Bugatti designer Frank Heyl talks about the Chiron Pur Sport and Chiron Super Sport 300+
Molsheim, July 21th 2020. Extremely fast and extremely agile. With the Chiron Super Sport 300+1 and the Chiron Pur Sport1, Bugatti is offering two entirely distinct and extreme hyper sports cars: for breathtaking longitudinal dynamics and extraordinary lateral dynamics. Both vehicles are unique in their own way – not just in terms of technology, but visually too. The right vehicle for every purpose – entirely in line with the philosophy of company founder Ettore Bugatti.
Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti, explains the key elements of his work and his creations. “When designing the Chiron Pur Sport and the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the focus was on technical principles to such an extent that it was crucial to establish a symbiosis between design and technology. There were huge demands in terms of what the hyper sports cars had to be capable of,” says Frank Heyl. Design and technology are unmistakably combined in the two extreme vehicles. “You can’t talk about one area without mentioning the other. That’s why we designers had to work closely together with the engineers during the development process.”
Pursport vs Supersport front
Chiron Pur Sport
In the Chiron Pur Sport, Bugatti has consistently pursued the goal of lateral acceleration. It is a radical and extreme development approach. The Chiron Pur Sport is the perfect hyper sports car for drivers who want to achieve total harmony with a bend when cornering. Thanks to a weight reduction of 50 kilograms combined with increased downforce and its uncompromisingly sporty suspension, the Chiron Pur Sport offers incredible road grip. Added to this, it offers sensational acceleration figures and extremely precise handling thanks to a shorter gear ratio. For Bugatti, it was a major step to limit the top speed to 350 km/h.
The enlarged air intakes on the front provide for improved airflow through the radiators even at low speeds. The front splitter has been drawn strikingly towards the front and generates maximum downforce while also visually supporting the broad effect at the front. The ridgelines through the air outlets on the front wings are stretched like tendons on a muscle. “The color separation of the paint finish on the upper half and black exposed carbon on the lower half makes the Chiron Pur Sport appear flattered and wider. This matches the sporty appearance of the vehicle,” explains designer Heyl.
In order to compensate at the rear for the aero balance and the greatly increased downforce at the front axle, the 1.90-meter wide rear wing and a generously dimensioned and long diffuser ensure massive downforce at the rear axle. The angled rear wing mounts together with the rear apron form a large X, inspired by science fiction and motorsports elements. The final touch is provided by the extremely light and high-temperature-resistant exhaust tailpipes made of 3D-printed titanium. This manufacturing process makes for a very thin-walled and lightweight component. “3D printing frees us from the limitations of shapes and radii. We can use it to produce very specific components,” says Frank Heyl. In order to achieve perfect weight distribution, it was advantageous to save as much weight as possible behind the rear axle. The weight saving achieved by eliminating the Chiron wing kinematics and the extremely light tailpipe trim cover shift the weight balance further into the center of the vehicle.
For the first time in series production, Bugatti offers a horizontal split paint finish. Here the exposed carbon of the body is partially painted, so the side is visually split horizontally. The lower, darker section of the Chiron Pur Sport visually blends with the road in terms of color tone, producing an even flatter and more dynamic appearance. Optional, highly aerodynamic wheels with aero blades ensure improved cooling of the brakes and minimize drag. The aero blades produce air suction, draw the heat from the brakes outwards and route the airflow closely along with the bodywork, which discharges it towards the rear. In addition, the very light magnesium wheels also dissipate heat so the brakes cannot overheat even during very sharp maneuvers. The weight of the four wheels, each of which has ten spokes, has been reduced by a total of 16 kilograms. Bugatti is due to start production of the Chiron Pur Sport, which is limited to 60 units in the second half of 2020. The net price is around 3 million euros.
Pursport vs Supersport side