Watch The New Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Unleash Its 1,479 Horses On The Track

Following weeks of pandemic-related lockdowns, Bugatti engineers have once again arrived at the Bilster Berg circuit in Germany to test out the spectacular Chiron Pur Sport.

A total of eight engineers, among them head of development Stefan Ellrott and head of chassis development Jachin Schwalbe, put two pre-series Pur Sport prototypes through their paces. The team was reduced in size so as to comply with all current safety regulations.

Bilster Berg features 9 right turns, 10 left turns, 44 crests and dips, 20 percent uphill and 26 percent downhill grades, plus a change in elevation of 70 meters (76.5 yards) over 4,207 meters (2.6 miles).

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“This is crucial for development because the Chiron Pur Sport is set up for maximum performance and lateral dynamics. The laps on the test tracks are incredibly important here,” says Ellrott. “With the Chiron Pur Sport, we’re pursuing a more extreme and radical development approach. It’s the perfect car for all those drivers who enjoy cornering at the limits and want to feel a connection with the road.”

For the first time, the Chiron’s ESC Sport+ mode enables experienced drivers to drift the Pur Sport while on track, controlling the rear end with the accelerator pedal before the ESC reels you in.

“Even for our engineers who are very familiar with the Chiron, this is so much fun they don’t want to get out of the car. The Chiron Pur Sport makes you a better driver,” explains Jachin Schwalbe.

Compared to the regular Chiron, the Pur Sport weighs less by about 50 kg, while downforce is greater and the chassis more firm. Added to this is a newly developed gearbox with a 15% shorter gear ratio, plus an increased maximum engine speed.

“The W16 engine with 1,500 PS (1,479 hp) and 1,600 Nm (1,180 lb-ft) of torque now feels like it revs up even faster, providing a significantly more tangible and emotive driving experience,” says Stefan Ellrott. “The gears run through the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission at ultra-fast pace at full load.”

Bugatti will start series production of the Chiron Pur Sport (limited to 60 units) in the second half of 2020. The price for one is no less than 3 million euros ($3.28 million).

As for what comes next for these prototypes – another set of track tests in the next few weeks, only this time on the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife.