No, this isn’t the Bugatti Chiron SS 300+ that broke the 300 mph barrier last year and was sold in extremely limited quantities to Bugatti’s ritziest clientele. It is, however, still a Bugatti Chiron SS. Think of it as the low-calorie version of the full-fat fettuccine alfredo that is the Chiron SS 300+.
If it’s got “SS” in the name, then speed is definitely its game. To that end, the Chiron SS has a thoroughly reworked version of the (already immensely powerful) 8.0-liter quad-turbo W-16 that sits aft of the cabin of the normal Chiron and Chiron Sport. The resulting work results in a higher redline of 7,100 rpm, up from the regular Chiron’s 6,800 rpm mark. It also gifted the Chiron SS with 1,578 hp and a colossal 1,180 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which the engine delivers between 2,000 rpm and 7,000 rpm. It’s a mighty engine, but when you’re aiming for a top speed of 273 mph, you need more than just power.
To that end, the Chiron SS also has a number of aerodynamic enhancements borrowed from the Chiron SS 300+. Like that car, this SS adopts more aerodynamic front and rear ends, as well as a new exhaust setup. The 18 holes on the top of the car’s front fenders (nine on each side) are also borrowed from the record car and help reduce pressure in the wheel wells for better stability at higher speeds.
Unlike the 300+, this Chiron SS maintains a massive active rear wing. This Chiron SS also gets a special set of five-spoke wheels, is painted in a half-and-half two-tone scheme, and wears a set of model-specific Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires that were tested at speeds as high as 310 mph.
