Bugatti Bolide Sounds Ferocious at Airfield Test

1578 horsepower does not disappoint.

When Bugatti announced that a production variant of the insane track-only Bolide concept was on its way, the entire industry began waiting for its arrival. That announcement came all the way back in 2021, with the final production form of the car finally breaking cover back in April. With deliveries now scheduled for 2024, the Bugatti Bolide is deep in its development testing cycle. The automaker has just shared a short clip of the car undergoing high-speed testing at an unused airbase.

Whereas the Chiron wraps its weapons-grade speed in the most luxurious package possible, the Bugatti Bolide strips away everything that gets in the way of raw track capability. The chassis itself is based on the carbon-fiber monocoque utilized by the Chiron, but it has been modified with an integrated roll cage for Bolide. The engine itself is also the familiar 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16, which received adjustments to the cooling package for track use. The engine's four turbos are also always in operation in Bolide spec, while the whole W-16 is mounted slightly differently than in other Bugatti products. The tweaks help the Bolide produce a ludicrous 1578 hp, which is notably down from the 1825 hp promised by the early concept. That power is routed to all four wheels by way of an upgraded version of the automaker's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The clip shows that the motor takes on a unique character in this car, with more of an edge to its tone. It sounds as powerful as it is, particularly from the brief in-cabin shots.

The bodywork and aero package surrounding that powertrain immediately make the Bolide's intentions clear. The production car is slightly revised from the earlier concept, featuring a more pronounced roof scoop and physical mirrors in place of fender-mounted cameras. Out back you’ll notice a new rear wing with a large adjustable component. The aero package up front is centered around the splitter on the nose, with the car designed to dive hard under braking to maximize the grip available to the driver. That said, Bugatti has reduced the number of fins behind the front wheels in an effort to better balance the aero setup. Bugatti says the car will produce almost three tons of downforce, which is owed to the advanced aero package. The Bolide is capable of providing 2.5 g of lateral grip on the skidpad, according to Bugatti. For reference, the Chiron pulls 1.06 g. The car tips the scales at only 3196 pounds.

Only 40 examples of the Bugatti Bolide are slated for production, with each already spoken for at this time. That's not all that surprising considering the level of performance on offer from this machine, but the car's $4.8 million price tag is still somewhat of a challenge to ignore. Hopefully the owners of these cars have less trivial concerns than the rest of us and actually get these things on track. It’d be a shame to see such an extreme car spend its entire life stationary.

Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.

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