Bugatti Divo Review: Chiron Not Good Enough?
First, there was the supercar, and then Bugatti introduced the hypercar. In response, Koenigsegg, McLaren, Ferrari, and Porsche all went the hypercar route. We're talking million-dollar price tags, 230 mph+ top speeds, and the kind of customers that own islands instead of houses. But the world has changed, and so too has Bugatti, releasing not only the Chiron, but this, the Bugatti Divo, an even more distilled version of the Chiron that dials everything up to… more!
Only 40 will be built and all of them have been sold. But what is it that makes the Divo more than just another rival to a Pagani Huayra BC or Koenigsegg Regera? It starts in the engine bay, where Bugatti has turned up the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 to develop 1,479 horsepower. Then, Bugatti gave it a brand new exterior look, with wings and fins and flics and all sorts of aero trickery to make this one of the most insane machines money can buy. For nearly $6 million, it better be.
2021 Bugatti Divo
No major changes affected the Bugatti Divo this year, with the final example being delivered in mid-2021.
2020 Bugatti Divo
The Bugatti Divo entered production in 2018 as the French carmaker's first coach-built hypercar of the 21st century. Taking its inspiration from the Type 57SC Atlantic, the classic Bugatti signature line is slimmed down for the Divo and the shape is made more aggressive and muscular. It's been optimized for track performance with a 23-percent wider rear wing to help produce nearly 200 pounds more downforce at top speed. It's been lightened by 77 pounds and boasts higher lateral acceleration and sharper handling than the Chiron. It's also extremely exclusive and expensive, with only 40 units planned for production, priced at $5.8 million each. Bugatti reported in July 2021 that the last of the limited-run Divos has been delivered to its owner, concluding the production run after three years. The 40th Divo is finished in Bright EB 110 LM Blue contrasted with carbon in Dark Blue and it wears matte-gold wheels.
2021 Bugatti Divo Coupe
- Make
- Bugatti
- Model
- Divo
- Model Year
- 2021 Bugatti Divo
- Year
- 2021
- MSRP
- $5,800,000
- Engine
- 8.0L W16 Gas
- Horsepower
- 1,500 hp
- Transmission
- 7-Speed DSG
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Torque
- 1180 lb-ft
- Combined
- 10 MPG
- City
- 5 MPG
- Highway
- 18 MPG
- Fuel Tank Capacity
- 22 gallons
- Length
- 182.7 in
- Height
- 47.7 in
- Max Width
- 79.4 in
- Wheelbase
- 106.7 in
- Curb Weight
- 4,323 lbs
- Trunk Volume
- 11.6 ft³
- Seating Capacity
- 2 seater
Divo Exterior
The President of Bugatti Automobiles, Stephan Winkelman, described the Divo best. He's on record as stating that the Divo is a Chiron for corners. Instead of simply bolting a massive wing on the back, Bugatti's designers made something entirely new. It has a massive rear wing for added downforce, and the overall design is angular and sinister. There are many air intakes, a diffuser, and quad exhaust pipes. All of these things are functional, however. More than anything, this car looks like it was designed to be a poster. It's difficult to believe it's even road legal, considering what a vehicle has to go through in order to be legally allowed on tarmac these days. Massive kudos to Bugatti for pulling it off.
Dimensions
A car that can do more than 200 mph needs a big footprint. It also needs to be as low as possible, with just enough ground clearance to keep the health and safety police at bay. The Divo has a total body length of 182.7 inches, housing a 106.7-inch wheelbase. It's just 47.7 inches tall but 79.44 inches wide. Thanks to a few weight-saving techniques, like removing some of the sound dampening, the Divo weighs 77 pounds less than the 4,398 lbs Chiron.
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182.7 in | 106.7 in | 47.7 in | 79.4 in | 4,323.0 lbs |
Exterior Colors
Bugatti doesn't have some lower-class configurator on its website. The closest thing you'll find on there are some basic examples of possible color schemes. These merely serve as an illustration of the endless possibilities available to the average Bugatti customer.
With the Divo being even more exclusive, it's likely each owner has Mr. Winkelman's personal details. It's a case of simply sending him a text or mail with an image of a beautiful rose that blossomed in the garden of your summer home in the 16th Arrondissement of Paris. Mr. Winkelman forwards that image to the guy in charge of painting, and he just does it.
Divo Performance
Everything about Bugatti's Divo is extreme. Even twin-turbo V12s aren't good enough, which is why the Divo has 16 cylinders and four turbos. The power is exactly the same as it is in the Chiron, most likely because it's enough. The power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Thanks to the small weight reduction, Bugatti claims a zero to 62 mph time of 2.4 seconds.
Engine and Transmission
The Bugatti's 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo engine produces 1,479 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, specifically designed for this application. For the record, the initial development of the Veyron was delayed numerous times because Bugatti struggled to develop a gearbox strong enough to cope with 1,000 hp. The fact that this gearbox comes with a warranty is a massive engineering accomplishment.
The 0 to 62 mph sprint time of 2.4 seconds isn't that impressive by modern standards, but a Bugatti simply can't be reduced to one figure. Tesla Model S owners will simply point to Ludicrous Mode with a smug smile on their faces. Sure, your Duracell-powered car will likely get off the line quicker, but it won't get to 124 mph in 6.1 seconds or 186 mph in 13.1 seconds. Because of the extra aerodynamic drag of the rear wing and redesigned exterior, the Divo's top speed is not as impressive as the Chiron's. Having said that, the Divo's limited top speed of 236 mph should be sufficient.
Handling and Driving Impressions
Since this is a Chiron built for cornering, it should be able to handle the twisties. The Chiron was already an impressive car in this regard. Any car that can put down as much power while being no more intimidating than a Golf GTI deserves praise.
We haven't driven a Divo, and we're still 83 cars away from achieving possible ownership status, so chances are we never will. What we can tell you is that the Divo is capable of producing 1.6 g through a corner, which is astonishing. The average human head weighs around 10 lbs. On the limit in a Divo, that same average head would weigh 16 lbs. Any car that can corner hard enough to cause pain is fine by us. According to Bugatti, the Divo is eight seconds faster than the Chiron at the Nardo handling circuit in Italy.
Divo Gas Mileage
Yes, the Bugatti Divo uses gas - a lot of it. Its EPA-estimated city/highway/combined figures are 9/13/10 mpg. Think of it as a safety feature. The 26.4-gallon fuel tank will run dry long before the bespoke tires give up.
Divo Interior
The interior is a mix of real high-end materials, including carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum. The Divo comes with its own unique interior color called Divo Racing Blue. Since customization is so important at this level, few customers stuck with Bugatti's initial offering. We've seen a few Divo interior examples, and they range from tasteful to ridiculously nouveau riche.
Seating and Interior Space
Bugatti doesn't claim figures for interior space, but it doesn't have to. The Divo is a two-seater with ample leg and headroom for one driver and one scared passenger clinging to the beautifully crafted door handle.
It's a good thing the passenger will be too shocked to notice anything else because what few controls there are, are all angled toward the driver.
Interior Colors and Materials
As stated earlier, the sky's the limit. Bugatti created a specific color for the Divo, but most customers chose to go a different route. Out of the 40 cars built, Bugatti claims that no two are alike, which is exactly what customers in this segment desire. Expect to find carbon fiber, leather, aluminum, and titanium in here.
Divo Trunk and Cargo Space
The Bugatti's trunk matches the interior: two cubic feet of space for two passengers. Interior storage is just as sparse, with only a small glovebox and a tiny, oddly shaped storage area between the two seats.
To be fair, if you have a Divo, you can afford to send a plane ahead with luggage. Or just buy new stuff at the destination.
Features
The Divo's interior is best described as minimalism based on performance. There's a shifter, and above that, you have a push-button start and four buttons stacked on top of each other. The standard features list includes power-adjustable seats and steering column, power side mirrors, and a rear parking camera with a small display in the digital instrument cluster.
Infotainment
There is no center display, which means no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Why even have a sound system in a car like this. We reckon it's simply another opportunity to one-up every other car out there, as the Accuton sound system uses actual diamonds in the tweeters. It's almost as if this sound system exists purely so you can tell an S-Class driver that your sound system costs more than his/her entire car.
Divo Problems and Reliability
The 2020 Divo was recalled twice - for a stability-control malfunction and for a left-rear driveshaft that may fail. The former issue also extended to the 2021 Divo.
The Divo is covered by a four-year warranty, which includes the powertrain. It also comes standard with a four-year maintenance plan. As mentioned earlier, when it comes to cars this exclusive, the owner likely has the President of Bugatti's phone number.
Divo Safety
Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS test cars above a certain price point, so there was never any chance of them getting their hands on a Divo. Divo owners can rest assured, however. Before the Veyron's launch more than a decade ago, a test driver lost control of a test mule at Nardo at nearly 250 mph. He walked away without a scratch but damaged around one mile of Armco.
Key Safety Features
Standard safety items include a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and six airbags. The Divo is also constructed from lightweight, super-strong materials, and it comes with the most advanced traction and stability systems currently available. The brake calipers are eight-piston units in the front and six-piston in the rear.
Verdict: Is The Bugatti Divo A Good Car?
Does it even matter? By reducing the production to 40 units, Bugatti created a lifelong demand and a minimal supply. Building a track-focused Chiron may seem like an exercise in futility. We're talking about a car that weighs more than 4,000 lbs, after all. A Mazda Miata would likely be more rewarding to drive around a tight track. There are far too many other hypercars that should do a better job of thrilling on a track. Examples include the McLaren Senna, Ferrari's SF90 Stradale, a Ford GT, Koenigsegg Jesko, and a Pagani Huayra. The thing is, the average Bugatti owner already has these cars and is most likely buying the Divo to complete the hypercar set. The Aston Martin Valkyrie will be number 86.
What's The Price Of The Bugatti Divo?
The Bugatti Divo had a starting price of $5,800,000 before options and all 40 units were sold within a day. Because of demand and limited availability, it's likely already worth twice that. Some Veyrons are currently selling for a lot more than the original (before options) asking price, and there's no reason to believe the same won't happen with a more limited car.
What Bugatti Divo Model Should I Buy?
Unfortunately, you can't. Only 40 were made, and these are the kinds of cars that only get sold when somebody dies. We checked, and at the time of publishing, there were no units up for sale or for auction in the USA.
Bugatti Divo Comparisons
2021 Bugatti Divo vs Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Divo and Chiron share the same engine and basic platform. They have different bodies and slightly different interiors, but that's it. The Divo is lighter and 0.1 seconds faster to 60 mph than the Chiron, but the driver would be unable to tell the difference.
Comparing these two cars is meaningless. Why? Well, in order to be considered for Bugatti's shortlist of people who were given the opportunity to buy a Divo, you already had to have a Chiron. If you don't have either, the Chiron would be easier to get hold of. Acquiring a Divo would likely involve murdering someone, which we advise against.
2021 Bugatti Divo vs Koenigsegg Jesko
The Jesko came along and poured all over Bugatti's parade. Its 1,600-hp engine is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production car, and that alone makes it worth having.
Like the Divo, the Jesko is also a track machine, and its production run will be limited to 125 units. The Jesko also comes with a number of unique nerdy features, and it was named after Christian von Koenigsegg's dad. It's a car that comes with a cool story, which you can tell every time someone approaches you to talk about it. The Jesko caters to the same ultra-rich crowd as the Divo. There's a very good chance that if you have one, you have the other already.