Bugatti launches the track focussed Chiron Pur Sport with DRIFT MODE

Prakhar K. March 5, 2020

3 minutes read

Bugatti is one car manufacturer the world knows. Probably even more so than Ferrari! So, while this brand has been selling multi million dollar cars for a long time, they somehow find out a way to one up their previous model both in terms of performance and price. And for 2020, behold the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport!

The Pur Sport is to the Chiron what the One:1 was to the Agera RS. It’s designed keeping one thing in mind only, the track. So, it’s lighter, has MUCH more down-force with that rear wing and of course, agile. Not like the Chiron wasn’t fast but, Chiron was more of a GT than a racecar. It could (and did) go BLISTERINGLY fast on a straight line but had no track records to show. This is touted to ace that segment as well.

The Engineering

The weight of the Chiron Pur Sport has been reduced by 50 kilograms, while sophisticated aerodynamics components – including a 1.90 m wide rear spoiler – ensure increased downforce. At the same time, omission of the hydraulic system for the otherwise automatically extending spoiler also reduces the weight. It now also comes with the newly developed high-performance tyres Sport Cup 2r from Michelin in 285/30 R20 at the front and 355/25 R21. We have learned that these are made from a new compound and provide outstanding grip even at high cornering speeds.

A Word from the boss

“With the new Chiron Pur Sport, we can now offer our worldwide Bugatti enthusiasts a hyper sports car geared even more towards agility and dynamic cornering,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “We quickly decided on the name for this pure and uncompromising driving machine: Chiron Pur Sport. This model has an extremely sporty chassis and incredible road grip, sensational acceleration and very precise handling.” Coming from the ex-boss of Lamborghni, we take his word seriously.

Transmission and power-train

Bugatti developed a new transmission for even better acceleration of the already extremely fast Chiron. The gears are closer together now to enable shorter gear jumps and also benefit performance. At the same time Bugatti has increased the maximum engine speed of the W16 unit by 200 rpm to 6,900 rpm. In conjunction with the closer overall gear ratio, this creates significantly better elasticity. As a result, the Chiron Pur Sport accelerates in 6th gear from 60 to 80 km/h in just 2.0 seconds and from 60 to 100 km/h in only 3.4 seconds.

“All in all, the elasticity values are 40% better compared with the Chiron. This means that the Chiron Pur Sport provides extraordinary performance that can be experienced at all speeds. Due to the closer overall gear ratio and the increased downforce, the iconic 8.0 litre W16 engine with a power output of 1,500 PS and a torque of 1,600 newton metres already unleashes its full power at 350 km/h” – Bugatti official.

Design

While the exterior changes are subtle, they are very important. This Chiron Pur Sport is Bugatti’s version of the McLaren Senna. The car looks extremely aggressive both at the front and rear. The big rear diffuser, 3D printed titanium exhausts and the new wheels add to the increased down-force and decreased weight. Not only that, the car looks like it means serious business. The wheels are 4KG lighter each, getting the weight down by 16KGS. The new driving mode Sport+ intervenes late in the ESP system for an improved driving experience on dry roads but, it enables the driver to deviate from the ideal line or even DRIFT slightly. Drifting a Bugatti.. Oh! what a beautiful time to live.

The clamshell lines run through the air inlets of the front wings. Bugatti offers the Chiron Pur Sport with an optional split paintwork design. Here, the bottom part of the vehicle is finished in exposed carbon, which makes the car seem flatter visually. The back end is dominated by a static rear spoiler and a larger diffuser. In the interior, Bugatti has upholstered large surfaces with Alcantara to save weight and ensure better grip. Contrasting cross-stitching adds colour highlights as does a dynamic pattern lasered into the Alcantara fabric. Production starts in H2 of 2020.