2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport

The end is near for one of the great hypercars of our time, but before we say goodbye, we have the privilege to savor the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport. Bugatti always said it would only make 500 Chirons, and the Super Sport is not only one of the last but may just be the best of them all. The Super Sport's 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine shares its colossal outputs of 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque with the Super Sport 300+, but it's just as luxurious inside as the regular, less powerful Chiron. The longer rear end of the Super Sport not only gifts this Chiron a unique silhouette, but it helps it retain remarkable stability at its top speed of 273 mph. While electric hypercars like the Rimac Nevera are quicker off the mark, they can't match the Super Sport's combination of top speed and sheer opulence. And, whereas Lamborghini and Ferrari are better at crafting agile supercars, the Chiron remains untouchable on the Autobahn - it even has a driving mode named after the famous highway in Germany. Years after the Chiron first arrived on the scene, the Super Sport is a reminder that there isn't another grand tourer quite like this one.

The Super Sport arrives as yet another iteration of the Chiron range. It's more powerful and faster than the standard car, more luxurious than the 300+, but not quite as dynamic as the Pur Sport. The 8.0-liter W16 makes 1,578 hp here and the Super Sport will surpass 270 mph if you can evade law enforcement officials for long enough.

The most pronounced change between the Super Sport and the normal Chiron is the extended longtail rear end. It endows the Super Sport with an even more sinister appearance, but there are important aerodynamic advances made possible by this design. Aerodynamic stall is down by 40%. The trailing and diffuser tear-off edges have been moved closer together, a change that lowers the tear-off area by 44%. Staying at the back, the quad tailpipes have been arranged in a stacked configuration, freeing up more space for the diffuser.

In front, the Super Sport is more familiar but no less striking than before. The LED headlights, with their four-block design, surround the familiar grille, providing an aggressive look, flanked by large intakes. These air curtains are vital to the brand's "form following performance" ethos. Venting holes positioned above the front fenders recall the EB 110 Super Sport, but these vents - when combined with the outlets behind the front wheels - also relieve air from the pressure build-up in the front wheel wells. Bugatti says that this specific feature becomes crucial at speeds of over 249 mph to keep a neutral balance between downforce and lift around the front axle.

Wheels are predictably large, with 20-inch items in front and 21s at the back, but it's worth noting these ultra-lightweight aluminum wheels have been specially designed for this model.

The longtail rear with its extended bumper has quite drastically changed the specs of the Super Sport. It is around ten inches longer than the standard Chiron for a total of 188.7 inches. The width (80.2 inches) and height (47.7 inches) are comparable with the regular Chiron, as is the 106.7-inch wheelbase.

At around 4,400 pounds, the Chiron Super Sport is a heavy beast but its weight is no match for that W16 engine.

Bugatti has a customer-only configurator that allows one to create the perfect Chiron. Sadly, it's not available to the general public. For the Super Sport, we know there is more focus on exterior paints as opposed to bare carbon fiber we've seen on the 300+, and we know that there is an almost limitless selection of colors to choose from. In nothing but black, there are fewer cars that look as stealthy as this one. The body can also be had a two-tone finish, something that can emphasize the longtail rear even more if you so wish. Besides the usual whites and silvers, more eye-popping oranges and blues are also available. The brake calipers can also be finished in one of these brighter colors.

Like every other Chiron, the Super Sport is stupendously quick thanks to outputs of 1,578 hp and 1,180 lb-ft. It will reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.4 seconds, 124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.8, and 186 mph (300 km/h) in 12.1 seconds. The 0-60 time is likely close to two seconds in ideal conditions. Unlike almost every other car in the world, the Chiron Super Sport even comes with a quoted 0-400 km/h time. That works out to 249 mph, and the Super Sport will reach that speed in 28.6 seconds. After that, the car's carefully honed aerodynamics and slippery body come into play. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's top speed is an incredible 273 mph. By comparison, the regular Chiron is limited to 261 mph.

Driven at normal speeds, the all-wheel-drive Chiron Super Sport is remarkably docile. But when you put your foot down and the boost builds after a momentary pause, it is comically quick. Mid-range power is immense, the car often feeling like it's in a much lower gear than the one you're in. In sixth, it'll pull from 60-100 km/h (37-62 mph) in just 5.7 seconds. On the Autobahn or any other smooth road without speed limits, the Super Sport accelerates to over 200 mph as if it's hardly trying. At these speeds, the combination of effortless power, stability, and luxury puts Bugatti into a league of its own in the modern hypercar arena.

The 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo engine represents the peak of combustion power. It makes 1,578 hp at 7,000 rpm and 1,180 lb-ft from 2,250 rpm all the way up to 7,000 rpm. The engine doles out power to all four wheels, although perhaps six wheels would've been more appropriate for the outputs from the mighty W16. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard and boasts a longer seventh gear for higher top speed, and the clutch package has been optimized for this application.

While many automakers have found ways to dial out turbo lag, some via electrification, this isn't the case in the Chiron. But in a sense, the slight pause before all hell breaks loose adds to the drama of driving the Super Sport. The same applies when flicking through the gears, with just a slight pause before the turbos kick in again. The car has the ability to briefly spin all four tires, but it is otherwise shockingly civilized. Somehow, Bugatti has found a way to put down the car's immense power without it overwhelming the chassis.

As long as you can stomach a fuel gauge that moves almost as quickly as the speedometer, driving the Chiron Super Sport is an experience to savor.

If you want the best-handling Chiron, get the more agile Pur Sport. The Super Sport places the emphasis on high-speed comfort, and it fulfils that brief perfectly. As mentioned, it's a surprisingly easy car to drive at sane speeds. The car looks and is heavy, but the steering is anything but, being light and accurate. It is composed over bumps and unflustered by surface changes in typical grand tourer style, but it also isn't as soft as a Bentley. At higher speeds, the rock-solid stability is astounding. And, while it isn't as chuckable as a Ferrari, the Super Sport feels buttoned-down and assured in the corners. It really combines the best of the Pur Sport and standard Chiron into one package.

As far as road noise goes, the Chiron Super Sport isn't the quietest grand tourer ever. A lot of that is down to the massive powertrain, which sounds like it's motivating a luxury boat, not a car. There is also some road noise, although you'll probably be too busy looking at the speedometer to notice. Of all the driving modes, the aptly named Autobahn is our favorite - it's designed for high-speed cruising. In Handling mode, the car hunkers down closer to the ground.

When you're doing 200 mph on the Autobahn and a small Renault occasionally gets in your way, strong brakes are pivotal. Thankfully, the Chiron Super Sport has them. The carbon-ceramic brakes are resistant to fade and powerful enough to give the driver confidence to build up to high speeds. There is also a rear wing that acts as an air brake.

You're not going to get far on a tank of gas in this car, with some of the most dismal EPA ratings we've ever seen. The 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport will only manage 8/11/9 mpg city/highway/combined. Despite the sizeable 26.4-gallon gas tank, the range is limited to about 237 miles. At its full speed, the Super Sport will empty its full tank in just eight minutes. Nobody said that the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's mpg ratings would challenge a Prius, and they were right.

The Super Sport has an exquisitely detailed interior that feels special from the moment you get inside. Plush leathers, metal switches, and carbon fiber are some of the materials surrounding the driver and passenger. There isn't a main central touchscreen - instead, this area is filled with four vertically stacked switches that look far more elegant than a tablet stuck onto the dashboard. Overall, the scarcity of switches and buttons creates a clean look, and your attention will be focused on the large central speedometer most of the time, anyway. Considering the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's price, it isn't brimming with features, but you do get climate control, a digital display in the instrument cluster, and power-adjustable seats.

Both seats in the Chiron are beautifully trimmed and extremely comfortable. For six-foot tall adults, there is enough space to spend hours behind the wheel without any serious complaints. Visibility to the front and sides is good, and the low dashboard helps in this regard. Unlike in some supercars, you can actually see out of the back window, although the Chiron's elaborate aero does obscure the view slightly.

A Bentley or Rolls-Royce will still feel more expensive inside, but the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is generally beautifully built. Leather covers the seats and many other areas, and it's combined with racy carbon fiber. Many of the switches are fashioned from real metal or aluminum and have a satisfying weight to them when operated.

Being a Bugatti, the interior colors and materials are widely customizable. Various two-tone finishes are available, from grey/black to brighter tan hues, or sportier alternatives in blue and red.

The Chiron Super Sport's frunk measures around two cubic feet. That's enough for a single carry-on bag and perhaps a a handful of diamonds, but not much else. Bespoke luggage that fits in this front trunk perfectly is a good option since your regular suitcase is unlikely to fit.

In the cabin, there are at least door bins, an average-sized glovebox, and a shallow center storage area. The Chiron Super Sport has as many cupholders as it has back seats: none.

Bugatti doesn't make a big secret of the fact that when you buy a Chiron, most of the cost is going towards the powertrain and the car's ability to hit absurdly high speeds. To that end, it is modestly equipped for something so expensive. Yes, it has automatic climate control, push-button start, selectable driving modes, and power-adjustable seats, but the advanced driver aids that are available in a base Honda Civic aren't present here. There are parking sensors and a rearview camera, though.

There is no touchscreen in the Chiron Super Sport, with digital displays within the instrument cluster displaying information relating to speed, media, and more. Bugatti hasn't specified the details of the Chiron Super Sport's sound system, but the standard Chiron's unit is provided by Accuton and has diamond membranes in the tweeters - we expect the same system to be equipped to the Super Sport. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren't available, but Bluetooth is.

No recalls have directly affected the Chiron Super Sport at the time of writing. The 2022 Pur Sport was specifically recalled for cracks in its rear tires, and the regular Chiron was last recalled twice in 2020 before the arrival of the Super Sport. Hopefully, the lack of any serious issues continues.

Bugatti's warranty runs for four years regardless of miles covered, and the same applies to complimentary scheduled maintenance.

There is no 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport crash review to speak of in the USA. Considering the car's price and the low production volumes, the car will almost certainly never be crash-tested.

Unfortunately, advanced driver aids are not part of the Chiron Super Sport's repertoire. That means you'll have to check your blind spots the old-fashioned way and adapt your speed manually depending on changing traffic conditions. Of course, the car has airbags for the two occupants, traction control, and those powerful carbon-ceramic brakes. A rearview camera and parking sensors are included too, but not much else.

Bugatti has continued tinkering with the Chiron recipe through the years, and each iteration has been special in its own way. Whether it's the 300+ model's stupendous top speed or the Pur Sport's agility, the Chiron family is a breed of hypercar we'll dream about once electrification takes over. We think that the Chiron Super Sport might be the best Chiron of all. It's as comfortable as the regular model but faster and looks more special with that longtail. And, while the Pur Sport is more fun to drive, the Chiron has always been at its best as a fast grand tourer. The W16 engine is beastly once the turbos spool up, and this car's straight-line speed still blows us away. It is hardly a leader for interior or safety tech, and it is far from practical, but it'll be a sad day when the final Chiron eventually rolls off the production line.

At $3,825,000, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is far out of reach of the average enthusiast. However, you can easily add enough options to send that number soaring beyond $4,200,000. For example, spending over $220,000 on special paint is possible, and a uniquely-coated exhaust deflector goes for $15,000.

There is no configurator and Bugatti is typically tight-lipped about what options are available - but there are many. That said, most options are cosmetic and don't actually add many features. You can spend $56,000 on black anodized interior trim or $6,200 on a horseshoe logo in Argent. Comfort seats will add $12,500 to your bill and a carbon engine cover costs the same. These are simply some of the priciest options you'll find on any car, which is why the Chiron's base price is quite misleading.

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is sold in a single trim level, but you can customize it with special paint, a bewildering array of interior colors, more carbon, and special finishes for specific components. The chances of two Chiron Super Sports leaving the factory in exactly the same specification are slim.

Whereas the Super Sport was made for exceptionally high speeds, the Pur Sport was conceived as a lighter, more engaging car to drive. The Pur Sport does without the longtail body but can be identified by its fixed rear wing. With 1,479 hp, the Pur Sport is less powerful but lighter. Both are indecently quick, but as the speeds rise, the Super Sport pulls away. Its 273 mph top speed is far higher than the Pur Sport's 218 mph. But if it's lateral grip and twisty road driving that means more to you, the Pur Sport is the better car for the job. If we wanted a track toy, we'd get a Ferrari or Porsche. The Bugatti Chiron is an Autobahn-dominating missile, so for that reason, we prefer the Super Sport.

The Koenigsegg Jesko is a different kind of hypercar entirely. The two cars have a similarly staggering amount of power, though - 1,603 hp for the Jesko and 1,578 hp for the Super Sport - but they go about putting it down quite differently. The Jesko is rear-wheel drive and has half the number of cylinders, plus it's over 1,000 lbs lighter, so although it is a more incisive, dynamic machine, the Bugatti feels even more secure at over 200 mph. Overall, the Super Sport is more luxurious and comfortable, whereas the brash Jesko is a technical masterpiece with its nine-speed multi-clutch transmission and high-revving V8. If you want to have as much fun as possible, get the raucous Jesko. But for daily driving and cross-country trips, the Bugatti takes it.