A lot of attention has been paid to improving front-end grip and response. The all-new carbon-fiber monocoque is stiffer, and the revised, wider-track front suspension features new rubber and steel bushes. Steering is by way of a new ZF EPS system, and external reservoir Sachs dampers are fitted all around. Michelin developed an all-new tire for the Chiron that delivers a 14 percent bigger contact patch up front and 10 percent bigger at the rear. Incidentally, these hand-built meats—285/30R20 up front, and 355/25R21 at the rear—are certified to 261 mph.

2017 Bugatti Chiron interior center stack

"The lateral grip has increased dramatically," Dürheimer says. "You can make an abrupt lane change at up to 236 mph, and the car reacts immediately and absolutely predictably. You feel your cheeks being pulled out when you do because the lateral acceleration you can create with these tires and the downforce is like in a race car." But will it drift? "Oh, yes," engineer Netuschil grins.

[pullquote align="left"]You can make an abrupt lane change at up to 236 mph, and the car reacts immediately. ... You feel your cheeks being pulled out when you do.[/pullquote]

If you have to ask the price, you can't afford one, but for the record the Chiron costs 2.4 million euros. Bugatti only quotes pricing in euros, but at the time of writing that equated to $2.7 million. Planned production will total 500 cars—50 more than the Veyron—and Dürheimer insists that, unlike the Veyron project, the Chiron will make money for VW Group. By late December, 110 customers had placed orders for a car, handing over a 200,000-euro ($226,000) deposit, which means the first two years' production is already sold out.

Cynics will see the Bugatti Chiron as little more than an utterly pointless toy for the very, very rich. But in an era when you can buy a 707-hp, 204-mph sedan in a Dodge showroom, a car that unambiguously stakes its claim as the fastest, most powerful production vehicle ever built should be celebrated. It's a bit like painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, like climbing Everest, like sending a man to the moon. VW Group has built the Bugatti Chiron for one simple reason: Because it can.

More on the 2017 Bugatti Chiron here:

10 Thing You Didn't Know About the Bugatti Chiron
Bugatti Chiron by Design: What's New and Why
Chiron By the Numbers: Taking a Closer Look at the 1500-HP Bugatti
Hennessey vs. Bugatti: Texas Takes on Molsheim

2017 Bugatti Chiron
BASE PRICE	$2,700,000 (€2,400,000)
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Mid-engine, AWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE	8.0L/1,500-hp/1,165-lb-ft DOHC 64-valve quad-turbo W-16
TRANSMISSION	7-speed twin-clutch automatic
CURB WEIGHT	4,400 lb (est)
WHEELBASE	106.7 in
L X W X H	178.9 x 80.2 x 47.7 in
0-60 mph	2.4 sec (mfr est)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	Not yet rated
ON SALE IN U.S.	Currently

2017 Bugatti Chiron front three quarter 03