Here’s what makes the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport so darn capable
How does a company do one Car that goes 300 miles an hour further improve the line of super sports cars? In a word: technology.
That is the short answer. The long answer is a bit more complex. Fortunately, on Tuesday, Bugatti detailed some of the changes the Chiron went through to become a completely different animal than the one Chiron Pur Sport.
However, the word “changes” is a bit mild. Bugatti described them as “complex technical modifications” and I would call that a completely fair evaluation. It starts with the chassis, which has new suspension joints to allow for a negative fall. Not only did it have to absorb the negative camber, it also had to work perfectly with the tire package, springs and actual body of the car. In the end, 17 variations were made, resulting in a final setup that is stiff when needed, but still remains comfortable. That doesn’t mean that a computer chose the winner. Bugatti was still testing 31,000 miles to ensure that the setup was done as needed.
The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is a complex love work
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When entering the drive train, the transmission has shortened gears to accelerate faster. How much more? Walking from 38 mph to 75 mph takes only 4.4 seconds, compared to 7.4 seconds in the regular chiron. The engine turns faster and the engineers spent a year and a half optimizing the shift points to find the perfection of the super sports car. The engine also revs up: Redline is now 6,900 rpm for the massive W-16 engine with four turbochargers of 6,700 rpm. The drivers will notice when the almost 1,500 hp last longer when pushing the Chiron Pur Sport.
And all this power has to find traction if it is to be of use. Bugatti turned to Michelin to develop tires for the Chiron Pur Sport that measure 285/50 in the front and 355/25 in the rear. The special tires wrap new aero wheels to improve aerodynamics, as the name suggests. They also generate more downforce because the ring pattern sucks air into the wheel, and they weigh 35 pounds less than the Chiron’s wheels. Overall, the Pur Sport weighs about 110 pounds less.
Each of these “complex technical modifications” is integrated in the ESC Sport Plus mode, with which the driver can unleash the Chiron Pur Sport. The electronic stability control intervenes later, allows more slip and lets the Bugatti’s hair fall off its already loose ponytail to drift sideways.
The whole technical wonder is the low price of $ 3.6 million. Of course, complex modifications have their costs.