Bugatti Centodieci's Brutal Development Regimen Is Finally Finished

The Bugatti Centodieci was revealed to the world as a celebration of the brand's impressive 110th anniversary by merging design elements of the Chiron with the iconic EB110 supercar that preceded it in the 1990s. It was first shown to us closer to the end of 2019 with 10 units planned to be produced. All of these slots were sold out before the car was even shown to the world.

Despite one dealership curiously having one listed for sale in The Netherlands, the special $9 million hypercar has only just been declared fit for production now that the French marque has concluded its stringent testing program covering both icy cold conditions and hot weather testing in the desert.

Considering it's such an exclusive car, we've been lucky enough to be exposed to its crucial testing that even included inspiring footage of the model's wind tunnel testing. Bugatti confirms that in the last stage of its regime, it has covered just over 31,000 miles to ensure that its final product is perfect. This covers everything from top speed runs to tight handling characteristics in various wet and dry conditions on different quality surfaces.

Bugatti explains that the final testing, which took place on the infamous Nardo circuit in the Puglia region of southern Italy, was conducted as somewhat of an endurance race with three test drivers being subject to rotate at all hours of the day to gather crucial data for the final stages of its development. The team looked at everything from stop-and-go driving characteristics to flat-out top-speed runs.

Steffen Leicht, head endurance tester for Bugatti, explains, "With its high-speed circuit and handling course, the Nardo test center provides the ideal conditions for intensive endurance tests." Project manager Carl Heilenkotter adds, "We assess every element on the vehicle one last time, paying particular attention to functionality and durability before the first Centodieci cars go into production,"

Each Centodieci test unit was subjected to just under 750 miles of testing daily. Breaks were only taken so that the technical team could check up on the car's condition, refuel the tanks, and swap out the drivers. Data was analyzed continuously throughout the program. Now that the final stages of testing are complete, Bugatti will get started on assembling the production cars so that they can be delivered to their high-profile owners before this year ends.