics, from the front splitter all the way back to the rear diffuser. As Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti, puts it, “With the Chiron Super Sport, we are following our long-standing tradition of combining top speed with absolute luxury.” 

You can almost imagine it being difficult making a performance version of an already over-engineered and exceptionally well performing platform such as the Bugatti Chiron. Every aspect of the car has already been so finely tuned that it seems almost impossible to refine it more. However, the engineers at Bugatti took every step to take the Chiron Super Sport a step above. For aerodynamic performance, the rear of the Chiron grew by 25 centimeters to hold the laminar flow to the bodywork for as long as possible. Engineers also enlarged the diffuser cross-section which in turn raised the diffuser’s trailing edge. As a result of these small changes, the slipstream and wind resistance generated are significantly reduced.

Moving on into the performance, the engineers once again had to tweak every last detail to hopefully accumulate a tad more performance anywhere they could. When it came to the 8.0-liter W16 engine, it was thoroughly overhauled. With modifications to the turbochargers, oil pump, cylinder head with valve train, transmission and clutch, the Chiron Super Sport is able to squeeze out about 100 more horsepower. 

The Chiron and Chiron Sport were able to put down an astonishing 1479 horsepower, but the Super Sport, with its updated components and bigger turbos, now puts down 1577 horsepower — even more than the Divo! The improved performance now makes the hypercar capable of accelerating to 124 mph in 5.8 seconds and 186 mph in only 12.1 seconds. And although Bugatti did in fact make 30 Super Sport 300 versions two years ago that could hit a top speed of 300 mph, the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport just isn’t capable of that number. However, the 273 mph top speed it is capable of should be more than enough for the lucky owners. 

Bugatti will soon begin manufacturing of the Chiron Super Sport in Molsheim, France, and if you’re interested in purchasing one, the price is $3.9 million. 

Born A Legend: The 725-HP GMA T.50s Niki Lauda

Feb. 23 – Gordon Murray Automotive just one-upped their ultimate driver’s car, the T.50, this time calling it the T.50s Niki Lauda. The T.50, which was revealed last year, is an incredible F1 inspired 3-seater supercar, and much of its DNA is being passed along to the T.50s. The new high-horsepower, lightweight track shredder is described by GMA as “an on track experience like no other car to date.”

At the heart of the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda is a Cosworth-designed 3.9-liter V12, putting out 700 horsepower at an extraordinarily high 11,500 rpm. The engine is fed air through a newly designed, roof-mounted RAM induction airbox, which can also increase the maximum output of the engine to 725 horsepower. If you’re like us, you’re probably thinking this T.50s is capable of blowing some eardrums. This is definitely the case following the fact that a newly-developed, bespoke, straight-through exhaust system has also been implemented, taking the engine sound to the next level. As it is strictly a track car, the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda does without catalytic converters — no sound limitations other than those of the track need to be met. 

Built around a specially developed, lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, the T.50s Niki Lauda is completely optimized for weight reduction and structural rigidity. The car was constructed using an advanced part-binding technology, with carbon fiber wrapped around a honeycomb aluminum core. Exterior body panels of the car are also unique to the T.50s, which are made of an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber. An extra step GMA even takes is to lighten the glass around the vehicle, using a glazing that has been further reduced in weight from road car specification. The T.50s also uses the same forged aluminum front and rear double wishbone suspension system as its processor, the T.50. The springs, dampers, and anti-roll bar, however, were all optimized for track performance.

The most noticeable parts of the T.50s Niki Lauda are the aerodynamics. Covered in completely new aero, the T.50s combines to create an incredible 3,300 lbs of downforce. This is in part due to a massive 1,758mm-wide, rear-mounted delta wing. The front of the T.50s features a splitter that can generate huge load figures to balance out those from the rear wing. A central fin, noticeable with Niki Lauda’s name on it, stretches from the roof to the rear lip of the car, and helps dramatically with yaw stability. 

If you weren’t somehow getting the racing vibes from the exterior of the car, the interior will definitely solidify it. The cabin is completely race-car oriented, with a driver-focused central seating position. This central spot gives the driver a much greater view of the track ahead. The center seat is made up of carbon fiber and secures the driver with a six-point harness, while a passenger can sit on either side, both seats complete with a four-point harness. Much of the rest of the interior is very simple, only giving the driver the key controls that they need. 

It should be fairly obvious now why the T.50s was named after the great racing legend, Niki Lauda. As Professor Gordon Murray CBE puts it, “The T.50s is named in honour of Niki to commemorate his famous win with the Brabham BT46B fan car in the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix. Niki was a great racing driver and he was also a good friend and it is absolutely fitting that we are launching the T.50s Niki Lauda on his birthday. Niki would have appreciated the innovation and engineering detail in our car.”

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50s will be limited to just 25 examples, each priced at about $4.3 million. Production is said to start at the end of the year, with help from famous racing names such as Dario Franchitti, who will be helping with dynamic development. 

The $8 Million Bugatti Centodieci: A Modern EB110

Feb. 15 – If you thought Bugatti couldn’t come up with an even more powerful and unique supercar, then you’re in for a surprise from the French car manufacturer — the first prototype for series development of a W16 engined Bugatti Centodieci has come to fruition. This highly-exclusive, high-performance machine is a tribute to the legendary EB110, evoking automotive history and showcasing Bugatti’s excellent coach building expertise. 

The Bugatti Centodieci brought on extreme challenges for the designers and engineers at Bugatti, especially because of the fact that they had to house an enormous, 8-liter engine — the 16-cylinder beast puts out nearly 1,600 horsepower. Another challenge was quite possibly the biggest one, transforming the very flat and wedge-shaped EB 110 into a modern, three-dimensional sculpture. 

Achim Anschiedt, Bugatti’s creative director, explains that “the challenge was not to allow oneself be captivated too much by the design of the historic vehicle and work solely in retrospect, but instead to create a modern interpretation of the shape and technology of that time.”

The engineers on the project had to dive right into the calculations for the body, aerodynamics, engine and transmission. The body of the Centodieci is then thrown into an air tunnel where they can simulate the airflow of the vehicle and check all components, going even as deep as checking the smallest of screws. The design team, on the other hand, checks the styling of the Centodieci in closer collaboration with the developers. After a year of continued research and development, the team finally had developed the first prototype. 

On to the performance, the Buggati Centodiece and its W16 engine create 1,600 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. The powerhouse can sprint to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, and 120 in 6.1 seconds — an electronically halting top speed is set at 380 kph (236 mph). The Centodieci isn’t at all designed to just be a top-speed build. Stephen Winklemann, Bugatti President, puts it, “With the Centodieci, we once again demonstrate that design, quality and performance are just as important.”

The Bugatti Centodieci is limited to only 10 units, at $8 million a pop. Those 10 units have already been purchased and will arrive to their new owners some time next year.

Bugatti Didn’t Cut Corners on the 1500 Horsepower Divo

April 27, 2020 – The Bugatti name is widely known for their extremely fast super cars that have broken many land speed records. With the new Bugatti Divo, they aim to show that their speed can come with agility too. Sharing several parts with the Chiron, the Divo differentiates itself by its track-focused composure. And after a development process lasting several years, it is finally ready to be sent out to the lucky few(only 40 units made) who got their hands on one.

The Bugatti Divo’s centerpiece is the carefully and painstakingly tuned chassis. Tests on computer simulations, windy country roads, and raceways like the Nurburgring are what the development team used to tune the Divo’s chassis to a precise degree. Changes in weight reduction by the addition of carbon fiber and replacing some luxuries in the Chiron paired with increased downforce aid in improving the cornering ability.

Additionally, the body’s wild and aggressive design comes with a purpose. Along with the chassis tuning, the aerodynamics of the car were also precisely tuned. Each crease and duct seen on the Divo serves a purpose in increasing downforce or providing heat reduction to specific spots all in the name of lateral acceleration. Despite the focus on the corners, Bugatti still didn’t neglect its power. With a 1500 horsepower engine and 1180lb ft torque, the Divo goes from 0-60 in 2.3 seconds. All of these tweaks added up make the Divo capable of pulling 1.6g in the corners.

The Bugatti Divo is named after French racing legend, Albert Divo, who raced for Bugatti in the 1920s. In his time, Divo brought home several podiums using a lightweight and agile sports car much like the one that now holds his name. The new Bugatti Divo is truly a Bugatti built for the corners. Limited to 40 examples and holding a price tag of over 5 million euros, this car will likely become a hot collectors item as well.

More on the Bugatti Divo here