It Takes Guts To Push The 1,578HP Bugatti Bolide To Its Limits
Top Gear’s Ollie Marriage tested Bugatti’s 1,578 track-only hypercar at the Paul Ricard circuit in France – and this is what he found out
March 10, 2025 at 08:21
- This beast is powered by an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 with 1,578 hp.
- The Bolide weighs significantly less than the Chiron on which it’s based.
- Production of the track-only hypercar will be limited to just 40 examples.
Multi-million dollar track cars don’t go any crazier than the Bugatti Bolide. Based on the Chiron but featuring all-new lightweight bodywork, just 40 examples will be built for Bugatti collectors, and while many will be locked away in garages, Top Gear recently had the chance to drive one on the track.
TG’s Ollie Marriage went to the Paul Ricard circuit in France to put the Bolide through its paces with the help of Bugatti’s chief test driver Andy Wallace. Obviously, driving an ultra-rare hypercar worth as much as a Bolide would be nerve-wracking for most, but Marriage didn’t hold back in exploring its limits.
Read: Bugatti’s First Production Bolide Hypercars Delivered To US Customers
Like the Chiron Super Sport, the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 of the Bolide delivers 1,578 hp and 1,180 lb-ft (1,600 Nm) of torque. However, while the Chiron Super Sport weighs around 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs), the Bolide tips the scales at just 1,450 kg (3,197 lbs). As a result, it picks up speed relentlessly down Paul Ricard’s straight and out of the corners.
According to the TG host, the straight-line pull of the Bolide isn’t dissimilar to the Koenigsegg Jesko, which has up to 1,600 hp and weighs roughly 100 kg (220 lbs) less than the Bugatti. Despite that, whereas the Jesko struggles to put all of its power to the tarmac through the rear wheels, the Bolide’s all-wheel drive system provides it with monumental levels of traction, meaning you can get on the throttle early on and make the most of all the grip from the slick tires.
As part of the ownership experience, Bolide owners will be invited by Bugatti to take their cars onto the track at dedicated events around the world – much like what Ferrari does with its XX program.
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