The Bugatti Bolide pushes its limits on the track to perfect its high-performance aerodynamics

Incredibly fast. Extreme without compromise. An unrivaled hyper sports car. The idea of creating the ultimate Bugatti, intended for the circuit, becomes a reality. With its design finalized and its first prototype built, the Bolide demonstrates advanced aerodynamic capabilities during extremely demanding tests on circuits renowned for their dynamic complexity. The results achieved so far are simply astonishing.

The most ambitious projects are often born from the simplest ideas. In the case of the Bolide¹, the objective was clear from the start: to create the lightest car possible, reduced to the essentials, around the iconic 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine. Its appeal has been undeniable, generating considerable interest from customers around the world, prompting Bugatti to produce a limited series of just 40 vehicles. Two and a half years after the presentation of the Bolide concept and after numerous simulations, the hyper sports car is now perfected on real circuits, as part of an uncompromising test program aimed at obtaining performance worthy of a motor racing car.

The tests are rigorous and incessant, just like what a vehicle of this nature should be, delivering 1,600 PS for a curb weight of only 1,450 kg, thus achieving an unrivaled weight/power ratio. Lap after lap, the Bolide is pushed to its limits, in order to obtain optimal handling, while remaining faithful to Bugatti’s philosophy according to which a hyper sports car must be accessible to everyone, whatever the driving level.

One of the key elements of this success lies in the mastery of aerodynamics, an absolute priority for the Bugatti engineering team. The vehicle’s performance in demanding corners and straights are the final points of validation after months of complex development work focused on aerodynamics. Simulations were carried out on renowned circuits around the world, each with unique characteristics, in order to calibrate the Bolide as close as possible to its physical limits. Christian Willmann, Chief Engineer for the Bolide, explains: “This extensive aerodynamic work is usually reserved for the elite of motorsport, but it has allowed us to meticulously shape the Bolide to ensure remarkable performance and agility. »

The results of the efforts deployed are being felt: the demanding program in progress reveals exceptional results in the corners where the Bolide reaches up to 2.5 G laterally and generates nearly three tonnes of aerodynamic downforce depending on the speed. These figures attest to the vehicle’s revolutionary aerodynamics, low center of gravity and powerful 16-cylinder powertrain.

The exceptional performance of the Bolide demonstrates Bugatti’s uncompromising commitment to tailor-made products, essential for a vehicle of this scale. This is evident at the front, where a diffuser was developed especially for the vehicle. The air entering it is compressed under the front splitter then expands under the diffuser, creating a suction which keeps the car on the ground. Additionally, the diffuser is capable of channeling air from left to right until it exhausts behind the front tires.

A number of other technical innovations are also an integral part of the Bolide’s performance. Specially designed air curtains in front of the front wheels ensure optimal air circulation around the car, reducing overall drag. The fins positioned on the outer edges of the front splitter generate a spiral airflow, creating a vortex that energizes the airflow towards the diffuser, improving downforce at the rear. The narrow cabin design allows ideal airflow to the side coolers, featuring large inlets and deep ducts, to maintain optimal engine operating temperature. The mirrors have also been carefully designed to divert air towards the intercoolers, increasing their efficiency.

However, Bugatti chose to integrate a physical rearview mirror rather than a camera system not only for reasons of increased efficiency, but also to offer drivers a quicker assessment of distances between other cars, which is crucial on a circuit. “It is these essential details that will allow Bugatti Bolide drivers to enjoy a complete track experience,” explains Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director of Bugatti Automobiles. “Design and technology merge in the Bolide. Every technical consideration translates directly into an aesthetic design. The Bolide perfectly illustrates the synergy and harmony between design and technical aspect. »

The very targeted performance tests of the Bolide prove essential to evaluate the performance of the hyper sports car in real time on the track. Numerous innovative technical solutions used on the Bolide, as part of its intensive motorsport-focused testing program, ensure exceptional peak performance. These solutions were first developed and tested virtually using very advanced simulation methods. The Bugatti Bolide’s front splitter features carefully optimized geometry through multiple design iterations. This technical development process perfectly illustrates the seamless transition between the virtual and real world at Bugatti.

The challenge was to optimize the operation of the front splitter in all driving situations, particularly during transitions between different phases, such as going from straight-line driving to hard braking. When the car brakes, the front lowers, bringing the front splitter closer to the ground, thus generating an increase in downforce. However, in order to guarantee optimal control of the hyper sports car on the track and to maintain aerodynamic balance, it is essential not to create excessive downforce at the front during braking. Thus, no effort has been spared to shape the front splitter until it achieves perfect aerodynamic balance, even in extreme conditions.

The same complex process also improved the precise engineering of the Bolide’s rear wing, which can adapt to the characteristics of each circuit. To meet the individual needs of each driver, the Bolide’s aerodynamic package can be adjusted to achieve an optimal balance between downforce and drag. Thus, each owner will have the opportunity to drive the Bolide and discover its performance worthy of motorsport, on circuits around the world.

The first deliveries of the Bolide, production of which is limited to 40 vehicles sold at a net unit price of four million euros, will begin in 2024.