Bugatti Divo: a €5 million "tuned" Chiron

Seen but not seen: the new Bugatti Divo, of which 40 units will be built at a price of €5 million, has been presented to brand clients at Pebble Beach. And they are all already sold out.

Some will say I’m being a little harsh. But I have to admit that the Bugatti Divo disappointed me a little. Perhaps because of the expectation built up before its presentation with the first teaser of the Divo, and with the first news about its price. But in truth, I began to “deflate” when I saw the preview of its silhouette under a blue sheet. It smelled too much like a Bugatti Chiron tuned up.

The name Divo comes from the French driver Albert Divo, twice winner of the legendary Targa Florio with Bugatti in the late 1920s.

Now that the Bugatti Divo has been unveiled to the world, and all its details are known, I can say I expected more. Much more. Of course, the 40 chosen buyers who have already reserved each of the Divos to be built won’t think the same, at the modest price of €5 million. But let’s get down to business, and for that, what better than a video.

Video of the Bugatti Divo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqDT5_4z_YI

A Chiron prepared for the bends

What even those who paid to be able to boast of having one in their garage cannot deny is that the Bugatti Divo is a Chiron… tuned up. Let no one be confused. No, it is not a new car. The mechanical base is the same, chassis and engine. It hasn’t even been used to make room for some kind of electrification to lower consumption figures that are as outlandish as its price: 35.2 l/100 km in the city, 15.2 extra-urban and 22.5 combined, with CO2 emissions of 516 g/km. Feeding the 8-litre, 1,500 CV W16 engine does come at a cost.

Aesthetics aside, the main changes focus on aerodynamics and suspension. With a single goal: to take a step forward over the Chiron in terms of agility and cornering speed, leaving aside the race for top speed. Therefore the Bugatti Divo advertises a top speed of “only” 380 km/h. But also for that reason, the Divo beats the Chiron by a whopping 8 seconds on the Nardo handling circuit. This is how it achieves it.

Optimised aerodynamics: up to 456 kg of downforce

In aerodynamic terms, the Bugatti Divo offers many solutions. The front air intakes have been designed to reduce the frontal section to improve aerodynamic efficiency, without compromising cooling. The special air-channelling system directing air to the brakes used on the Chiron here receives the additional help of the airflow generated by the wheels as they rotate.

On the roof a NACA-type air intake has been installed, responsible for ensuring the large intake airflow the engine needs. The rear wing, with adjustable height, also acts as an air brake. It measures 1.83 metres in width, 23% wider than the Chiron’s. The rear diffuser has also been completely redesigned. Together, all these elements increase the Divo’s aerodynamic load, which is capable of generating up to 456 kg of downforce against the asphalt, 90 kg more than the Chiron.

Added to this, the Bugatti Divo cuts 35 kg from the Chiron’s final weight, and the changes made to the suspension, steering and tyres allow lateral accelerations of up to 1.6 G.

Otherwise, aesthetic changes make the Divo look even lower and longer than the Chiron. The upper part of the bodywork, finished in a matt titanium colour developed specifically for the Divo, helps this effect. The lower section, however, reveals carbon fibre, in a shade that Bugatti calls “petrol blue”. The rear design with sophisticated 3D-effect lights is also a completely new feature.

The use of exposed carbon fibre continues into the interior, here with a matt rather than gloss finish, matching the Alcantara and leather upholstery in shades of grey and blue. As befits a car designed to withstand greater lateral accelerations, the seats are also new, designed for greater lateral support.

Image gallery of the Bugatti Divo