The Legendary Bugatti Chiron Debuting as the long-awaited successor to the Veyron at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Chiron boasted some ginormous numbers. 8.0L Quad-Turbo W16, 1479 horsepower, 1995kg, 1180 lb-ft of torque, $2 million, 261mph, the only small number 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds. Over its eight-year tenure, the Chiron evolved from the standard variant all the way to the legendary 300+ Super Sport. This incredible 1578 horsepower machine currently holds the record of the world’s fastest production car with a top speed of 304.7mph. To make a car so fast meant the designers had their work cut out. So as with the Tourbillon in the last article, several Chiron concepts were rejected and left on the cutting room floor. How did the team eventually come to building the Chiron we know and love? The Development of the Bugatti Chiron Bugatti began developing the Chiron back in 2008, around the time the Veyron was in its prime. Obviously to hit the perfection of the Veyron meant several designs had to be rejected. Some of these prototype Chirons reveal bizarre yet unique features. One such design involved a striking front end but was ultimately shelved for being too bold for Bugatti. Another featured enormous lights and indicators, which again was considered too extravagant. Speaking of which, several altered the design of their headlights, ranging from hexagonal to stacked, round configurations. Other designs featured the iconic C-shaped door handles that ended up on the Chiron, and some were heavily based on Bugatti’s historical models like the Type 32 and 35.. Bugatti even experimented with AI for some of their prototype Chirons. The seminar at the Nationales Automuseum will delve deeper into this subject. We will get insight into Bugatti’s design process and the historical context that shaped the brand’s vision. What Bugatti Kept and What They Cut The Chiron’s final production model borrowed elements from several different design concepts. For instance, the production model’s rear, with its clean, horizontal taillights, seems to draw from one concept, while its front nose is a nod to another. In the end, Bugatti settled on a look that felt both evolutionary and fresh. To perfectly continue the lineage and legacy set by the Veyron. And a lineage today continues with the Tourbillon. A Glimpse Into What Might Have Been The Bugatti Chiron as we know and love today is the result of years of experimentation, refinement, and a clear vision of what a hypercar should be. However, the rejected designs remind us that the road to perfection is paved with bold ideas, some of which never make it past the drawing board. If there’s anything this seminar will reveal, then it’s that Bugatti’s strive for perfection is simply un-killable. They will go back to the drawing board, come up with a million designs, and still produce a million more. All to achieve that perfect cutting-edge missile that makes all its rivals feel inadequate and useless. There’s a reason Bugatti is still at the top of the hypercar kingdom, and this dedication is just one of those many reasons. Source: MotorTrend
