THE CROWN OF THE WORLD’S FASTEST CAR HAS PASSED TO A NEW BUGATTI. ALL HAIL CHIRON.

Bugatti describes the new Chiron as the world’s fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car. That’s quite a claim, but no exaggeration. The new Chiron boasts 1500HP from its heavily revised 8.0-litre turbocharged W16 engine and is limited – yes, limited – to a top speed of 260mph, or 420km/h. We expect to read of a new production car world record with a specially de-restricted Chiron in due course.

In design terms, the blend of ‘beauty and beast’ that characterised Veyron has been heavily tweaked in favour of ‘beast’; the Chiron’s all-new carbon fibre monocoque has a more aggressive look without losing the curves that are a distinctive marque signature. Active aerodynamics help keep the Chiron hunkered down to the tarmac at four miles a minute; a bank of eight flat full-LED projector headlamps give the front an air of predatory menace; and the new rear-end treatment gives visual prominence to a vast underbody diffuser.

Dr Ferdinand Piëch’s original brief for the Veyron, Chiron’s predecessor, was for a Bugatti that could top 250mph yet be docile enough to convey driver and partner to the opera. So Chiron had to be both faster and more agile than Veyron without losing the civilised luxury that is part of the Bugatti DNA. Task accomplished: inside the Chiron’s cockpit Bugatti’s curvaceous design ethos is translated into soft, supple leather, beautifully-laid carbon-fibre with just the right degree of gloss and jewel-like instrumentation. A long, elegant and curving illuminated C-bar separates driver and passenger. Meanwhile the high performance sound system renders that visit to the opera redundant – you can enjoy orchestra pit sound quality without leaving the cockpit.

Only 500 examples of the Chiron will be made, at a cost of €2.4million net. Such is the status of this remarkable car that advance orders for a third of the production have already been received.

Chiron’s 8.0-litre W16 engine has been heavily revised and now features Bugatti’s innovative two-stage turbocharging via four large turbochargers, for a maximum power output of 1500HP. The peak torque of 1600Nm is developed from 2000rpm to 6000rpm for rocket-sled levels of acceleration at the flex of a foot. 0-100km/h (62mph) takes just 2.5 seconds.

Bugatti’s first-ever adaptive chassis offers five different driving modes: Transport Mode (for raising the ride height on speed bumps or when loading), EB “Auto”, Autobahn, Handling and Top Speed. The latter mode, for speeds over 380 km/h (236mph), requires the use of a second ignition key ‘The Speed Key’.

Harnessing that power is a new carbon fibre monocoque offering levels of rigidity previously only found in LMP1 prototype endurance racers. Other features include a newly-designed adaptive chassis and tyres developed especially for Bugatti. The carbon ceramic brake discs are lighter and more powerful, being made from carbon silicon carbide (CSiC). As a result Chiron is not simply faster than the Veyron, it’s also more agile and rewarding to drive. In the words of Bugatti President Wolfgang Dürheimer, “Bugatti has tested the limits of physics. There is no area where we have not achieved significant improvements.” Chiron takes the best and makes it better.