All 30 examples of the fastest Bugatti Chirons ever made are now in the hands of its affluent customers.
It may have taken over 3 years since it was first revealed publicly, but Bugatti has recently announced that it has completed the delivery of its 30th and final Chiron Super Sport 300+.
Now news of Bugatti reaching this production milestone may not be all that exciting to anyone apart from probably the affluent owners of these multi-million dollar hypercars themselves. But this nevertheless does lend the perfect opportunity to once again regale at the engineering brilliance of the Chiron, and the significant top speed achievement of the Super Sport 300+ in particular.
As the 300+ in the name may suggest after all, this particular spec of Chiron was indeed the very car that smashed long-standing 300 mph barrier for production cars. Piloted by ex-McLaren Le Mans driver Andy Wallace, a Super Sport 300+ was clocked at an incredulous 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track.
And in order to make all this possible, Bugatti had to eke out an extra 100 PS from the standard Chiron’s quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16, resulting in a total of 1,600 PS for the Super Sport 300+. This particular spec of Chiron also nets a new thermal management system, as well as a longer-ratio gearbox that allows it to stretch past the standard car’s 261 mph (420 km/h) top speed.
Among other additions unique to the Super Sport 300+ too is a long-tail rear end, which extends the car by approximately 25 cm to reduce aerodynamic stall by over 40%. This particular variant of Chiron also benefits from Bugatti’s liberal application of exposed carbon fibre (that extends to even the windscreen wipers), as well as magnesium alloy wheels that are finished in a bespoke colour named ‘Nocturne’ and ‘Macaron’ logo that are made of genuine silver and black enamel.
“In the long history of Bugatti, there are vehicles that come to define their era. The Type 35 transformed motor racing, the Type 41 Royale redefined opulence, the Type 57 SC set new standards for design, and now there is the Chiron Super Sport 300+, hitting speeds that were long thought to be impossible in a production car,” stated Bugatti president Christophe Piochon as the 300+ story comes to a close. “Its achievements have secured it legendary status in the Bugatti history books, and we’re delighted to have seen all 30 examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ delivered to some of our most passionate customers,” he added.
Just getting back to that record however, this triple-century achievement will unfortunately not be appearing in the record books anytime soon. That is as the Chiron only managed to get a run in a single direction that day, and cars are required to perform a run in both directions for the record to be officiated.
What more too is that despite the 300+ in its name, the 30 examples of Chiron Super Sport 300+ delivered to customers are electronically limited to only 273 mph (440 kph). Then again though, it is not like Bugatti owners will ever be using the full range of of their hypercar’s speedometers. Right?
PRESS RELEASE: When the Chiron Super Sport 300+ – piloted by Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel Andy Wallace – smashed through the 300 mph barrier in 2019 the world stood to attention ; never before had a production car reached such speeds. It immediately occupied a spot in history and now stands as a marker in the quest for ever greater performance and speed. Following the world record success, during a celebration of Bugatti’s 110th anniversary, Bugatti committed to building 30 examples of the record-breaking car for customers, the last of which has now gone to its private home.
Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “In the long history of Bugatti, there are vehicles that come to define their era. The Type 35 transformed motor racing, the Type 41 Royale redefined opulence, the Type 57 SC set new standards for design, and now there is the Chiron Super Sport 300+, hitting speeds that were long thought to be impossible in a production car. Its achievements have secured it legendary status in the Bugatti history books, and we’re delighted to have seen all 30 examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ delivered to some of our most passionate customers.”
To achieve its uncharted top speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) the Chiron Super Sport 300+ had to reach beyond the extreme standards set by the Bugatti Chiron in terms of both power and aerodynamics. A re-engineered version of Bugatti’s legendary 8.0-liter W16 engine surpasses the Chiron’s power output by 100 PS, resulting in a total of 1,600 PS. Bugatti’s team of world-class engineers developed a new thermal management system for the hyper sports car’s engine and gearbox, as well as making refinements to the software governing the engine, gearbox, powertrain and turbochargers.
But power is nothing without stability, especially at speeds never mastered by a production car before. While it remains faithful to the timeless beauty of the Chiron’s design language, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ features a ‘longtail’ which extends the car by approximately 25 cm. This allows the laminar flow to pass over the body for a longer period of time, therefore reducing aerodynamic stall by more than 40%. Air curtains adorning the hyper sports car’s front corners disperse excess air pressure towards the car’s sides. Simultaneously, air outlets at the wheel arches and behind the front wheels guide excess pressure away from each wheel arch, reducing drag by also producing a small amount of negative lift.
The Chiron Super Sport 300+’s liberal use of exposed carbon fiber flows through into the car’s engine cover, and even the windscreen wiper, contributing to crucial weight-saving that helps the hyper sports car push the envelope of performance. Subtle touches, including the Bugatti ‘Macaron’ logo made of genuine silver and black enamel, add to the sense of exclusivity and rarity. Extremely light and strong magnesium alloy wheels are finished in a bespoke colour named ‘Nocturne’.
All 30 examples of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ are now delivered, each one of them a unique piece of automotive history as well as one of the fastest and most technically advanced cars in the world.
