When the Bolide was first revealed as a thought experiment in late 2020, it presented a vision of a lightweight, track-only hyper sports car delivering incomparable performance, built around the iconic W16 engine. That ambitious dream is being transformed into reality, as the Bolide prototype begins its next phase of development testing.
At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
in August 2021, Bugatti announced that the Bolide would be developed for
a limited production run of just 40 units. Centered on the premise of
creating the ultimate track-only Bugatti and set to be the most
uncompromising model to ever emerge from Molsheim, it represents an
entirely new level of engineering, aerodynamic and technological
innovation.
For the Bolide, Bugatti started with the quad-turbo
W16 engine, and then built the lightest possible car around it. Its
minimal bodywork is designed carefully to leverage maximum downforce,
most efficient cooling and exceptional power-to-weight ratio. In its
final form, the Bolide is expected to deliver 1,600 PS and a dry weight
of only 1,450 kg to better the magical 1:1 ratio.
Creating the
Bolide is a case of bespoke craftsmanship. Although the engine may be
familiar in its layout and capacity, it is integrated into the Bolide in
a fully different way. A newly shaped carbon monocoque compared with
the Chiron meant re-engineering many components, including cooling,
transmission and suspension, each of which now had to be packaged within
the incredibly compact and aerodynamic design of the Bolide, with a
matter of millimeters to spare. With new engine mountings, the
suspension of the Bolide’s drive unit is three times stiffer than the
Chiron’s. Together with the uniball suspension bearings, the Bolide
gives the driver even more precise feedback. The Bolide also uses
3D-printed titanium rockers to help create intricately shaped and
lightweight components.
The engine itself is central to the
Bolide experience, but subtly adapted for this car’s unique character.
It always operates on all four of its turbochargers - perfect for the
racetrack where engine revs are consistently high, but also for weight
and packaging reasons. The team has tuned the engine to deliver higher
revs per minute and successfully paired it to a modified transmission
designed to deliver even sharper performance.
The braking system
offers entirely new levels of performance and innovation. In the Chiron,
the brakes are an effective and long-lasting carbon ceramic system but
the Bolide uses even more heat-resistant carbon-carbon brakes. These
must be thoroughly warmed before they reach their peak effectiveness so
Bugatti engineers designed completely new calipers that would more
efficiently generate and absorb heat. With 18-inch tires, 390 mm brake
discs were created and a carbon cover placed on each wheel to help
protect the rims from the extreme heat generated by the brakes.
Befitting
its status as a track car with the performance of a top-level
motorsport machine, the Bolide is fitted with slick tires which - at the
rear - can only be found on LMDh vehicles racing in the FIA World
Endurance Championship. Thanks to tire manufacturer Michelin’s
long-standing partnership with Bugatti, these tires can be used for the
Bolide.
First deliveries of the Bolide will commence in 2024,
with production limited to just 40 units at a net unit price of €4
million each.
