Bugatti engineering chief Dr. Willi Netuschil has revealed that the full top speed of the new 2017 Bugatti Chiron is 285 mph, but it’s electronically limited 261 mph for safety reasons. Netuschil gave other details about the Chiron in a recent interview.
The mid-engined, two-seater sports car, was designed and developed by Volkswagen-owned Bugatti French automaker. The Chiron is the successor to the Bugatti Veyron and the second edition of the Bugatti 18/3 Chiron. With a top speed of 285 mph, the Super Sports Edition of the Bugatti Veyron holds the Guinness World Record of the fastest street-legal production car in the world. Bugatti manufactured only 30 of these cars.
The Bugatti Chiron, named in honor of Monegasque driver Louis Chiron, got first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in March. Famous for his speed, the multiple Formula One Grand Prix winner apparently has the popular saying ‘He drives like Chiron’ to his name.
Bugatti Chiron is set to break Veyron’s top speed record
Every single one of the 30 Bugatti Veyron Super Sports Edition was capable of 285 mph with the electronic limiter turned off but were sold electronically limited to 261 mph. Former French racing driver Pierre-Henri Raphanel drove the car, and Guinness World Records verified its top speed.
The Hennessey Venom GT, with a road-ready and unmodified top speed of 265.7 mph, disclaimed the record due to the electronic limitation.
Guinness World Records reviewed the matter with external expert consultants and arrived at the conclusion that changing the speed limiter didn’t alter the design of the car or its engine. The record book reinstated the honor to Veyron’s 267 mph.
It means that the Bugatti Chiron and its full top speed of 285 mph should break Veyron’s record as the street-legal production car.
Chiron’s specs, production, and pricing
The Bugatti Chiron uses a two-stage turbocharging system, which is a new version of its predecessor’s 8-liter W-16 engine. It has 1,479 of horsepower and 1,600 Nm of torque. Like the Veyron, it sports a carbon fiber body structure, independent suspension, and AWD system.
According to Bugatti, the Chiron accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 2.4 seconds, from 0 to 124 mph in under 6.5 seconds and from 0 to 186 mph in less than 13.6 seconds. As said above, the sports car is electronically limited to 261 mph even though it can reach 285 mph.
Bugatti will manufacture only 500 examples of the Chiron and will sell them for $2.6 million each. There were already 180 pre-orders before its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show.
Source: Autoblog