Posted on 09/02/2019 2:41:13 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
Ever since the Bugatti Chiron was launched, with a 261-mph speed limiter, we've been desperate to know what it could manage if let off the leash. Now Bugatti has done that at the vast Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany; the car smashed both the production-car record and the 300-mph barrier.
Factory test driver Andy Wallace, who previously set production-car records in both the Jaguar XJ220 and the McLaren F1, drove a slightly modified Chiron to a time, certified by the German TÜV organization, of 304.773 mph.
The Chiron used was in what is described by Bugatti as "near production" spec, modified with an additional safety cell and with aerodynamic changes and higher seventh-gear ratios, which we believe will be incorporated into a celebratory limited-edition model. It also used a slightly more powerful version of the regular Chiron's quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, turned up to produce 1600 hp, the same total made by the recently announced Centodieci.
The record was set in conjunction with Italian constructor Dallara, which makes the Chiron's body and developed the aerodynamic kit, and also Michelin which created the very special tires capable of dealing with such huge forces, rotating up to 4100 times a minute. The specially constructed Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires were all X-rayed before being selected for use on the car.
The 58-year-old British sports-car veteran and the team built up to the record speed over the course of more than a week, gradually increasing speeds to ensure that the car behaved according to the aerodynamic predictions and that lift and downforce were balanced.
After four days at Ehra-Lessien, the team had managed a peak speed of 299.8 mphbut was determined to break the 300-mph barrier.
(Excerpt) Read more at caranddriver.com ...
Youre right plus Im for any topic here that gets hits nowadays
Old days where youd follow a thread and go to post a reply and meanwhile a hundred replies had gone by or just refresh comments on a thread in seconds and another 30-40 replies popped up
Yes I can see preserving bandwidth then
Now Im so happy to see any thread goes over 100
Yeah. Chat..the other thread was missed. I’ll take care of that.
Pretty much every fast car is a VW these days. Bentley, maybe even Rolls Royce too. They all use VW engines. And they are beautiful engines.
How do you know ahead of time that the route you are taking in such a low rider does not have any speed bumps?
Damn, mang, did the pilot of that thing need a post-flight physical?
Yep. Reply count is going down which is not a good sign. Also, you see hardly any new posts occurring overnight. Anything to keep FR alive is a good thing...and car news in News helps do that!
NP. It’s a good video showing the climax of creeping over 300 mph.
Second sentence of the article: Now Bugatti has done that at the vast Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany.
They did repave part of the test track and the junction of old/new pavement would be hardly a ripple at normal autobahn speeds, but over 200 mph it creates quite a jolt, enough to bump the tires into the air and temporarily lost traction and adhesion.
What's your problem? I said speed bump not pavement seam.
Was that sarcasm? Sorry if it escaped me.
It’s a test track. No speed bumps.
Thanks for the ping. That is impressive.
Sarcasm wouldn't be the correct term.
Its a test track. No speed bumps.
Uhh yeah, I know that. How does one know when taking their million dollar low rider out on a Friday night that there won't be speed bumps to tear up the underside of the car?
So let me ask the many, many talented FReepers out there. How cheaply could you build a Bugatti-type car if you wanted to? My bias is to believe that an equivalent car could be built much more cheaply than Bugatti charges.
Holy crap! I thought I recognized that sound, that engine. It’s the GRX, from Speed Racer.
I don't understand what that has to do with Globalist Hypocrites who buy Bugatti's while insisting you 'do with less' to keep down the CO2.
It has nothing to do with any of that, of course. I just wanted to know how much of the price paid is for ‘status’, and how much is to cover the real costs of making that car.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.... how much of the price paid for a Smart Car (which is really just a golf cart with a body) is for ‘status’ and how much to cover the real costs of making that car ?
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