With Bugatti chief Wolfgang Durheimer behind the wheel, the new Chiron reached a top speed of 380 km/h (236 mph) on the sidelines of this past weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This means that the VW Group hypercar was “faster than the fastest race car of the weekend”, as the manufacturer explains, but its presence at the legendary race wasn’t all about speed, as the powerful machine checked two boxes: its debut in France and the celebration of the 1937 and 1939 endurance races, where Bugatti was the big winner.
“For Bugatti, there is scarcely a better venue in France for a dynamic presentation of the Chiron than Le Mans,” said Durheimer. ” We feel very close ties to this circuit, where the brand once celebrated sensational racing successes. It is therefore a great honor and pleasure for us to be here. With this presentation we are connecting a successful past with a successful present and would also like to send our greetings to the many fans of Bugatti in France and throughout the world”.
Billed to have been developed as “the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car”, the Bugatti Chiron first saw the light of day a few months ago, at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.
It carries a base price tag of €2.4 million ($2.7) and more than 200 orders have been received so far, out of the limited series of 500 cars. The first example will be delivered to its owner this fall with 1,500 PS (1,479 HP) and 1,600 Nm (1,180 lb-ft) on tap, enough to propel it up to a limited road use top speed of 420 km/h (261 mph).
H/T to Toz!
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