Last week, Bugatti announced a new hardcore version of the Chiron is coming. Called the Divo, the new model will be faster, lighter and agiler than the Chiron. It’s probably no coincidence, then, that a mysterious Chiron prototype has been spotted testing at the Nurburgring. In fact, a pair of Chiron prototypes were also spotted being put through their paces at the Green Hell last month, so there’s a good chance Bugatti could be using them to test the Divo’s new lightweight components before the car debuts at Pebble Beach next month.
Photos shared on Instagram by DCNCars show the Chiron-based prototype has different headlights and taillights, but it otherwise looks identical to the standard Chiron. It’s finished in black and appears to have some sensors fitted to the windshield to monitor its performance. If this is the Divo, then the final car should sport more visual modifications as Bugatti has said the Divo’s “dynamic character will be underlined by a new, strong design language.”
We can also expect the Divo to feature a new aero package that will reduce weight and improve downforce, allowing it to hammer around corners with more agility than before. This may reduce the car’s top speed, but result in even faster acceleration, which is a scary prospect considering the
Chiron Sport can hit 62 mph from a standstill in just two and a half seconds.
While the prototype doesn’t appear to have any aero-enhancing body parts, Bugatti could still be testing new suspension components or other mechanical upgrades. If you’re wondering about the name, the car is named after Albert Divo won the famous Targa Florio for Bugatti twice in the late 1920s. Only 40 examples of the Bugatti Divo are being produced, each with an astronomical price tag of $5.82 million, so you better start saving.
