Bugatti will assemble just 40 Divos. Each one is priced from 5 million euros (around 5.4 million dollars), and that’s before customers get a chance to delve into the options list. Now, you might be inclined to thing that since it already has the Chiron as starting point, Bugatti should stroll through the Divo’s R&D like a hot knife through butter.

In reality, things are a tad more complex. Think a two-year R&D timeframe complex, to start with.

The Bugatti Divo is a Chiron, but not really

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Bugatti has just announced that after 24 months of development, it is ready to ship the first Divo examples to customers. Bugatti claims the Divo, although based on the Chiron, “has its own exclusive character, enhanced lateral acceleration, agility and cornering characteristics.”

Divo development work kicked off in 2018. It is, in fact, the first project under new president Stephan Winkelmann, and customers were heavily involved in talks prior to a decision being made. It’s those customers that wanted a more agile, corner-carving car and Bugatti listened. What’s more, Pierre Rommelfanger, Limited Edition Models Project Manager at Bugatti says that “every Divo customer owns a Chiron, knows what the brand stands for and is a true Bugatti enthusiast.”

What powers the Bugatti Divo?

0-100 kph (62 mph) takes 2.4 seconds, but it didn’t really fall out of the sky. To get that number, a lot of computer simulations, tuning, driving, and retuning was necessary.

Speaking of driving, the Divo was honed around various testing grounds, including the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Chassis development saw the supercar bag around 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) of testing throughout its entire speed range from naught to 380 kph (236 mph) while browsing through its three drive modes - EB, Motorway, and Handling.

Bugatti Divo specifications

Engine

8.0-liter W16 engine

Horsepower

1,480 HP

Torque

1,180 LB-FT

0 to 62 mph

2.4 seconds

Top Speed

236 mph


“Trials are always intense, but with the Divo we’ve managed to refine the setup even further. Every change - no matter how small - was discussed in a small team and then followed up on for checking purposes. Only when all the developers were satisfied did we go about tackling the next task,” explains Lars Fischer, Head of Chassis Testing and Application at Bugatti.

Weight also played a hefty part - the Divo is 35 kilos (77.1 pounds) lighter than the Chiron and delivers 90 kilos (198.4 pounds) more worth of downforce. To attain that, the supercar was fitted with extra hood air inlets, a reshaped front spoiler, air-guiding blades, and the fixed rear wing, 23 percent wider than the rear wing on the Chiron.

So, yeah, now you know what €5 million ($5.42 million) will get you inside the Divo. Of course, some will say that driving thrills are priceless, and we agree, but you still need to buy the car, right?