Bugatti blew our collective minds back in 2019 when it smashed the 300 mph production barrier for production cars with the 490.48 km/h Chiron Super Sport 300+. But, much like the handling-focused Chiron Pur Sport that arrived in 2020 to prove that Bugattis could do more than go fast in a straight line, the 300+ gave up a big dollop of luxury and refinement to deliver that headline-grabbing top speed.
So, what if you desire the power and performance of the Super Sport 300+, but don’t want to compromise on the luxury features present on a ‘regular’ Chiron? That’s where the new Super Sport comes in. In essence, the Super Sport promises the best of both worlds: physics defying performance, but without giving away anything in terms of comfort. If that sounds like an enticing blend you’re going to need € 3.2 million (US$ 3.9 million) plus taxes to grab one of the 60 Bugatti will build.
That makes the Super Sport twice as numerous as the 300+, which appears to donate its slippery bodywork, including the extended tail section that helps generate enough downforce that the Bugatti can retract the multi-position rear wing in Top Speed mode and still have adequate stability. Bugatti EB110-inspired circular vents in the front fenders and twin exhaust tailpipes, again inspired by the 1990s supercar, are carried over from the 300+, while the five-Y spoke aluminium wheels are exclusive to the Super Sport. They don’t look bad, but we’d go for the optional magnesium rims from the Pur Sport.
Moving to the interior, instead of the sporty Alcantara found in the 300+ and Pur Sport, you get leather, polished aluminum and luxuries suitable for ‘high-speed continental trips’, says Bugatti. You might notice that the ‘300+’ bit is missing from the name this time around, and with good reason. The Super Sport might be packing the same 1578 hp and 1180 lb ft version of Bugatti’s quad-turbo W16 as the record breaker, rather than the 1480 hp and 1180 lb ft of the regular Chiron, but this time top speed has been electronically limited to 440 km/h in the interests of ‘safety and homologation’.
But aside from potentially losing you a top speed bragging war with a Koenigsegg Agera owner in the country club bar, that reduction in top speed doesn’t make the Super Sport less of a car. In fact, it likely makes it much more enjoyable to drive, because freed from the need to make this Chiron safe and stable at over 300 mph, Bugatti’s engineers have been able to concentrate on making the tires and suspension work at real world speeds. You know, like up to a mere 273 mph.
And you still get a whole load more straightline performance than a regular Chiron thanks to the extra engine muscle. Bugatti says the Super Sport gets to 200 km/h in 5.8 seconds and 300 km/h in 12.1 seconds. That compares with 6.1 seconds and 13.1 secs for the stock Chiron, which also needs 32.6 seconds to reach 400 km/h, whereas the Super Sport is 7 per cent faster, says Bugatti. Impressive numbers, certainly, but let’s not forget that Rimac’s C_Two Nevera can hit 186 mph from rest in 9.3 seconds. Still, we don’t think that will stop 60 incredibly rich men and women from opening their wallets to experience the Super Sport.
