The Bugatti Bolide is a 1,860PS track monster | GRR
Bugatti has revealed what is by far its most extreme creation to date, both visually and under the skin. Meet the Bugatti Bolide, otherwise known as Bugatti’s near-1,860PS track-only hypercar that makes the Vision Gran Turismo look series production.
Yes, you read that correctly. The 8.0-litre W16 quad-turbocharged engine that made its debut in the Veyron with a poultry 1,000PS, is packing an entire McLaren Senna GT-R more power (and then some) in this installation. Truthfully, the whole thing is a figure fest. Very Bugatti. 0-62mph in 2.17 seconds, a 311mph top speed and a mind-blowing 0-311-0mph time of 33.62 seconds. Koenigswho? The most ambitious figures, though, are its claimed lap time capabilities: 5 minutes 23.1 seconds around the Nürburgring, 3 minutes 7.1 seconds around Le Mans.
Taken a breath? Good. Let’s start with the power. New turbochargers with new optimised blades for more boost and 110 octane racing fuel of course, befitting the Bolide’s very racey aesthetic. Speaking of, it does look quite different to other recent Bugattis, doesn’t it? This entirely bespoke bodywork treatment, not unlike Lamborghini’s own V12 Vision Gran Turismo, is minimal, lightweight and shrink-wrapped around a carbon-fibre monocoque.
That means unlike previous Bugattis, the long-serving W16 doesn’t have a lot of weight to push around either, with the Bolide weighing just 1,240kg. For reference, a Chiron’s kerb weight is just shy of two tonnes. That 750kg crash diet and steroid shot in the engine bay gives the Bolide close to 1,500PS per tonne… Have that Koenigsegg One:1. Wherever in the car material could be shaved, or replaced with a more expensive, lightweight material, it has. Aerospace alloys, 3D printing – Bugatti’s boffins must have learnt more than just what ‘empty calories’ are during their weight watchers Zooms over lockdown. It’s full race car, too, with a fuel ‘bladder’ instead of a tank, polycarbonate windows, six-point harnesses, air jacks, centre lock wheels and a full fire extinguisher system. Perish the thought...
That aero treatment isn’t just for show, either. That incredible wing will produce 1,800kg of downforce at 198mph, paired with 800kg pushing down on the front end. That means the suspension has been developed to comfortably carry 3.5 tonnes, while the chunky Michelin race slicks are similarly fortified and wide as you like, with 340mm at the front and 400mm at the rear. Aside from forcing the car into the ground, that bodywork is guiding the air all around the car, across bits that need to be cooled, and evacuating it out the back. Yes, as above, even with this aero, it’ll still keep a Chiron SuperSport honest at 300mph and beyond.
What about the way it looks? Well, being inside you won’t see it much. On the outside, given it’s track only, most won’t get a glimpse and it’s so fast those with the chance might mistime a blink and it’ll be gone... Honestly, it’s from another universe to the likes of the Veyron and Chiron. It’s less Casino Square than it is Circuit de la Sarthe – fitting for those who know their deep dark Bugatti history. It wouldn’t look out of place in an LMDh grid… The giant X lighting and design motifs, in case you were wondering, pay tribute to Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1 with which he became the first person to break the sound barrier in 1947.
On the inside it’s as you might expect of such a lawless track-only boutique machine with a horseshoe on its nose. That’s to say, Liberache’s boudoir meets Kobayashi’s Toyota TS050. MSO meets ACO. You get the idea.
If your appetite for ever-more expensive, ever-more exclusive exotic machinery is not yet sated we may have some bad news for you. It’s Speedtail and Valkyrie only, for now. The Bolide is described by Bugatti as a rolling concept for future technology. That said, the real thing has been seen out testing for real at Paul Ricard. Truthfully, we’d hope it’s not quite ready for sale given that the prior lockdown comment was no joke. This really took Bugatti’s people just eight months to pull together. Yes, the Bolide is a genuine lockdown baby. So stay your millions… for now.