The Bolide is Bugatti’s ultimate track-only hypercar. Only 40 will ever be made, and despite costing over $4.5 million each, all are spoken for. It’s the last hurrah for the legendary 8.0-liter W16 engine — a fitting farewell to one of the most remarkable powerplants in automotive history.
One of the most striking aspects of the Bolide’s design is its use of advanced materials and construction techniques to minimize weight. The car has a remarkably low weight of just about 1,240 kilograms (2,733 pounds), achieved through the extensive use of carbon fiber and titanium.
At the heart of the Bolide is Bugatti’s iconic 8.0-liter W16 engine, which has been significantly modified for enhanced performance on the track. In this application, the engine produces an astounding 1600 horsepower (with 110-octane racing fuel), making the Bolide one of the most powerful cars ever conceived by Bugatti.
Bugatti claims the Bolide could lap the Nürburgring in 5 minutes 23 seconds, just a few seconds behind Porsche’s 919 Evo. At 200 mph, it generates three tons of downforce, thanks to a complex aerodynamic design refined through extensive wind tunnel and computer testing.
To experience what it’s truly like to pilot this remarkable creation, CAR magazine’s Deputy Editor, Piers Ward, takes it for a drive — exploring the limits of Bugatti’s most ferocious and focused hypercar to date. Also, in the video, Le Mans winner and Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace explains the science behind the Bolide’s otherworldly aerodynamics.
