There are fast cars and there are fast cars. When we're reporting a new world record for accelerating to 400 km/h and back to zero, it's definitely really really fast cars. And this niche is home to rolling creatures like the Bugatti Chiron.
And now the 0-400-0 km/h record, official and certified by SGS-TÜV Saar, is his. At the controls of the Chiron was none other than Juan Pablo Montoya, a former Formula 1 driver, two-time winner of the Indy 500 and three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona.
This record confirmed all the superlatives about the abilities of the Bugatti Chiron. From its 8.0 liter W16 engine and four turbo to its ability to put its 1500 hp on asphalt through the seven-speed DSG gearbox and four-wheel drive. And of course the extraordinary ability of the braking system to withstand heavy braking from 400 km/h. The record, step by step.
Match
Juan Pablo Montoya is at the controls of the Chiron and to go over 380 km/h he has to use the Top Speed key. A beep confirms your activation. Montoya firmly depresses the brake pedal with his left foot and shifts into first gear to activate Launch Control. The engine starts.
Then he smashes the accelerator with his right foot and the W16 raises its voice to 2800 rpm, putting the turbos in a ready state. The Chiron is ready to catapult itself towards the horizon.
Montoya releases the brake. The traction control effectively prevents the four wheels from being “sprayed” by 1500 hp and 1600 Nm, allowing the Chiron to violently propel forward. To ensure maximum acceleration from a stopped start, without turbo lag, only two turbos are initially in operation. Only at 3800 rpm do the other two, larger ones, come into action.
32.6 seconds later…
The Bugatti Chiron reaches 400 km/h, having already covered 2621 meters. Montoya crushes the brake pedal. Just 0.8 seconds later, the 1.5 meter long rear wing rises and moves to 49°, serving as an aerodynamic brake. The downforce on the rear axle reaches 900 kg – the weight of a city dweller.
In heavy braking of this magnitude, the driver – or will he be a pilot? -, undergoes a 2G deceleration, similar to what astronauts feel at the launch of the Space Shuttle.
491 meters
The distance that the Bugatti Chiron needed to go from 400 km/h to zero. Braking would add 9.3 seconds to the 32.6 already measured in acceleration to 400 km/h.It only took 42 seconds...
… or to be precise, just 41.96 seconds it took the Bugatti Chiron to accelerate from zero to 400 km/h and back again to zero. It covered 3112 meters during that time, which turns out to be little compared to the speed achieved from the vehicle's steady state.
Juan Pablo MontoyaIt's really impressive how stable and consistent Chiron is. Its acceleration and braking are simply incredible.
Where's the suit and helmet?
Montoya after a first test decided not to wear the typical pilot's attire to get the record. As we can see, he doesn't wear a competition suit, gloves or helmet. An imprudent decision? The pilot justifies:
Juan Pablo MontoyaOf course, the Chiron is a supercar that requires your full attention when you're behind the wheel. At the same time, it gave me a feeling of security and reliability that I was completely relaxed and really enjoyed during the two days I was in the car.
personal record
Looks like it's been a big weekend for Montoya. Not only did he get the world record for the Bugatti Chiron, he also improved his personal record for a top speed of 407 km/h, achieved while driving a Formula Indy. With the Chiron he managed to raise this value to 420 km / h.
And he hopes to raise that mark even further, in hopes that the brand will invite him to break the world top speed record set by the Veyron Super Sport in 2010. this value. And we will know that already in 2018. This record of 0-400-0 km/h is already part of the preparations to reach this new objective.
Juan Pablo MontoyaIt's really amazing to see that you don't need complex preparations for a 0-400-0 race. With Chiron it was pretty easy. Just go in and drive. Amazing.
0 – 400 km/h (249 mph) in 32.6 seconds #Chiron
Published by Bugatti on Friday, September 8, 2017