Having started life as a concept only four years ago, the Bugatti Bolide is nearly a reality and deliveries are expected to take place in a few months.

As testing and development of the track-only hypercar reach its conclusion, it is worth noting that according to Bugatti, the car will rival F1 cars for speed - 236mph to be precise. The only problem is finding a track with a long enough straight to achieve this, as straights on FIA-approved tracks are unable to exceed 2km in length.

All of this impressive speed is owed to the Bolide’s 8.0-litre W-16 engine, first seen on the Veyron and also used on the Chiron, which produces 1,824hp and features an ultra-lightweight advanced carbon fibre monocoque developed in collaboration with Italian manufacturer Dallara. Bugatti will be switching to a V-16 hybrid powertrain for its next generation of hypercars and if you haven’t already heard what it sounds like, have a listen here.

Bugatti has sought advice during testing and development from its official test driver, since 2011, and Triple Crown winner, Andy Wallace. The British driver became the first person to break the 300mph mark in a production car in a Chiron and Bugatti’s engineers have used his knowledge shared from years of racing at the highest level as they refined the Bolide’s aerodynamics, drivetrain, and handling characteristics.

Wallace, said: “Everything about the car is on a completely different level to what I have driven before. All cars are difficult to drive at their limit, but even at the limits of its capabilities, the Bugatti Bolide remains remarkably easy to drive. When you have a car with this much capability, and this much downforce, not many people would believe that is possible. Even I found myself in a state of disbelief after my initial stint driving the Bolide.”

Wallace added: “The feeling when you come out of a corner, press the throttle, and experience that relentless surge of power is incomparable. You come out of that corner at 100km/h, and from there to 200km/h and then 300km/h is an absolute revelation. In that specific scenario, the Bolide would pull away from a Formula 1 car.”

The Bolide has been developed adhering to the same LMH and LMDh requirements as Le Mans race cars. It features an entirely new seat position for Bugatti which reclines into the rear of the car so that the driver’s heels are raised. Two years of testing the unique Brembo braking system has led F1 levels of stopping power and high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport slick tyres give it unmatched levels of grip and traction on track.

Emilio Scervo, CTO of Bugatti Rimac, commented: “Development of the Bolide was a fresh but familiar direction for the brand. Its racing DNA not only demonstrates our unwavering commitment and capabilities in top tier automotive performance, but it also resonates deeply with our legacy in motorsport competition. The results of this project are evidence of our engineering prowess, craftsmanship and racing heritage – a result we are extremely proud of.”

The Bugatti Bolide is priced at €4 million and only 40 will ever be built, with deliveries expected to start in a few months time.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Bugatti