The fastest cars in the world

In the area of ​​useless cars, therefore useful, I call Bugatti. The Molsheim company, revived thanks to the Volkswagen group and recently passed, but only half, under the control of the Croatian Rimac, has been producing hypercars in Alsace since 1998. But when we get used to everything, and even to the extreme, the one who created the Chiron, The Veyron and a group of cars derived from them, must push the (radiator) cover further. It is enough to excite engineers, convince journalists and please rare customers who can afford cars for more than 3 million euros. So Bugatti would be wrong to deny itself.

A promising concept

Therefore, in 2019, the brand sets itself a goal as simple as a good idea: to exceed 500 km / h. Almost a year later, the plan seems to have come to an end, and in front of the Château Saint Jean, which was owned by Ettore Bugatti and today is the headquarters of the brand, Stephan Winckelman, the boss, launches his machine. His line is not very good and his name is not very original. But the technical sheet of this Bolide calms the critics: 1,850 hp at 1,240 kg. We take the calculator and get a weight/power ratio of 0.67 hp/kg. What to be “Over 500 kilometers per hour” as the boss says. Engine? it is still a W16 with its group of 4 turbos. It develops 8 l and allows O to 1OO km / h in 2.17s. We are no longer in hypercar territory, but we have crossed the threshold of gigacars.

However, this car is not approved for the road. So it still has the wheels to release its standard tires and its carbon shell. But in order to be suitable for the track, it must comply with FIA regulations. No worries, the latter agrees. But. Because there is a big but. This is because its elephantine and fuel-efficient engine has not been updated at all. In short: it can’t be driven on the road or in a race. What remains is follow up days to tighten its 390mm Brembo brakes, which prevent the exit. And again, to make the machine run, you have to feed it with unleaded 110 octane fuel, the same as in F1. It is not easy to find Leclerc.

This creates many obstacles for the serial development of the record drive. So the brand is adjusting its ambitions a bit lower. But we are the same Bugatti, and the last version still reaches 1,600 hp, like the Chiron Sport, but increased to 1,450, as a result, we can go to the supermarket to fill up (without 98 of course) but you will have to take the gasoline to your home or to the side of the road because Bolide is not yet approved for the road.

As for speed expectations, they have also been reduced to 484 km / h. No problem: Bugatti guarantees that the forty cars it has put into production have found buyers, for 4 million euros each. When you like it, you count it and you take the trailer to go to the trackdays that the brand has promised to organize, as soon as the cars are delivered. When? Maybe this year. Especially since the latest updates took place a few days ago at the Italian circuit of Imola.