Press release2/22/2024

Breaking boundaries with the Bugatti Bolide

Bolide: Not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC, as it is a racing vehicle not intended for use on public roads.

Molsheim

The Bugatti Bolide is an uncompromising thoroughbred that combines the iconic W16 and remarkable lightweighting techniques for a track driving experience that is unlike any other. Yet fundamental to the Bolide’s performance is the technology behind its capacity to tame its speed when needed – the biggest carbon-carbon brake system ever produced by Brembo.

The Bolide combines Bugatti’s iconic W16 and remarkable lightweighting techniques for an incomparable track driving experience.
The Bolide and its brake system underwent extensive track testing.
From dyno testing to on-track analysis, the Bugatti Bolide went through rigorous evaluation to guarantee the safety and security of the hyper sports car.
From dyno testing to on-track analysis, the Bugatti Bolide went through rigorous evaluation to guarantee the safety and security of the hyper sports car.
Bugatti collaborated with Brembo to craft a brake system entirely unique in its design and performance.
The Bugatti Bolide’s bespoke carbon-carbon brake system is the biggest ever produced by Brembo.
Analysis of the Bolide involved a deep examination of the track-only Bugatti’s ‘Wet’ mode.
The Bolide brake system ensures consistent performance even under extreme conditions.
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Designed to deliver an incomparable drive, the Bugatti Bolide¹ was always going to be an extreme application that demanded a brake system from a name synonymous with peak performance. Early in the design process, Bugatti tasked Italian manufacturer Brembo with crafting a system that stands as a testament to the car’s uncompromising nature.

From initial data to dyno testing to on-track analysis, Brembo racing engineers worked in close collaboration with Bugatti to meet the challenges associated with crafting a brake system that is entirely unique in its design and performance level. The result, following two years of demanding testing and development, is a carbon-carbon system that is on par with the technology that goes into LMh/LMDh and Formula 1 machinery.

The stopping power generated by the Bolide is in a class of its own. Its bespoke front brakes are the largest carbon-carbon brake ever, incorporating two eight-piston monobloc calipers, both equipped with four high-performance 25 mm pads, and remarkable 390x37.5 mm carbon discs. The calipers themselves are machined out of aluminum alloy and nickel coated.

At the rear, two six-piston monobloc calipers mirroring the front with four high-performance pads, although slightly thinner at 24.5 mm. Complementing the rear calipers are sizable 390x34 mm carbon discs. While not as big as their front counterparts, the rear brake system’s specifications match that of the LMDh racing class, exemplifying Bugatti’s resolute ambition to deliver unrivaled track performance.

"Developing the brake system for the Bugatti Bolide was a unique and very exciting challenge for the Performance Division of Brembo – and we are proud of what we achieved” said Mario Almondo, Chief Operating Officer of Brembo Performance. “We had to reengineer the entire system to cope with the incredible yet demanding characteristics and power of the car. The front caliper, for example, is a real masterpiece of engineering in my view, being the largest we have ever fitted to a racing car. Using carbon compounds that are similar to those in Formula 1 meant that, despite the size and power of the Bolide, we were able to produce the lightest possible design.”

This choice first and foremost allowed the engineering team to dramatically reduce the overall weight of the system – each disc on the Bolide remarkably weighs only 3,175 kg. But it also ensured the brake system would deliver exceptional thermal conductivity for superior heat dissipation during intense braking scenarios, preventing brake fade and ultimately offering Bolide owners consistent performance even under extreme conditions.

The Bolide’s brake system is not just about the calipers, pads and discs, however; it’s a harmonious blend of engineering precision. A holistic approach ensured that every component works as one. This included bespoke master cylinders and specially formulated fluid that further refine the Bolide’s dynamics.

In crafting a hyper sports car that draws inspiration from the pinnacle of motorsport, the capacity to consistently deliver exceptional performance in all track situations is very important. In line with this ambition, the Brembo engineers played an integral role in sculpting the brake air duct of the Bolide, collaborating with Bugatti to precisely attune airflow to the needs of its cutting-edge brake system.

Bugatti’s cooperation with Brembo greatly enhanced the brake system cooling. This strategic development was vital, considering the energy and torque unleashed by the Bugatti W16, especially towards the front wheels, during rigorous track sessions. In addressing this, 85-90% of the airflow is directed to the discs and pads, with a smaller portion reaching the calipers.

Since the inaugural computational fluid dynamics (CFD) sessions of the Bolide project in 2022, the team embarked on a journey of developing and testing the brake system, ensuring it can withstand the Bolide’s exhilarating speeds on the track. Spanning a period of two years, the data gleaned from simulations, dynamometer sessions, and thorough analyses conducted on racetracks were systematically funneled back to the Brembo engineers.

Beyond the ordinary, the evaluation examined potential misuse scenarios where traction control intervenes more frequently. It involved a deep examination of the Bolide’s ‘Wet’ mode, designed to prepare the track-only hyper sports car for the use of wet tires in challenging driving conditions. This driving profile makes fine adjustments to the control system, enhancing adaptability on slick surfaces by inducing understeer, and activates a distinctive rain light reminiscent of the dynamic red lights seen in Formula 1.

This feedback loop not only allowed the project team to fine-tune the brake system’s performance but also to guarantee that the Bolide stands unrivalled in every aspect – thriving in diverse weather conditions without jeopardizing safety or security.

“I am immensely proud of the work that has gone into the development of the Bolide, a track-only hyper sports car that encapsulates Bugatti’s racing heritage. In collaborating with Brembo, we’ve engineered a brake system that not only meets but surpasses the extraordinary demands of the Bolide. Our partnership has yielded a masterpiece – their innovative technology aligns seamlessly with our vision, ensuring the Bolide’s brake system is a key part of another pinnacle in Bugatti’s storied legacy."

Emilio Scervo

CTO of Bugatti Rimac

Press Contact

Nicole AugerHead of Marketing and Communicationsnicole.auger@bugatti.com

Fuel consumption and emissions

  • Bolide: Not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC, as it is a racing vehicle not intended for use on public roads.

    • Centodieci: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 40.31 / medium phase 22.15 / high phase 17.89 / extra high phase 17.12 / combined 21.47; CO2 emissions combined, g / km: NA; efficiency class: G

    • Chiron: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

    • Chiron Profilée: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Pur Sport: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Sport: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 44.56 / medium phase 24.80 / high phase 21.29 / extra high phase 21.57 / combined 25.19; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 571.64; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Super Sport: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 40.31 / medium phase 22.15 / high phase 17.89 / extra high phase 17.12 / combined 21.47; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 486.72; efficiency class: G

      • Chiron Super Sport 300+: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 40.31 / medium phase 22.15 / high phase 17.89 / extra high phase 17.12 / combined 21.47; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 486.72; efficiency class: G

      • Divo: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 43,33 / medium phase 22,15 / high phase 17,99 / extra high phase 18,28 / combined 22,32; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 505,61; efficiency class: G

      • La Voiture Noire: WLTP fuel consumption, l/100 km: low phase 43,33 / medium phase 22,15 / high phase 17,99 / extra high phase 18,28 / combined 22,32; CO2 emissions combined, g/km: 505,61; efficiency class: G

        • Tourbillon: This model is currently not subject to directive 1999/94/EC, as type approval has not yet been granted.

        • W16 Mistral: This model is not subject to Directive 1999/94/EC, as type approval has not yet been granted.

          Bugatti

          The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law.

          Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de.

          © 2024 Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.