The Bugatti Chiron: a comically savage supercar

published 16 April 2021

The new Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is a “bigger, badder and awesomely more powerful” version of the supercar first introduced to the world in 2016, says Viju Mathew on Robb Report. The Chiron has “always been about mind-blowing stats”. The 2016 model “targeted the type of straight-line acceleration best suited to airport runways” – going from rest to 60mph in just over two seconds and onto a top speed in excess of 260mph. The Pur Sport, “despite having more than triple the horsepower of a Porsche 911 S and enough thrust to meld you with the sport seat”, offers an entirely different driving experience from your usual supercar, however – what’s “perhaps most amazing” about it is its “unfussiness and ease of use – the refined, comfortable car-ness of the experience”.

Limited to just 60 units worldwide, the Pur Sport’s £3.4m price tag “would make an oligarch blush”, says Bradley Iger on Motor1. But what you get for that is “an entirely new level of respect, attention, and care at the helm”, an 8.0-litre, quad-turbocharged W16 engine, and “an all-around stunner”. The acceleration, as you would expect, “is comically savage”, but the car is also agile to drive and “a legitimately honed tool for corner carving”. The car, like its predecessors, “exists as an example of what we’re capable of when we target the superlatives”.

Innovation in supercars lately has been all about electric power, but Bugatti remains “committed to combustion”, says Hannah Elliott on Bloomberg. Those lucky enough to get their hands on it won’t be complaining. “It accelerates more quickly and smoothly and with less effort than anything I’ve driven in 15-plus years of reporting.” Perfectly balanced, responsive, and “glued” to the road, its ability to “manoeuvre through traffic, surge up hills, and dance down canyon curves” far surpasses that of most other supercars out there.

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Nic studied for a BA in journalism at Cardiff University, and has an MA in magazine journalism from City University. She has previously worked for MoneyWeek.