The Bugatti Bolide is a track-only hypercar that pushes the boundaries of performance, design, and technology. With a weight-to-power ratio of 0.9 kg/PS, a top speed of over 500 km/h, and a carbon-carbon brake system, the Bolide is the most extreme Bugatti ever.
What is the Bugatti Bolide?
The Bugatti Bolide is an experimental vehicle first revealed in 2020 as a concept car and later confirmed for a limited production run in 2021. The name Bolide comes from the French word for a speedy car or a meteor. The Bolide is based on the iconic Bugatti W16 engine, a quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter unit that produces 1,850 PS and 1,850 Nm of torque when using 110-octane racing fuel. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a four-wheel-drive system.
The Bolide is designed to be the ultimate track machine, focusing on lightweight construction, aerodynamics, and cooling. The car weighs only 1,450 kg, thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, titanium, and 3D-printed components. The bodywork features numerous air ducts, a roof-mounted intake scoop, a massive rear wing, and a distinctive X-shaped rear light signature. The car also has a ground clearance of only 90 mm, a drag coefficient 0.21, and a downforce of 2,600 kg at 320 km/h.
The Bolide is equipped with the most extensive carbon-carbon brake system ever produced by Brembo, the Italian manufacturer that has collaborated with Bugatti for decades. The front brakes have two eight-piston monobloc calipers, each with four high-performance pads and 390x37.5 mm carbon discs. The rear brakes have two six-piston monobloc calipers, each with four high-performance pads and 390x34 mm carbon discs. The brake system is designed to cope with the extreme speeds and temperatures that the Bolide can generate on the track.
How fast is the Bugatti Bolide?
The Bugatti Bolide is one of the fastest cars in the world, with a top speed of over 500 km/h (310 mph). The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.17 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h in 4.36 seconds, from 0 to 300 km/h in 7.37 seconds, and from 0 to 400 km/h in 12.08 seconds. The car can also brake from 400 to 0 km/h in 8.97 seconds and from 300 to 0 km/h in 3.65 seconds.
The Bolide has also demonstrated its incredible performance on some of the most challenging racetracks in the world, such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe, and the Suzuka Circuit. According to Bugatti’s simulations, the Bolide can lap the Nürburgring in 5:23.1 minutes, the Le Mans in 3:07.1 minutes, and the Suzuka in 1:52.8 minutes. These times are comparable to or faster than the current records of Formula 1 and LMP1 cars.