Some of the most memorable moments in life were simply meant to happen. It was only right for the Bugatti Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ to go toe-to-toe with a military jet that can comfortably reach supersonic speed – the ultimate match-up of the most incredible machines on the planet.
The meeting, conducted at a naval base in Landivisiau, north-west France, is true to the connection between Bugatti and high-speed aviation. Not only has the French luxury brand held a deep-rooted historical association with aviation that stretches back 110 years, but this latest high-speed show of strength also gives a nod to the famous track race between the Veyron and the Euro Fighter jet in 2008.
This time around, it’s a showcase of the pinnacle of the most modern engineering in France as the Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’ hyper sports car, made in Molsheim, goes full throttle alongside the Dassault Rafale Marine, the French-made naval jet that has served the French Air Force for over 20 years. 1,500 PS up against 58,550 newtons of thrust (5,727 PS), a hyper sports car up against a Navy jet.
The Chiron Sport ‘Les Légendes du Ciel’, limited to 20 units, retails at a net price of 2.88 million euros. The sheer power is provided by the 8.0-liter W16 engine with 1,500 PS and torque of 1,600 newton meters. A seven-gear dual-clutch transmission transfers the power to all four tires.
On the track at the army base, the Bugatti Chiron Sport takes the lead soon after setting off. The hyper sports car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds and to 200 km/h in 6.1 seconds. It takes 13.1 seconds to hit a speed of 300 km/h and 32.6 seconds to accelerate to 400 km/h, a speed at which the pilot of the Rafale Marine looks to match to take off. The Rafale Marine briefly flies over the runway and alongside the Chiron Sport – an amazing image. Both deploy phenomenal braking force, decelerating safely from high speeds.
The comparison of France’s top two technical systems is declared a draw in the most incredible exhibition of high-octane thrills.
