This archive report was first published on 26 October 2021.
Published on October 26, 2021, Bugatti has been the gold standard of acceleration and top speeds, but with the emergence of much faster electric vehicles, their combustion engine reign might not stand for much longer.
Their current mass production model, the Bugatti Chiron, had a 500-car limit. The first unit was delivered in March 2017 after the 2016 launch at the Geneva Motor Show. By May 2018, the 100th example had been delivered, and the 300th unit left the factory in March of this year.
However, only 40 slots are now available, and they have been dedicated to the Pur Sport and Super Sport versions. The Chiron Pur Sport prioritizes handling by shedding 110.2 pounds (50 kilograms) and using firmer suspension settings, while the Super Sport variant emphasizes power by adding about 99 horsepower for a total of 1578 hp over the regular model.
But Bugatti's combustion engine days may be numbered, as they have merged with Rimac, an electric supercar maker. The merger has sparked excitement for the future, as Rimac's hypercar, the Nevera, boasts 1,914 hp and 1,741 pound-feet (2,360 Newton-meters) of torque. It sprints from 0-60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in a mere 1.85 seconds and 0-62mph (0-100kmh) in 1.97 seconds.
The Nevera has a 120-kilowatt-hour battery with a WLTP-certified range of 342 miles (550 kilometers). Rimac is making just 150 of them, selling at $2 million each. The resulting car from the Bugatti and Rimac partnership is set to be unveiled by 2024, with only select clients getting a sneak peek before the debut behind closed doors.
