Bugatti
According to Wikipedia, the word “bolide” is Italian via Latin from the Greek βολίς bolís that means “missile.” Bolide is an “extremely bright meteor, especially one that explodes in the atmosphere.” The Bugatti Bolide is a brand new concept car that is indeed a missile on wheels and a figurative explosive fireball on the track.
Bugatti unveiled its latest beast, a track-ready hypercar that is inspired by Formula 1 race cars. The Bolide lightweight, high-downforce supercar that is built around the all-wheel-drive drivetrain from the Bugatti Chiron, and then takes it to another level by shedding a massive amount of weight to achieve Formula 1 level performance.
To get the weight down, Bugatti stripped the car down to the necessities and used as many lightweight materials as possible. Every screw and fastener is completely made of titanium. The integral front end and underbody are constructed of high-strength carbon fiber. A 3D printer created hollow functional components with aerospace-grade titanium alloy. The windows are made of a lightweight polycarbonate.
The Chiron weighs 4,400 pounds and the Bolide was able to trim down to a feathery 2,734 pounds. For comparison, the Bolide is lighter than a Mini Cooper, which has a curb weight of 2,895 pounds.
The Bolide will have a weight-to-power ratio of 1.47 lbs/PS because this hypercar boasts incredible power output. The Bolide boasts 1,825 horsepower and 1,364 pound-feet of torque. This vehicle is expected to have a top speed “well above” 310 mph, according to Bugatti.
The Bolide features Bugatti’s signature 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, and adds four brand new turbochargers with blades that were developed for more boost pressure and power at higher engine speeds. To prevent overheating, there are three air-cooled oil intercoolers with a water pre-cooling system that keeps the engine and transmission running at the optimal temperatures.
The Bolide doesn’t just have Formula 1 race car specs; it also flaunts Formula 1 race car seating. The Bolide has Le Mans Prototype-like seating where the driver sits low, almost laying back, which allows a more aerodynamic design. The vehicle features HANS device-compatible six-point harnesses. There is also a high-performance F1-style racing brake system with ceramic brakes and coatings.
“We asked ourselves how we could realize the mighty W-16 engine as a technical symbol of the brand in its purest form—with solely four wheels, engine, gearbox, steering wheel and, as the only luxury, two seats,” Bugatti president Stephan Winkelmann said in a statement. “Important aspects of our considerations were fine-tuning our iconic powertrain without any limitations as regards the weight-to-power ratio. Driving the Bolide is like riding on a cannonball.”
Bugatti is not certain if the Bolide will enter production, but it absolutely should.
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Bugatti
Bugatti
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Bugatti