Bugatti Bolide stuns with new benchmark in hypercar design.
Bugattis of the modern era are the ultimate expression of human endeavour and engineering achievement. They are built to break the 300mph barrier, while also being eminently usable every day. They’re designed for fast laps, just as much as they are traffic jams. But when you free Bugatti engineers of those restrictions, you get the Bolide; a track-only, lightweight hypercar with performance close to the very highest echelons of professional motorsport.
The Bolide is built to be reduced, raw, authentic. Bugatti designers have called on the famed and trusted W16 8.0-litre engine – the 16-cylinder powertrain found in other hypercars from the peerless French luxury brand, including the Chiron – to give the Bolide the ultimate performance kick. An innovative lightweight construction, featuring 3D-printed titanium, allows for a power-to-weight ratio of only 0.67 kg per PS; that’s 1,850 PS and a vehicle weight of just 1,240kg. A remarkable engineering achievement in its own right.
The Bugatti Bolide achieves figures that are almost on par with Formula 1; it can hit more than 500km/h but equally it’s honed for downforced and agility. The Bolide takes 3:07.1 minutes to complete a lap of Le Mans and 5:23.1 minutes to get around the Nordschleife. A Lamborghini Aventador SVJ takes nearly a minute-and-a-half longer.
The Bugatti team developed a light monocoque chassis, constructed of carbon for ultimate performance. The integral front end is made of high-strength carbon fibres, as are the fully aerodynamically effective underbody and the monocoque itself. The Bolide represents the result of a stylistic challenge to transform the unyielding demands of aerodynamics and lightweight construction into an aesthetic that reflects unique Bugatti DNA. The overall appearance is dramatic with a vehicle height of only 995mm, with the front end sculpted for aerodynamic efficiency with its many air ducts.
The Bugatti Bolide remains a concept for now, but you can contact us for the latest information on when this watershed moment in automotive performance will become a reality.