After many month of rumors, spy shots, and teasers, Bugatti->ke16 finally introduced the Chiron at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.->ke228 Developed to replace the Veyron,->ke1112 considered one of the greatest vehicle engineered by man, the Chiron->ke5023 arrived 11 years after Bugatti began producing the world's fastest production car. With the Veyron already an iconic supercar->ke177 that has set so many benchmarks, the Chiron had big shoes to fill. It had to be faster and more powerful, yet feature the same luxurious interior and the same degree of exclusivity.

Although it has yet to set a new world record->ke1948 as of March 2016, it's safe to assume that the Chiron didn't disappoint. It has a completely new design that brings together modern cues with some of Bugatti's heritage features and sports a beefed-up version of the 8.0-liter W-16 that made the Veyron the fastest production vehicle in the world. It's quicker from a standstill and promises to hit a higher top speed despite being about 100 pounds heavier than its forerunner.

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see the two cars being put through their paces on a test track, but until someone manages to unite a Veyron and a Chiron for a proper comparison,->ke4808 we'll compare Bugatti's record-breaking supercars using what we already know about them. Which one looks better, has the more luxurious interior, and the more impressive drivetrain? Keep reading to find out.

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Exterior

Although the Chiron is essentially an evolution of the Veyron styling-wise, most design features are significantly different. Some could argue that Bugatti should have went with a more radical styling, given the updated performance and the 11 years that have passed since Veyron hit the market, but the French company wanted a Chiron that would look familiar to Veyron owners. And that makes sense, as the new supercar is aimed at Veyron owners before anyone else.

Key features that suggest these cars share the same heritage include the horseshoe grille, the slim headlamps, V-shaped front hood, horizontal front fender intakes, and the flat, sleek profile. However, even these features have an identity of their own on the Chiron. For instance, both headlamps, now consisting of four LED squares on each side, and the intakes are much thinner, giving the Chiron a wider stance. The front hood has a more angular shape and no longer extends toward the bumper, running from the windshield into the upper section of the horseshoe grille.

The Chiron is more menacing to look at around back as well. Bugatti ditched the round, quad-taillight design in favor of a thin LED strips that run from one side to the other, a feature also designed to make the supercar look wider. More importantly, the Chiron’s rear end sports a significantly racier look with massive grilles on each side of the exhaust, which received larger outlets, and a motorsport-inspired diffuser underneath. More importantly, the previous engine hood and the large humps have been ditched in favor of a more aerodynamic, flying buttress design with a central fin inspired by the Bugatti Atlantic.

The profiles might seem similar at first glance, but there's one detail that makes a huge difference. I'm talking about the sweeping, C-shaped curve that defines the cockpit area. Called the "Bugatti Line," it starts from the A-pillar, continues with the roof line, and them circles under the door before stopping just above the side skirt, behind the front wheel. Design-wise, this feature is reminiscent of classic Bugatti models such as the Type 57 or Royale, but it also acts as an aerodynamic device, optimizing airflow into the side intakes for the 16-cylinder engine. Quite intricate compared to the Veyron.

All told, the Chiron is by far the better looking supercar and its aerodynamics are far more evolved than the Veyron's. To be honest, I've always thought that the Veyron looked like a potato on wheels and I still consider it one of the ugliest supercars ever designed. And, while I'm not impressed with the Chiron either, I think its styling is more emotional and worthy of the Bugatti badge. It has everything a hypercar needs. Aggressiveness, advanced aerodynamics, and several features that pay homage to iconic models from the company's past.

Point: Bugatti Chiron

Exterior Dimensions

Model

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Bugatti Chiron

Length

4,462 MM (175.66 Inches)

4,462 MM (175.66 Inches)

4,544 MM (178.89 Inches)

Width

1,998 MM (78.66 Inches)

1,998 MM (78.66 Inches)

2,038 MM (80.23 Inches)

Height

1,204 MM (47.40 Inches)

1,190 MM (46.85 Inches)

1,212 MM (47.71 Inches)

Wheelbase

2,710 MM (106.69 Inches)

2,710 MM (106.69 Inches)

2,711 MM (106.73 Inches)


Interior

Unlike the exterior, the interior has been redesigned heavily for the Chiron. Except for the vertical A/C vents and the wrap-around dashboard that blends seamlessly with the door panels, everything else is new. In my opinion, there are three key features that make the Chiron stand out. First, and arguably the most important, is the thin, blade-like center stack with the vertically oriented controls that have small displays in them. This feature works well with the organic design of the dashboard and its carbon-fiber base gives the cockpit a race car-->ke148like appearance.

Second, the steering wheel is a significant departure from the dull-looking unit in the Veyron. It now has a motorsport-inspired flat bottom, carbon-fiber upper and lower sections, integrated controls, and engine start button. It looks high-tech and it's the kind of steering wheel you'd expect in a car as fast and expensive as the Chiron.

Then there's the digital instrument cluster. While Bugatti retained the classic, center-mounted speedometer, the smaller gauges on the left and right have been replaced by two TFT screen that display way more information, including access to the navigation system. The Veyron was rather dated in this department. Not that it matters to deep-pocketed collectors, but, again, the Chiron doesn't disappoint when it comes to state-of-the-art tech and convenience features.

Everything else is pretty much a matter of taste. Sure, to most gearheads the Chiron and its flashy features is definitely the more exciting proposition, but I bet some appreciate the more "spartan" and classy interior of the Veyron.

Customization is an area where the Chiron can't raise above the Veyron. And the reason for that is that both cars are available with infinite options. Customers can have the interior in just about any color combination, and they can commission Bugatti to include just about any motif in the door panels, seats, and center console. They Veyron was the only supercar that effectively matched a Rolls-Royce in this department and the Chiron follows suit. All told, the Chiron wins, but only by a small margin due to its fancier features.

Point: Bugatti Chiron

Drivetrain

As you'd expect from a redesigned vehicle, the Bugatti Chiron comes with significant improvements in the drivetrain department. Carried over from the Veyron in the same configuration, the quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 was improved to crank out 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. That's a solid 297 horses over the previous Veyron Super Sport and a whopping 493 horses over the original Veyron. Torque is up only 74 pound-feet over the SS and 259 pound-feet compared to the initial supercar.

Routing all that power to the wheels is an updated version of Bugatti's seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox and a permanent all-wheel drive system. The transmission was built by Ricardo rather than Borg-Warner, who designed the DSG used in mainstream Volkswagen Group->ke94 brands, while the AWD system was supplied by Haldex.

Along with the extra horsepower and new internals come enhanced performance figures. Bugatti says the Chiron will hit 62 mph from a standing start in less than 2.5 seconds (the actual figure isn't yet available), which is an improvement over the Veyron SS' 2.5-second rating. We're probably looking at about two tenths of a second. As far as top speed goes, the Chiron will reach 261 mph, three mph more than the Veyron SS and eight mph more than the original supercar. Granted, these improvements are far from spectacular, but that's only because it's really difficult to push the envelope at this level.

Still, those who care about numbers will have a reason to celebrate when the Chiron sets another world record for the fastest production car. Don't let the fact that the Veyron SS' Guinness record sits at 267.85 discourage you, as this figure was achieved without the electronic limiter. In similar conditions, the Chiron will probably go in excess of 270 mph.

All told, the Chiron is better than the Veyron is every way. It's faster, more powerful, and will most likely set a new top speed benchmark for production cars, putting more strain on rival companies such as Koenigsegg->ke43 and Hennessey.->ke1863

Point: Bugatti Chiron

Drivetrain Specifications

Model

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Bugatti Chiron

Model

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Bugatti Chiron

W-16

W-16

W-16

Engine Type

7,993 cm3

7,993 cm3

7,993 cm3

Displacement

986 HP

1,182 HP

1,479 HP

Output

921 LB-FT

1,106 LB-FT

1,180 LB-FT

Torque

7-speed DSG

7-speed DSG

7-speed DSG

Gearbox

2.5 seconds

2.5 seconds

<2.5 seconds

0 - 100 km/h (62 mph)

407 KM/H (252.89 MPH)

415 KM/H (257.86 MPH)

420 KM/H (260.97 MPH)


Impact

When the Veyron was launched back in 2005, the automotive world was introduced to a whole new concept: the hypercar. Bugatti's first production model since the early 1990s was beyond anything else in showrooms at the time. It had a massive W-16 engine with four turbochargers and an output rated at a then-incredible 986 horsepower and 921 pound-feet of torque. Its sub-three-second 0-to-60 mph sprint set a new benchmark for road-going vehicle and its 253-mph top speed made it the quickest production car in the world. Moreover, unlike other supercars built for mind-boggling speed, the Veyron was a luxurious as a Rolls-Royce->ke74 inside.

The Veyron was a shocking display of performance and engineering.

Wherever the Veyron was shown, crowd and media response was enthusiastic. The Bugatti even managed to steal the spotlight from the exclusive Enzo-based Ferrari FXX that was also launched in 2005.

But, its biggest achievement was the Guinness Book record for the fastest production car. Mostly because the Veyron smashed a record that stood for an impressive 12 years, the longest period since 1947. What's more, the Veyron broke the record with an astounding 24-mph margin, a figure that was updated to 28 mph when the Super Sport arrived in 2010.

While the Chiron is faster, more powerful, better looking, and likely to set a new benchmark for top speed, it won't be able to match its predecessor. The reason for that is the Chiron was expected to perform better. We knew it would be faster and more powerful ever since the first rumor about a successor to the Veyron surfaced the Interwebz and the Chiron did not disappoint. But, it failed to produce the same shock wave, as the improvements were expected to be there and, truth be told, they are incremental.

That doesn't make the Chiron a less impressive vehicle. It is and it will steal the show at any event around the world for the next couple of years. But it's just not as astonishing as the Veyron. What's more, the Chiron arrived at a time when several other brands are capable to create extremely powerful supercars. Unless you care about Guinness World Records, you can get the same amount of power and similar performance from Koenigsegg, Hennessey, and Zenvo just to name a few.

Point: Bugatti Veyron

Conclusion

As the quicker, better looking, and more powerful of the two, the Bugatti Chiron is the clear winner here. But that doesn't mean much really, as any new car is expected to perform better, look better, and have updated technology compared to its predecessor. The important thing is that the Veyron legend will live on through the Chiron and fuel the supercar wars, which will spawn the most incredible vehicles ever engineered. Sure, both the Veyron and Chiron are somewhat pointless considering neither of them will be used to their full potential and will spend most of their lives as garage queens, but this is what the market it and its what filthy rich collectors want right now.