2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport TSM - 430574 (diecast)
Published 06/03/22
In 2016, Bugatti introduced the replacement of the Veyron, the Bugatti Chiron. Obviously, it was even more outrageous than the Veyron. Though using the same 7993 cm³ W16 with four turbochargers, Bugatti upgraded the engine to 1479 hp. Who could blame them, since the Veyron was so slow…🤨 Independent if 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds is slow or not, Bugatti wanted a faster car. By the way, the Chiron hits 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds. If that 0.1 second is important or not, that is for the super rich to decide. It must be, because by January 2022 the Chiron was sold out. Of the 300 Chiron in all versions built (or planned) up until 2021, ALL were already paid for. If you consider that the “basic” Chiron costs €2,400,000, Bugatti must be doing something right.
In the world of hypercars, one thing that helps them sell are the special issues of the base car. In the case of the Chiron, in 2018 Bugatti released the track-focused Chiron Sport. Then came the Sport 110 Ans Bugatti followed by the Super Sport 300+. The latter was to celebrate Bugatti’s 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) 2019 record. Later on, in 2020, Bugatti released the Chiron Pur Sport. If the Sport was for the track and the 300+ was for speed, the Pur Sport was for handling. Bugatti adjusted almost everything in the car to make it handle better than the other versions. All in all, Bugatti planned 60 units of the model, with production starting in late 2020.
The engine of the Pur Sport is the same 8-liters W16, delivering the same outrageous 1479 hp. However, Bugatti revised 80% of the transmission, giving a 15% closer gear ratio and a 200-rpm increase to the red line (now 6900 rpm). The 3D-printed titanium exhaust saves 50 kg, and tires are new Michelin Sport Cup 2R with 10% more lateral grip. Wheels are also new, with special “aero blades” spokes that channel turbulent air to the rear diffuser. In terms of aerodynamics, the big difference from the base model is the huge wing on the back. The added downforce, together with 65% and 33% stiffer springs on the front and back respectively, gives the Pur Sport a much more precise handling. In the interior Bugatti abused of anodized aluminum, titanium and alcantara. Therefore, the owner can rip through the twisties in style.
As expected, the Chiron Pur Sport is an exercise in excess. It is excessively fast, excessively complicated and excessively expensive. It is a hypercar, and hypercars are not rational. Basically, they exist because they can exist, and not because they are necessary. Nonetheless, even with a €3,270,000 price tag (without taxes), I’m confident Bugatti won’t have much trouble moving the car. Especially because this is supposed to be the last Bugatti exclusively with an ICE, without electric motors. With the merger between Rimac and Bugatti in November of 2021, you can be certain that the next hypercar from Bugatti will be battery-powered.
In scale, the Chiron Pur Sport is very nice, however not superlative as the real deal. To my surprise, it is diecast. And since it is not resin, body details are not overly crisp. Moreover, add-on details, like the windshield wipers for instance, are on the thicker side. That being so, the overall aspect of the model is not high-end. Think of it as a nice (and basic) diecast Minichamps, and not a superb resin Spark. I can’t say I regret buying it, however I did expect more from the brand. ALL my other models from TSM are a notch or two above in terms of detail level. Therefore, (very?) nice, though not great.
How does that saying go, constantly repeated around here? Buy the model and not the brand?
Well, looks like somebody was NOT paying attention 🙄.