Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport Is America's Thirstiest Car

Nov. 18, 2020 8:15 AM ET by Jay Traugott Supercars / 10 Comments

What else did you expect from a quad-turbo W16-engined hypercar?

Only 60 examples of the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport will be produced for a global market at a price of $3.6 million a pop. Having the available cash is just the first half of the equation; being able to afford the operating costs is the second. In between scheduled maintenance visits and pricey tire swaps, owners will have to visit the pumps and they'll be doing so quite often, assuming they drive their Chirons regularly.

The EPA has just released official fuel economy figures for the Chiron Pur Sport and, well, they're bad - really, really bad. The Chiron Pur Sport is rated at 8/13/10 mpg city/highway/combined, making it the joint-worst 2-seater rated by the EPA. Of course, the Pur Sport, or any Chiron, isn't exactly your typical supercar. It's powered by an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine rated at 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque.

With power going to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Chiron Pur Sport will accelerate to 60 mph in less than 2.3 seconds and blast towards its rated top speed of 218 mph. Compared to the "regular" Chiron, the Pur Sport sheds 110 pounds thanks to things like a lightweight 3D printed titanium exhaust, a fixed rear spoiler measuring 74.8 inches wide, and lots of Alcantara, aluminum, and titanium throughout the interior. Even the wheels feature unique "aero blades" designed for smoother airflow. Unfortunately, none of those items will help owners save much on gas.

The EPA projects owners will spend a whopping $15,000 or more than the average driver in fuel costs over a 5-year period. If that's too much for potential customers, bear in mind the standard Chiron's rating isn't that much better. It's rated at 9/14/11 mpg city/highway/combined.

While the Chiron Pur Sport will be quite impressive on the track (though it's still quite a bit heavier than a Pagani or a Koenigsegg), it might just be the least fuel-efficient new vehicle for the 2021 model year. Currently, only the Lamborghini Aventador S and Roadster deliver the same combined figure.