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Bugatti walks us through the Chiron Pur Sport's testing process

Bugatti is emerging from weeks of lockdown loudly, and sometimes sideways. Its engineers have started testing the Chiron Pur Sport unveiled in March 2020 on the Blister Berg track nestled in Germany's Teutoberg forest. Blister Berg is a private track, so the team only has three days to fine-tune the Pur Sport's chassis, steering, suspension, and gearbox — the latter isn't the same unit that's found in the Chiron because its gear ratios are shorter in order to deliver quicker acceleration. Engineers are also monitoring wear-and-tear items, like the tires, and keeping an eye on the model-specific engine components. That's a lot to cram into three days, especially since Bugatti had to reduce the size of the team it sent to the track in order to comply with the social-distancing measures that remain in effect throughout much of the world. Germany's dense, fairytale-like forest is no exception. Luckily, sensors aren't affected by health-related restrictions, and there's no limit to the number Bugatti can stuff into the two pre-production prototypes tirelessly lapping the Blister Berg track. They're monitoring a variety of parameters, including the exhaust temperature. They're also helping engineers set up the new Sport+ driving mode that relies on gyro-based technology to make the Chiron more eager to drift. Creating this profile requires a tremendous amount of calibration work. Testers download data after each run, analyze it, and make changes if needed. Bugatti told Autoblog the Chiron can already drift, but the new mode makes it a little bit easier. Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport testing View 14 Photos Going through this costly, time-consuming process is a way for the firm to demonstrate that its definition of performance doesn't end at straight-line speed. It wants to show a lesser-known side of its personality. "Bugatti has always proven it can build fast cars in terms of top speed," the company told Autoblog, pointing to cars like the Chiron Super Sport 300+. "However, we also have a history of building cars devoted to agility. This is often forgotten or overshadowed by the incredible top speed feats. We, as did some of our valued customers we talked to about this, felt we should complete the spectrum of performance of the Chiron lineup." Validation testing will continue in the coming months; Bugatti will notably take the Pur Sport to the Nurburgring.

Even the Bugatti Veyron is subject to recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration listed three recalls for the Bugatti Veyron today. Yes, even the super-rich have recalls on their cars. And being unable to afford a Veyron we can't help but feel a tiny amount of schadenfreude. One question not answered in these recalls: What's the loaner car when your Veyron is in the shop? The Basics: Bugatti will recall 72 examples of the 2006-2010 Veyron with manufacturing dates between October 3, 2006, and January 17, 2010, and the 2010-2011 Veyron Grand Sport from between September 29, 2009, to June 30, 2010. The Problem: The fuel gauge may show there's more gas in the tank than there actually is. The Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank control unit and upgrade the software. If you own one: Bugatti hasn't yet told NHTSA when the recall will begin. The Basics: Bugatti will recall 13 examples of the 2006-2008 Veyron with manufacturing dates between October 3, 2006, to December 22, 2006. The Problem: The positive battery cable and the connection to the alternator can corrode. This could cause the cable to overheat. Accidents/Injuries: None reported. The Fix: Dealers will replace the positive battery cable and alternator. If you own one: Bugatti hasn't yet told NHTSA when the recall will begin. The Basics: Bugatti will recall 87 examples of the 2006-2010 Veyron from March 10, 2006, to March 9, 2012, the 2010-2012 Veyron Grand Sport from September 29, 2009, to October 14, 2014, and the 2011-2013 Veyron Super Sport from February 18, 2011, to August 17, 2012. The Problem: The aluminum plates under the vehicle, which support it during lifting, can corrode and potentially detach from the supercar. If this happens while the Veyron is on the road, the plates could become a hazard to other drivers. The Fix: Dealers will rivet and seal the underbody plates. If you own one: Bugatti hasn't yet told NHTSA when the recall will begin. RECALL Subject : Fuel Gauge may Read Higher than Actual Report Receipt Date: APR 08, 2016 NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V200000 Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Potential Number of Units Affected: 72 All Products Associated with this Recall close Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) BUGATTI VEYRON 2006-2010 BUGATTI VEYRON GRAND SPORT 2010-2011 Details Manufacturer: Bugatti SUMMARY: Bugatti is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Veyron vehicles manufactured October 3, 2006, to January 17, 2010 and 2010-2011 Veyron Grand Sport vehicles manufactured September 29, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

Inattentive driver leaves a Bugatti Chiron nose down in a ditch

Even the most capable and experienced drivers sometimes have a lapse in concentration, like the Bugatti test driver who put this $2.5 million Chiron into a ditch at a Volkswagen test facility in Wolfsburg, Germany. Bugatti confirmed to German publication Bild that the unfortunate accident was caused by an "inattentive" test driver. There were no injuries in the crash, though the Chiron has certainly looked better. The photo from the GTBoard.com Facebook page shows the partially covered supermegahypercar being carried away by a tractor. The nose is busted, but the rest of the car seems to be intact. It's not clear what exactly caused the crash or how fast the test driver was going, but it's likely very easy to lose control when you have 16 cylinders and four turbochargers churning out 1,500 horsepower. As a test vehicle, this particular Chiron may have been testing some new parts or settings, so the driver may not be entirely to blame. Maybe the tester was just trying to avoid a low-flying pelican commit insurance fraud by intentionally sinking the car. At least the ditch wasn't a lake. Related Video: News Source: BildImage Credit: GTBoard Bugatti Coupe Supercars Bugatti Chiron