Bugatti refined the formula that made its Veyron famous with the Chiron. Since its debut, the automaker has pushed the new model to the extreme with the Chiron Super Sport 300+. Bugatti went in the other direction with the Chiron Pur Sport it revealed earlier this year. Focused on handling, Bugatti made significant changes to the hypercar’s performance, greatly limiting its top speed – limiting for a Bugatti – to just 218 miles per hour (351 kilometers per hour). Why? In an interview with Motor Trend, Bugatti R&D chief Stefan Ellrott addresses the speed disparity.
Ellrott admits that traveling at a high rate of speed and quickly taking corners can’t happen with the same road car. Bugatti wanted the Pur Sport geared toward agility, giving the car “perceptible performance.” Bugatti modified the chassis setup, stiffened the springs, altered the wheel camber, and developed a new tire with Michelin to start. Bugatti also shortened the gears…