The new Bugatti Divo hypercar, a Bugatti Chiron-based machine designed for improved track performance, is being shown in Europe for the first time ahead of the Paris motor show.
Limited to 40 models, and already fully sold out despite the £4.5 million price, the Divo features a bespoke exterior design, modified chassis and improved aerodynamics. The result is a claimed eight-second improvement on the Chiron’s lap time around the Nardo handling circuit. The car was originally launched at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. All 40 examples were sold to existing Chiron customers within four weeks of the first preview event.
Described as the “modern interpretation of Bugatti’s coachbuilding division”, the Divo - named after two-time Targa Florio winner Albert Divo - features an aggressive redesign including a unique front-end look. A large front splitter boosts downforce and feeds air to the enlarged intakes, while new vertically oriented LED headlights give the Divo a unique lighting signature.
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Great attention has been made to improve brake and powertrain cooling through a raft of new inlets across the bonnet and wings. Even the roof has been altered to form an air duct optimising the flow of cold air through a specially designed engine cover.
The rear end is just as purposeful, with a new height-adjustable rear spoiler that is 23% wider than the Chiron’s. It inherits the air braking function from its sibling, too, while new rear lights are formed of 3D printed fins, 44 of which light up to produce a striking lighting effect.
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The result of all the bodywork changes is a 90kg improvement in downforce, increasing maximum lateral cornering forces to 1.6g.
The chassis fine-tuning was aimed at making the Divo sharper and more agile in the bends than the Chiron, too. Increased camber - necessary for the desired handling characteristics - has seen the top speed limited to 236mph, while the steering and suspension have been tweaked to ensure a more direct response to inputs. Lightweight wheels, carbonfibre parts and reduced insulation contribute to a 35kg weight saving.
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35kg lighter
That does not make economical sense.
Repulsive, indulgent and sold-out
It says a lot about the "New World Order" that a £4m car which will remain undriven by most of its Collector\owners can be contemplated, let alone actually built.
This is Just Another Verywrong, and as such a pointless exercise in making an intrinsically flawed design work sufficiently well to be saleable. Save most of your £4m and buy a proper car...
The real story
If you can afford a Chiron, which was the entry ticket to the Divo, and you can also afford a Divo, then you can afford the tyre and brakes upgrade required to support a higher max speed.
If you are on the honoured guest list of Bugatti AS-NEW buyers, then you already own the phone number you ring to ask for the speed limiter to be removed.
The real story should be, not how fast the official max speed is, but how fast are actual owners able to get their cars to drive? Welcome to the return of the “Bentley Boys”!