Memories of one of the greats in racing history. Louis Chiron, works driver for Bugatti from 1926 to 1932 and a Grand Prix champion 18 times over. Hardly anyone personifies the idealism and fanatical relationship with his racing car in the way that Chiron does. In his very first race, the 1926 Grand Prix de Provence, he took fourth place by storm in a Bugatti Type 35 and, only four months later, had his first victory in the Grand Prix at Commings. This was followed by a long-distance record over 500 kilometres in 1932 in a Bugatti Type 51. This legendary Bugatti with an 8-cylinder in-line engine and a Roots compressor was for a long time considered to be unbeatable. But what kind of engine would proudly bear the name of Bugatti some 70 years later? Maybe a mid engine with 18 cylinders?
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Even if historians cannot agree whether the Bugatti Type 35 built in 1924 won 1500 or 2000 races in its history, this is only one facet of the passion and enthusiasm inspired by Bugattis - not only among those who owned one.
The shape of a Bugatti was always the work of highly gifted crafts-men: of its draughtsmen Ettore Arco Isidore Bugatti, the founder of the factory, or his brilliant son, Jean Bugatti; or of up to 1200 employees in the factory in Alsace who produced every Bugatti by hand. A tradition which the Bugatti Chiron will continue. The 1998 EB 118 Coupé and the 1999 EB 218 saloon showed a modern-day interpretation of Bugatti's style. The Bugatti Chiron is a further step towards a future automotive work of art. A further step towards perfection.
There is probably only one drive unit world wide which earns the name of Bugatti: the 18-cylinder engine presented here as a mid engine. A cubic capacity of 6.3 litres, 4 valves per cylinder; and 18 pistons in three rows of six cylinders arranged in a compact W shape power the permanent four-wheel drive with 408 kW (555 bhp) and 650 Nm. The manual gearbox has a hydraulic clutch. Fuel supply is via the trailblazing direct petrol injection method. A sculpture of light metal.
