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Meet The Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport – 1,500 Horses Of Track-Ready Power

This is the first of two new Bugatti Chiron variants we’re going to be seeing this year, according to Bugatti boss Stephan Winkelmann. It’s called the Pur Sport, with its design focussing on low weight, higher downforce, and high power.

Sat behind the driver sits the same 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 from the standard Chiron, but the automatic gearbox it pushes its power through has been recalibrated for better power delivery. It’s also got 15% shorter gearing for track-use and the maximum rpm has been raised 200rpm to a total of 6,900rpm. All these changes have resulted in a 40% better elasticity values compared to the Chiron – whatever that means.

The body has had an overhaul with a revised front fascia for better aerodynamics and cooling thanks to larger intake openings and an engorged horseshoe panel at the bottom of the bumper. At the rear sits a 1.9-metre long wing to match the front downforce. Finally, to not miss a beat, the exhaust has been replaced with a lower weight unit that’s temperature resistant and made from 3D printed titanium.

“We focussed particularly on the agility of the Chiron Pur Sport,” Frank Heyl, Bugatti’s head of exterior design, says. “The vehicle generates more downforce at the rear axle while the large, front splitter, air inlets, wheel-arch vents featuring optimised air outlets and a reduced vehicle height strike a clean balance at the front.

With the aim to improve brake ventilation, the Pur Sport wears updated “Aero Alloys”, and are surrounded by specially made Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres. Behind these, the car’s springs have been made 65% stiffer at the front and 33% stiffer in the rear, and its adaptive damping has been tuned for track performance. These upgrades all help the Pur Sport go on a diet of 19kg.

These changes come after Bugatti discussed with its customers what they wanted from a new car. they wanted dynamics and agility to have more focus over luxury, and therefore, weight. Bugatti boss described this new car as “a hypersports car that yearns for country roads with as many bends as possible. An unadulterated, uncompromising driving machine.”

Only 16 units of the Pur Sport will be made at €3.2 million (excusing VAT) apiece. Production starts later this year.

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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