Bugatti entered the cards of history back in 1920s by producing one of the most successful racing car of all time : the Type 35. The car itself achieved astonishing number of over 2000 victories becoming the legend in racing history, but the company didn’t stop. In 2003 they announced new competitor in car industry Bugatti Veyron. It was the first street-legal fastest production car in the world with a top-speed of 431.072 km/h.
“Type 35”
“Bugatti Veyron”
Bugatti Automobiles decided that they can achieve even more, so they started working on another project. That being said in 2016 during Geneva Motor Show Bugatti presented their new toy “Chiron” faster and better than his brother “Veyron”. 2020 model “Chiron Super Sport 300 +” surprised every automaniac in the whole world. New model is able to exceed his older brother “Veyron” top-speed by 50 km/h ! Isn’t it amazing and scary at the same time ?
President of Bugatti Stephan Winkelmann says “Bugatti never stands still” therefore he asked himself a question “What if ?”. “What if Bugatti could unleash the complete power of W16 engine ?”, “What if we could reduce the weight to minimum ?” the answer to those questions is only one
“BUGATTI BOLIDE”.
On 23rd of October Bugatti team presented the world their new monster “Bolide”. The new project is Bugatti’s fastest, most powerful, lightest and probably most expensive car yet. Huge W16 engine provides us with 1,850 horse power which is an enormous amount of horses. Weighs only 1,240 kg that’s slightly less than every compact car. Top-speed of this car is said to be 310mph + (500 km/h +). “Bolide” can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.17 seconds, 0 to 200km/h in only 4.36 seconds 0 to 300km/h in 7.37 and 0 to 400km/h in 12.08 it’s ridiculous how fast this masterpiece of engineering is. They truly stood up to a challenge, but we have to keep in mind that those statistics are only simulated performance numbers. As a race car Bugatti designed “Bolide” to not only beat the previous top-speed record holder SSC Tuatara but also break the records on worlds famous race tracks such as Le Mans or challenging Nürburgring. Engineers from Molsheim did simulations and the results are stunning. Our rocket should do the lap of Le Mans in 3 minutes and 7 seconds (faster than a purpose-built Le Mans racing car by 7 seconds) while Nürburgring lap in just 5 minutes 23 seconds (1 minute and 20 seconds faster than current record holder Lamborghini Aventador SVJ ).
Let’s move to reasons why does this car is so fast and such a masterpiece.
“We asked ourselves how we could realize the mighty W16 engine as a technical symbol of the brand in its purest form – with solely four wheels, engine, gearbox, steering wheel and, as the only luxury, two seats.” – Stephan Winkelmann, Bugatti President.
The company focused on 4 aspects :
Weight and Strength :
In order to build such a beast they had to use the lightest and therefore the most durable materials as possible. That’s why “Bolide” is made mainly from 2 materials carbon fiber and titanium which demonstrate high strength-to-weight ratios.
Speed and Dynamics :
Improved aerodynamics, reduced weight, upgraded W16 engine with 4 superchargers, specially designed cooling system with all these ingredients comes speed and capability of “Bolide”. For the first time Bugatti Automobiles stream the air through the internal parts of the car. Raw air travels to a roof scoop and hot air travels along the cabin and the cool air travel through the side to intercoolers etc. Bugatti says that new spoilers and wings are capable of producing a downforce up to 1800kg.
Combining all of these factors such as striped cabin, lightweight, aerodynamics, new engine, new durability provides us with incredible amount of power and amazing (simulated) achievements.
In addition Bugatti added some aviation lining to “Bolide” model such as X shaped rear, front lights and also side view of vehicle.
“It is indirectly reminiscent of the Bell X-1 jet aircraft which was flown by Captain Charles “Chuck” Yeager in 1947, the first person to break the sound barrier at Mach 1.06.”
Company didn’t provide us with a price tag or premier date of “Bolide”.
To conclude, Bugatti has shown the world that they are expanding their horizons with every year presenting us more and more technologically advanced machines. They keep amaze us but the real question is, Is it necessary ? Is it the right way they should go ? Will there be any customers interested to buy cars which they can’t test to the maximum ?
Sources :
https://www.bugatti.com/models/bolide/
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/28/success/bugatti-bolide-hypercar/index.html
https://www.motor1.com/news/451243/bugatti-bolide-reveal/
https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/4935/new-bugatti-bolide-track-day-hypercar-price-specs-release-date
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Automobiles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5t0PLqMy74&ab_channel=Bugatti
https://www.google.com/search?q=bugatti+bolide&sxsrf=ALeKk00sWFbgO-J_MU2CDerD3JqMlGdrFg:1604256219795&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjF3e-QgOLsAhWRlYsKHcFSC0gQ_AUoAXoECAsQAw&biw=958&bih=927#imgrc=khX7e2ynVgBSyM