Bugatti Chiron Super Sport Review: Blowing the Mind with All Kinds of Superlatives

Following hot on the (w)heels of the record-setting 300+, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport arrived in June 2021. You can think of it as a slightly more watered-down but a more comfort-oriented version. Obviously, as this is still a Bugatti, there is no chance that the Chiron Super Sport is slow in any shape or form.

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is so full of mind-blowing numbers that it is easy to forget that it is still a luxury automobile. Where several new supercars get electrical assistance, the Chiron Super Sport simply relies on its massive W16 engine for propulsion. I need not say this, but this is not the car for those who are extremely eco-conscious.

What makes the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport so fast?

Optimized aerodynamics

Compared to the Bugatti Chiron, the bodywork of the Chiron Super Sport is more streamlined. This resulted in a redesigned front splitter, larger air intakes, special air curtains, and an extended rear with a longer tail for better high-speed stability.

There is also the lower & wider rear with a revised diffuser for reduced drag, nine-hole air exhausts above the front fenders, and new vertically-aligned quad tailpipes. The lighter-weight Y-spoke aluminum alloy wheels are specific to the Chiron Super Sport and they sure look fantastic.

Higher-output powerplant, lower curb weight

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport weighs around 1,973 kilograms, making it about 23 kilograms lighter than the standard Chiron. Bugatti also tinkered with the 8.0-liter W16 engine, ensuring a hundred horses more – meaning 1,578 hp and 1,600 Nm. More importantly, all this torque is accessible between 2,000 and 7,000 rpm, making this a really tractable powerplant.

Performance that exceeds expectations

Compared to the standard Chiron, the quad turbochargers here are larger, while the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission has also been tweaked. A taller seventh gear allows for a higher top speed with quicker accelerations between gears being a noticeable highlight. In this case, 0-100 km/h comes up in 2.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 5.8 seconds.

There are four driving modes – EB, Handling, Autobahn, and Top Speed. Wrapping around the Y-spoke wheels are higher-performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires rated for higher top speeds. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has an electronically limited top speed of 440 km/h – that’s over 120 meters per second.

Stomping on the brake pedal will result in the two-ton Chiron Super Sport deploying its massive rear spoiler and activating its 420mm front & 400mm rear brakes. The permanent all-wheel drive system means there’s a tremendous amount of mechanical grip, with electronic nannies assisting every step of the way to keep you on the road.

For what it’s worth, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has very few rivals in the real world, especially for true petrolheads. Its performance numbers are so easily accessible yet insanely impractical on public roads (outside of the autobahn) that few will even scrape the surface of its true potential. Unlike some newer supercars, the exhaust note of the Chiron Super Sport remains unique and unadulterated.

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Not just a beast on the straights

Bugatti engineers have worked hard to make the Chiron Super Sport handle well in the corners. The electronically-controlled chassis uses stiffer springs & dampers over the regular Chiron, along with tighter ratios for the steering. This results in flatter and more composed cornering and a quicker and sharper response to steering inputs.

The computer-controlled dampers are capable of adjusting themselves to different road conditions in as little as 6 milliseconds. Given its quick suspension and smart chassis control, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is rarely ever caught off guard. While it’s certainly not a nimble sports car, the Chiron Super Sport manages its heft and changes directions fairly well.

No plastic to be found in this interior

The exquisite interior of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport feels extremely well-made and expensive as it should. Search as hard as you might, you will not find cheap interior materials here – they’re either carbon-fiber, aluminum, or leather. There are also no tacky digital screens that may age this cabin in years to come – classiness and elegance are top priorities.

The cabin of the Chiron Super Sport not only feels neat and plush, but its minimalist design and incredible attention-to-detail lead to one of the most satisfying automotive experiences out there. It remains quiet at low speeds on smooth surfaces, but the W16 makes itself felt whenever the quad turbos are awakened. There is some road noise emanating from the massive wheels, but nothing that will other its ultra-rich owners.

An incredible purchase for the history books

All units of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport have long been sold out. You see, this review was never about you being able to buy one of these incredible machines brand-new. It was about exploring what it would feel like driving this 1,600-horsepower luxury hypercar at insane speeds, even if it involved racetracks.

When it was on sale a few years ago, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport in the UAE had a price tag of well over 20 million dirhams! If you could afford this, you were either from the royal family or were in the ‘import & export’ business. Either way, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport will remain one of the all-time greats and be fondly remembered for decades to come.