The automotive world moves so fast nowadays that momentous achievements simply don't remain newsworthy for as long as they probably should. Take the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the very first car to surpass 300mph, when only a very small selection of cars can do even two-thirds of that. Once upon a time it would have been in the headlines for weeks; today it gets 15 minutes of fame and then the next thing comes along.
But behind the scenes - and with the commemorative watchmaking outsourced - progress is being made on getting the 300+ to production, as proven by these spy shots. Furthermore, unlike the Chiron Pur Sport detailed by Bugatti recently, this is a much more thorough overhaul than a bit more negative camber and some sticky Michelins. It's effectively a Chiron longtail, the rear dramatically different to a standard car to the benefit of aerodynamics. Not only is the overhang markedly increased, the entire back section is totally different. Note the four-exhaust arranged vertically like pairs of rocket launchers, the gigantic rear diffuser and what looks like a more pronounced angle of the spoiler. Those looking really closely might spy some additional vents behind the front wheels, too. It means business, the Super Sport 300+, in a way that the standard Chiron doesn't, especially here in brooding black camo wrap - which is some achievement given the base car.
Otherwise these fly spattered hacks - note the different wheel colours - are familiar as Chirons, with that distinctive front end unchanged and the interior still kitted out in quilted leather. Back when the 1,600hp 300+ was launched, Bugatti said that the option would be there to kit out the car in full record breaking spec and have a go at 300mph on the Ehra-Lessien track; we're yet to see a car in that specification, though when you're paying £4.2m for a Bugatti, Molsheim is probably fairly accommodating of requests. And you would if you could, right?
Remember just 30 of these Super Sports will be made, so it's going to be one of the rarest Chirons as well as the very fastest. Those fortunate enough to have secured one should receive their example of the world's fastest car at some point in 2021. Which, even for the world's very wealthiest, promises to be one hell of a day.
Image credit: S.Balduaf/S.B.Medien
1 / 7