When it was first unveiled as a concept way back in 2020, the Bolide caused quite a stir in the world of performance cars. It represented a big change from Bugatti’s usual M.O., and now that the testing phase of production is finally complete, we can safely say that it’s going to be one of the most ballistic new sports cars ever conceived.
Now that production is officially underway and the Bolide is shipping to buyers soon, let’s check out what sets it apart from other hypercars.
Bugatti Bolide Specs and Performance
The Bolide is powered by Bugatti’s iconic W16 engine, a sixteen-cylinder monster that has four separate turbochargers and cranks out an ungodly 1,578 horsepower (or 1,600 PS if you’re German). Rumor has it that the Bolide will be the last production Bugatti to feature the W16 motor; it was announced a couple of years ago that the engine’s soon to be retired.
So, can you drive the Bolide through the tranquil streets of your local neighborhood? Probably not. Because of its sheer power, the Bolide is classified as track-only. It cannot be legally driven on regular streets, so buyers will have to book time at approved racetracks to experience it.
It’s hard for most people to imagine just how intimidating almost 1,600 horsepower is. The Bolide’s top speed is said to be north of 230 miles per hour, and it’s able to run from 0 to 60 in under three seconds. Given that downright hellacious speed, it makes sense that many experts have drawn a comparison to Formula 1 cars, which often top out at about 1,000 horsepower—experts have said that it would be fully capable of pulling ahead of an F1 car in certain circumstances.
The Bolide isn’t just built for pure velocity though. Every facet of its construction is designed for the best possible cornering and handling performance, allowing even amateur racers to drive at high speeds with the utmost confidence.
Andy Wallace, Triple Crown winner and current Bugatti Pilote Officiel, said it best: “Everything about the car is on a completely different level to what I have driven before. All cars are difficult to drive at their limit, but even at the limits of its capabilities, the Bugatti Bolide remains remarkably easy to drive. When you have a car with this much capability, and this much downforce, not many people would believe that is possible. Even I found myself in a state of disbelief after my initial stint driving the Bolide.”
Bugatti Bolide Design
The Bolide’s overall design is a central component of its next-level driving manner. The body consists of an uber-lightweight carbon fiber composite monocoque, built for cutting-edge aerodynamics and rigidity while keeping dry weight to a minimum. In total, the Bolide comes out to only about 3,200 pounds.
Due to its incredibly lightweight, it was pivotal for engineers to ensure that the Bolide’s body generated enough downward force to hold it to the pavement at blistering speeds. Every contour works to this end, and under optimal conditions, it generates nearly double its weight in downforce.
Of course, safety was the number one priority when creating this beast, and the minds behind the machine spared no expense. The monocoque is reinforced to even greater standards than previous Bugatti models, to comply with the rigorous crash test standards that track-only cars are held to. To earn a passing grade, the Bolide had to be able to withstand a 7.5-ton load on its A-pillar and a 12-ton load on the B-pillar, along with a battery of other tests. Amazingly, it passed with flying colors thanks to its uncompromisingly robust structure.
Driver and passenger alike are cocooned in a state-of-the-art cockpit, which features a newly designed seating configuration and an FIA-approved six-point harness designed to hold the human body perfectly in place at high speeds. This is especially important, given the fact that drivers can expect 2.5gs of lateral force while cornering.
Other passive safety features include anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, and even a military-grade fire extinguisher system built right in.
With all of these thrilling new features, one thing is clear: With the Bolide, Bugatti has taken their century-long record of pushing the envelope and pushed it even further. The result is sure to be one of the fastest hyper sports cars ever devised.
Bugatti Bolide: Delivering Soon
With only 40 units built, it may be some time before we get to try one for ourselves. The good news? You can still customize your own Bugatti model right here in Southern Florida. Contact your local Bugatti sales manager in Miami on our website, or give us a call at (786) 646-0787 and ask about how you can buy a Bugatti Chiron near you.