Bugatti Divo 2019 becomes brand's top model

French hypercar specialist Bugatti has upstaged even itself, ripping the covers off the coach-built Divo high-performance flagship that is sharper and lighter than the current Chiron.

Named after French racing driver and two-time winner of the Targa Florio, Albert Divo, Bugatti's latest pumps out 1103kW of power at 6700rpm and 1600Nm of torque from 2000-6000rpm from its 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 petrol engine.

Though the Divo outputs the same figures as its Chiron donor car, changes to the aerodynamics increase downforce and tweaks to suspension geometry improve handling, but result in a 40km/h-slower top speed of just 380km/h compared with the Chiron's 420km/h terminal velocity.

Bugatti sliced 35kg from the Chiron's weight and created body enhancements that produce 90kg more downforce than the donor car.

Bugatti sliced 35kg from the Chiron's weight and created body enhancements that produce 90kg more downforce than the donor car, allowing lateral acceleration to be increased to 1.6g.

The bodywork includes air intakes added to the nose that improve airflow at the front and increases aerodynamic efficiency, while a new 'air curtain' also aids in evacuating turbulent air across the body.

A wider front spoiler increases downforce and also directs more air towards the engine for improved cooling.

The brakes are also cooled by four independent air sources on each side – above the front bumper, the inlets on the front wings, one inlet on the front radiator and the diffusers ahead of the tyres – which channel the cold air to the discs, while a heat shield carries the hot air out through the wheels.

Bugatti said the roof of the Divo has been designed to form a NACA air intake duct which, in conjunction with a specially designed engine compartment cover, "ensures a very high air mass flow to the engine compartment".

The rear has a 1.83m wide height-adjustable spoiler which also serves double duty as an air brake when turned forwards and can be set to different angles for the individual driving modes.

The total downforce generated by the body design is 456kg.

Bugatti said the roof of the Divo has been designed to form a NACA air intake duct.

Technical innovations in the cabin include seats which have greater lateral support, but the remainder of the interior largely carries over, save for the lack of storage options.

Bugatti says it purposely built the Divo with a different character to the Chiron and, as a result, the brand's latest hypercar can lap the Nardò handling circuit in southern Italy eight seconds faster than its already-impressive donor car.

Bugatti Automobiles president Stephan Winkelmann said the Divo was created in response to buyer demands.

"When I took up my position at Bugatti at the beginning of the year, I soon learnt that our customers and fans were waiting for a special vehicle which would tell a further story for the brand in addition to the Chiron," he said.

Technical innovations in the cabin include seats which have greater lateral support.

"To date, a modern Bugatti has represented a perfect balance between high performance, straight-line dynamics and luxurious comfort. Within our possibilities, we have shifted the balance in the case of the Divo further towards lateral acceleration, agility and cornering. "The Divo is made for bends."

However, the bad news is that the Bugatti Divo costs €5 million ($A7.93 million) and all 40 limited-production cars were sold immediately when the model was announced.

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