“An incredible speed. It’s inconceivable that a car would be capable of this,” stated test driver Andy Wallace after piloting a Bugatti hypercar to a speed of 304.773 mph at Germany’s Ehra-Lessien circuit on August 2, 2019. Announcing the accomplishment, the French marque described the car in its official press release as a “pre-production vehicle of a Chiron derivative.”
In early September of the same year, and as part of commemorating its 110th anniversary, Bugatti revealed the production tribute to that record-breaking run in the form of the 1,578 hp Chiron Super Sport 300+, of which only 30 would be built for what ended up being the 2022 model year. Now, one of those extremely limited-edition examples will cross the block at the Audrain Auction, presented by Bonhams|Cars on October 3 in Newport, R.I.
Still the fastest car in the Bugatti lineup, the all-wheel-drive Super Sport 300+ is the exclamation point to the already hyperbolic Chiron, introduced in 2016 and limited to a total of 500 examples. Developed specifically to recognize Bugatti’s ballistic objective in speed, the Super Sport 300+ features a longtail body style dressed in naked carbon fiber. According to the model’s press release when introduced, the elongated back end “allows the laminar flow to pass over the vehicle for longer to thus reduce the aerodynamic stall by over 40 percent.” It also attributes the center diffuser at the back with generating enough downforce on its own “that the wing can consequently remain retracted in Top Speed mode.”
This Chiron variant’s output comes from a revised tuning of the base model’s quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W16 engine—delivering 1,180 ft lbs of torque—mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That combination gives the vehicle a zero-to-124 mph time of 5.8 seconds, and an advertised top speed of 273 mph.
As far as stylistic differentiators, the black carbon-fiber exterior features Jet Orange striping from tip to tail, a theme that’s matched in the cockpit as orange accents are juxtaposed with the mix of carbon fiber, leather, Alcantara, and black-anodized surfaces.
In its lot description, Bonhams points out that only eight examples of the Super Sport 300+ were originally allocated to the U.S., with the one on offer being the sixth. It has been under the caring stewardship of only one owner since new, it’s been regularly maintained by Bugatti Beverly Hills, and under 840 miles are on its digital odometer.
Concerning where this Chiron model variant, in general, fits in the Molsheim-based automaker’s pantheon, Christophe Piochon, then the managing director of production and logistics and now the president of Bugatti, stated at the time; “The Chiron Super Sport 300+ will forever remain a cornerstone of our marque’s illustrious history as it elevated automotive performance to levels that were once thought to be unreachable.”
Interestingly, after breaking the 300 mph milestone, Bugatti’s then CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, is on record as calling it “an incredible achievement that shows what the men and women of Bugatti are capable of. But this was the last time for us.” That reference to no longer chasing after top-speed numbers was followed by his asserting that other elements of exclusivity would be the new focus. Subsequent to that, however, its Mistral has set the record for an open-top car, reaching 282 mph last year.
Yet as Bugatti continues to create ever-more impressive models, such as its latest 1,800 hp Tourbillon hybrid, this Chiron Super Sport 300+ represents a rare opportunity to own a car that, to paraphrase Piochon, is key to its contemporary legacy. In addition, this will only be the second time an example has been auctioned stateside. And while the 30 produced were each originally priced at €3.5 million (approximately $4.1 million at today’s conversion), this car carries a high-end estimate of $5.4 million.
Click here for more photos of this 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.
