Bugatti Chiron has held the reputation of being one of the fastest cars in the world. Still, as Bugatti mentioned a while earlier, they're done chasing the highest top-speed figures - and their latest hypercar, the Chiron Profilee, is one of them - or, should we say, the only one ever!
The Chiron replaced Bugatti Veyron in 2016 - and raised the bar in terms of performance and usability, making it the benchmark among hypercars, which further meant the common man couldn't buy one again.
The Chiron Bugatti and Veyron have shared the same mind-boggling 8.0-liter W16 engine, except that it was properly revised for the Chiron. Bugatti promised to produce only 500 units of the car. But Bugatti being the passionate lot they've always been, decided to expand the Chiron's performance spectrum, meaning - faster and more powerful versions that were lighter.
This Is Where The Bugatti Chiron Profilee Comes From
Bugatti came up with a few derivatives, with each Chiron model using all that power from the W16 engine in different ways. The light Chiron Pur Sport was one among them; it featured a wider wing, accelerated faster, came with shorter gear ratios, and increased lateral acceleration, which pushed it to a top speed of 217 mph.
The Chiron Super Sport, a grand tourer in comparison, pushed out the same horsepower as the Pur Sport and was limited to a top speed of 273 mph, making it faster than the Pur Sport, however. Bugatti's test driver, Andy Wallace, drove a prototype of the Chiron Super Sport 300+, reaching a record-breaking top speed of 304.773 mph in 2019.
With hyper sports carmakers being attentive to customer feedback, Bugatti decided to make another version of the Chiron to fulfill the customer's needs. So the engineers got cracking on a shape that was largely identical to the Chiron's but had the driving characteristics of the Pur Sport.
Bugatti Chiron Profilee Starts Taking Shape
The idea was to create a bespoke shape, one incorporating a sweeping tail that results in advanced thermodynamic air flow management and enhanced downforce over the rear axle - and there we go: Bugatti brought the Chiron Profilee into the world.
Everyone with the money to buy a Chiron wanted one, so the limited production number had been completed, with all 500 units allocated. At this point, the Profilee was still in the making. Despite knowing that there would be no more than one car being built, Bugatti had finished the pre-series car.
The result is the Chiron Profilee. The car can currently be found going on sale soon on RM Sotheby's auction site. This one-of-one Bugatti comprises standalone technology and will sadly be the last new Bugatti to be sold with the throbbing W16 engine.
Bugatti Chiron Profilee Looks Grand
For those of you who know your Bugattis, a close look at the Chiron and the Pur Sport will reveal design cues found on the Profilee. The Profilee somewhat has a lower stance because of the horizontal split that divides its shape.
The color you see is exclusive to this car, called 'Argent Atlantique'. The lower half of the silhouette is covered in Bleu Royal Carbon, with the carbon fiber structure almost looking like a mild tint. The horseshoe pattern on the alloy wheels is again exclusively designed, produced, and tested for the Profilee. The wheels are finished in 'Le Patron', along with polished aluminum accents.
When you look at the tail section of the Profilee, you'll know the emphasis on the 'less radical' part. The tail, seamlessly molded into the outline of the hyper sports car, features a hollow section that allows an easy exit of hot air; this was designed keeping in mind better stability at high speeds.
These subtle optical changes result in big changes, giving the Profilee the liberty to accelerate with a sense of urgency, further combining agility and speed while optimizing the performance of the W16 engine.
A closer look at the front reveals the Profilee's wider air inlets and a larger Bugatti horseshoe grille to help warm air exit from the radiators. There's even a new front splitter, plus a sculpted underbody that increases downforce and maximizes airflow.
What Makes The Bugatti Chiron Profilee's Interior Luxurious?
The Profilee is the first Chiron model to feature a woven leather finish across the center console, wrapping around the dashboard, the door panels, and the rear wall inlay. It involves the usage of 2,665 meters of leather strips, all applied by hand.
The seats are finished in Gris Rafale and Deep Blue leather, featuring the quilting pattern named by Bugatti as 'air parade'. The cockpit gets the Chiron's instrument cluster, featuring three compact displays with the analog speedometer bang in the middle. It is integrated into a black anodized aluminum housing.
The steering wheel is wrapped in deep blue leather and comes equipped with the long gear shift paddles from the Chiron Pur Sport. There are a pair of red buttons in the center; the one on the right is the engine start button, while the one on the left lets you switch between drive modes, like EB, Autobahn, Handling, and Lift.
Profilee Is The Fastest Accelerating Chiron Bugatti
The Chiron Profilee features all-new steering and suspension settings for better handling responses. Even the gearbox has been updated, so the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic unit now has shorter ratios. The rev limit too, has been pushed up by 200 rpm to a 6,900 rpm redline.
The Chiron Profilee's top speed is electronically limited to 236 mph, which sits between the Chiron Super Sport and Pur Sport. However, the special edition Profilee can accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 2.3 seconds, making it the quickest Chiron so far. Also, it goes from 0-186 mph in an unimaginable 12.4 seconds!
Source: Bugatti