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This 1:4 scale Bugatti Chiron engine costs $10,000
Thu, Oct 19 2017Is $10,000 too much for a non-functioning powertrain? Amalgam, a company that specializes in high-end scale models of everything from cars to steering wheels has meticulously crafted a 1:4 scale replica of the 8.0-liter, 16-cylinder, 1,500-horsepower behemoth that powers the Bugatti Chiron. The model is so detailed that at first glance you'd swear it was the real thing, provided a banana isn't used for scale. According to Amalgam, this is the first model engine the company has built since the early 2000s. It worked closely with the engineers at Bugatti to make sure everything is exactly how it appears on the real car. Look close and you'll find all of the parts numbers, barcodes and hose clamps are exactly the same, just smaller. Like the real engine, this W16 features four scale turbochargers. All in, there was roughly 2,500 hours or more than three months of development time. Each model takes 220 hours to assemble, hence the $9,365 price tag. The engine is constructed mainly of pewter and stainless steel. The entire model is 18 inches long and 9 inches high. Pre-orders are open, though first deliveries aren't expected until January. Related Video:
Koenigsegg demolishes Bugatti's brand-new 0-400kph-0 record
Thu, Oct 5 2017Last month, we told you how a Bugatti Chiron, driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, set a new record for accelerating from 0 to 400 kph (248 mph) and then braking back to 0, all done in 41.96 seconds. Well, that record didn't stand for long — it was just annihilated by a Koenigsegg. Christian von Koenigsegg decided to take a crack at the record as a means of performance-testing a new Agera RS he was about to deliver to a U.S. customer, this one with an upgraded engine making 1,360-horsepower and 1,011 pound-feet of torque. The hypercar was so factory-fresh, in fact, it still had industrial tape protecting its leading edges. After some lower-speed test runs (an Agera RS is typically tested at up to 186 mph), Koenigsegg's team took the car to Vandel, a former Danish military airbase that now serves as a big solar-energy farm, for the big run on Oct. 1. Some fascinating numbers about the record run, with factory driver Niklas Lilja at the wheel: Lilja went from 0 to 400 kph to 0 in 36.44 seconds, beating the Chiron's record by a whopping 5.52 seconds. (The Chiron's total time was 41.96.) Koenigsegg says its data show that the car engaged traction control in the first three gears, the final time at 113 mph. The car hit the 248 mph goal in 26.88 seconds over 1.21 miles. (The acceleration phase took Montoya in the Chiron 32.6 seconds.) Braking to 0 mph took 9.56 seconds and 1,584 feet. (The Chiron braked in 9.3 seconds.) Though the Agera RS' record time for 0-400-0 was was 36.44 seconds, that does not factor in the fact the car went a wee bit past 400 kph, to 403, or 250 mph, before Lilja hit the brakes. If you include that sliver of time, the overall run was 37.28 seconds. But it isn't counted in the record. Total distance covered was 1.57 miles — on a 1.7-mile runway. For more details, Koenigsegg describes the run on his blog. Related Video: Auto News Bugatti Koenigsegg Technology Coupe Performance Videos Bugatti Chiron koenigsegg agera rs juan pablo montoya
Bugatti's next model could have 4 doors, electrified powertrain
Tue, Sep 19 2017Back in 2009, Bugatti showed a four-door concept called the Galibier, and it seemed like it would make it to production. That project stalled out, though, sidelined during the development of the Chiron. The idea of a four-door Bugatti hasn't been completely discarded, though, and, as Automotive News reports, the supercar manufacturer might ready the car for 2024. "The four-door car is not dead," Bugatti President Wolfgang Durheimer told Automotive News at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the automaker showed a Chiron that set a 0-249-0 speed record of 42 seconds. Durheimer also suggested it would be Bugatti's sole model, as he said, "For the time I can foresee, [Bugatti] will be a one-model brand." The Chiron will be Bugatti's model for eight years, with replacement scheduled around 2024 or 2025. Bugatti hasn't decided on the powertrain for its next model, and is considering all its options, be they internal combustion, electric or hybrid. What matters, Durheimer said, is that it provides the level of performance Bugatti customers expect from the brand. Bugatti also considered electrifying the Chiron's powertrain, but, Durheimer said, abandoned the idea due to weight and packaging challenges. The company was still able to achieve 1,500 horsepower through traditional means. Related Video: Related Gallery Bugatti 16C Galibier concept View 11 Photos News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Bugatti Green Bugatti Electric Hybrid Luxury Performance Frankfurt 2017 Bugatti Chiron wolfgang durheimer bugatti galibier
Bugatti Chiron Sets a World Record
Tue, Sep 12 2017The Bugatti Chiron set a world record from a standstill to 248mph to a standstill. Bugatti Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video
Bugatti Chiron piloted by Juan Pablo Montoya sets 0-249-0 speed record
Mon, Sep 11 2017Bugatti has a penchant for recalibrating our notion of speed. Quickest, fastest, most powerful, world record — just words. Mere descriptors. To really get a sense of how quick a car like the Chiron is, you need to witness its ferocity in person. Since that's not possible for most of us, seeing it on video is the next best thing. So here's a quick video of a Bugatti Chiron, driven by Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, accelerating from 0 to 249 miles per hour (400 kilometers per hour) in just 32.6 seconds. But Bugatti wasn't done. Equally as impressive, Montoya stomped the brakes at 249 mph hard enough to bring the Chiron back down to a halt in just 9.3 additional seconds, aided by the rear spoiler's airbrake functionality. Yep, that's 0-249-0 in 41.96 seconds. From start to finish, Montoya covered 1.93 miles in the Chiron, and it apparently didn't take much effort from the driver. "You didn't need the complex preparations we have to make in racing for the 0-400-0 drive," said Montoya. "With the Chiron, it was all quite easy. Just get in and drive off. Incredible." Incredible is a good word for it. But Bugatti isn't finished setting records with the Chiron. The company has stated its goal of proving the Chiron is the fastest production vehicle ever by beating the Veyron's top-speed record of 267.855 mph. That's planned for 2018, so there's plenty more time for records to fall and would-be challengers to arise. Stay tuned. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bugatti Chiron 0-400-0 km/h Record Run Related Gallery Bugatti Chiron 0-400-0 km/h Record Car: Frankfurt 2017 News Source: Bugatti Bugatti Luxury Performance Supercars world record Bugatti Chiron juan pablo montoya
2017 Bugatti Chiron gets EPA fuel economy rating
Fri, Jul 28 2017There's no doubting that the new Bugatti Chiron is a beautiful marriage of beauty and brawn. But for a cool $2.998 million there are, shall we say, more practical supercars (stop laughing) to whisk you to Davos or South Beach. Put simply, the Chiron's fuel-economy ratings, released Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency, are absurd. Sure, the 1,500-horsepower roadster's quad-turbocharged, 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine delivers 1,180 foot-pounds of torque, has a top speed of 261 mph and does 0-to-60 in 2.3 seconds (watch it run up to 218 mph, here). Certainly impressive. But there's a tradeoff: a measly 11 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving. That's 9 mpg in the city and a whopping 14 on the highway. That equates to an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800, averaging $6.26 in gasoline — premium gasoline, no less — for every 25 miles driven. With a 9.1-gallon fuel tank, you'd be hard pressed, while zooming down the PCH or Autobahn, to squeeze out 100 miles before you'd need to find a filling station. Still, it's a slight upward tick from the Bugatti Veyron, which the EPA rated at 10 mpg combined. Bugatti says the W16 engine represents a 25 percent increase in performance compared to its predecessor, with nearly every single part of the engine examined and newly developed. Included are four turbochargers that are 69 percent larger than on the discontinued Veyron. Somehow we doubt that the miserly fuel economy ratings will hurt the supercar's prestige. Back in November, Bugatti design director Achim Anscheidt told Autoblog that the Chiron's uber-exclusive clientele owns an average of 42 cars in their impossible-to-imagine garages (plus 1.7 jets and 1.4 yachts, to boot). With that many hot wheels, it's safe to say the Chiron wouldn't rack up the miles too quickly. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bugatti Chiron: First Drive View 67 Photos News Source: EPAImage Credit: Bugatti By the Numbers Green Motorsports Bugatti Fuel Efficiency Luxury Performance Supercars Bugatti Chiron
Jamie Foxx unveils his shiny gold Veyron
Fri, Jun 9 2017So, Jamie Foxx is doing pretty well for himself these days. He got a sweet new gig hosting a game show called Beat Shazam on FOX, his latest film Baby Driver got rave reviews at a pre-release screening at South by Southwest, and his relationship with Katie Holmes seems to be taking off. Since things are going so well in his life, he decided to treat himself to a nice new wrap for his car. Of course, being an international film star and multi-millionaire, Foxx doesn't have just any car, nor does he go for just any wrap. For the past couple of years, Foxx has been rolling a black-on-blue Bugatti Veyron, a car that even in stock form turns heads anywhere. I guess Foxx wanted to make his car even more ostentatious, and recently had it done up in a chrome gold wrap. He posted a picture of the Veyron in all its flashy glory on Instagram the other day, and it's quite a sight. Foxx also posted a little message to his fans along with the picture: "I was feeling solid gold today when I drove in for work ... #bugatti can't wait for u guys to see the show #beatshazam people won life changing fortunes. And the back stories of the contestants will melt yo heart #foxxonfox may 25th on fox as part owner and executive producer it's exciting to see it come together. Thanks to mark Burnett (survivor the voice etc) and Jeff Apploff the great!" Good for him. Sounds like everything's coming up Jamie! Related Video:
Fast doesn't begin to describe it | 2017 Bugatti Chiron First Drive
Mon, Mar 27 2017Long after the heat of the moment, I pull off the highway in rural Portugal and glance at the Bugatti Chiron's center console. As the engine cools and the carbon silicon carbide brake rotors start to dissipate heat, the onboard computer's telemetry reveals some staggering figures: A peak speed of 377 km/h (do the math, and that's 234 mph), with the quad-turbocharged W16 squeezing a max of 1,466 horsepower at 6,691 rpm. Did I just drive a car or fly a plane? The mind-boggling brain shuffle of Bugatti's latest land rocket cannot be understated, even when placed in context against the now-defunct Veyron. In ultimate Super Sport trim, the Veyron produced a stunning 1,200 (metric) horsepower. The Chiron's leap to 1,500 ponies required considerable development, testing, and re-engineering. That exhaustive process saw significant challenges, even late in the game. Consider the high-speed testing incident in South Africa: despite extensive test-bench work, real-world driving revealed that the immense exhaust heat was melting the rear bumper and nearly igniting the car. The solution, it turns out, was to add a duct so airflow from the underbody could channel through and diffuse the heat. Hashtag: #1500HorsepowerProblems. For the 500 wealthy souls who will take delivery, the $2,998,000 Chiron is most certainly an emotional purchase. But it's backed by a battery of left-brain thinking aimed at making it a quicker, smoother, more involving car than its famously controversial predecessor. For starters, only five percent of the engine's parts are retained from the Veyron, the bulk of the new parts getting strengthened, lightened, and re-engineered to better cope with the thermal demands of the heightened output. The four turbochargers are 68 percent larger and now work sequentially so the first set can facilitate a torque plateau between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm. The larger, second set of turbos extend the flat line to 6,600 rpm. The seven-speed gearbox manufactured by Ricardo, which is essentially the only dry-sump dual-clutch on the production car market, has been strengthened and reinforced to withstand the engine's thumping 1,180 pound-feet of torque. The immense drivetrain is housed by a carbon-fiber chassis by Dallara that requires 1,500 hours to build. The Chiron also gains an adaptive chassis that uses five drive modes to set ride height, steering effort, damping, and power distribution.
Watch a Bugatti Chiron speedometer hit 218 mph
Fri, Mar 24 2017Driving reviews of the $2.5 million Bugatti Chiron supercar are starting to pop up - in fact, here's ours - and Richard Meaden, a former race driver, recently drove the Chiron for Evo in the UK, praising its combination of "civility and savagery." But what fascinated us was the video, large portions of which are simply a view of the speedometer as the Chiron rockets to 351 kph (or 218 mph) in less than 30 seconds. We can only hope that run wasn't on the idyllic English country road glimpsed in the opening and closing shots. The video is mesmerizing to watch. Enjoy. Related video:
Watch the 1,500-hp Bugatti Chiron engine thrashing in a test rig
Tue, Mar 21 2017Making sure the Bugatti Chiron is "Ring-Proof" takes a lot of testing. This rig, built by Bugatti's engineering and testing partner AVL-Schrick, demonstrates the hypercar's heart beating wildly while it's subjected to the g-forces it would experience on the Nurburgring. The footage was tweeted by James Mills of The Sunday Times. Oil starvation is one of the key issues a car manufacturer has to tackle when making sure its product can withstand track time. For example, the Group B rally car derived all-aluminum XU9J4 engine in the first edition of the Peugeot 405 Mi16 suffers from oil starvation in prolonged track use in long corners. Due to insufficient oil pan baffling, the engine oil isn't evenly distributed when g-forces work their magic. By the time the 2.0-liter iron block XU10 version of the engine was rolled out in the facelifted car, the oil pan featured specially designed ports and baffles that restricted the oil's movement, making the engines less susceptible to crankshaft damage when driven spiritedly on a track. Not seen this before: @Bugatti engine rig simulates a flat-out run of the @nuerburgring, #chiron #hypercars pic.twitter.com/pwu6IpVQKq — James Mills (@squarejames) March 18, 2017 But in that case we're talking about a 150-horsepower car, and the quad-turbocharged, W16-engined Chiron has 10 times as much power. When it was new, the engine in the $20,000 Peugeot reportedly cost the manufacturer nearly $5000 to produce, per unit. One imagines the Bugatti engines are far, far more expensive, and damaging one at a race track due to a manufacturer oversight must be a nightmare, hence this specially designed rig to iron out any Chiron bugs. Related Video: Image Credit: James Mills Plants/Manufacturing Bugatti Supercars Videos viral video Bugatti Chiron