The cars in question were manufactured for the years 2016 to 2023 at the Atelier in Molsheim, where the Chiron and Chiron-derived vehicles are carefully put together at a rate of approximately 70 units per year. In January 2024, the company was informed about a noncompliance issue that affected a development car. When the vehicle was turned on and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, the seatbelt alert did not activate. The reason for this malfunction is still unknown.
Considering the extensive amount of software used in modern cars, it should come as no surprise that the seatbelt alert is triggered by a few lines of code. Bugatti and Continental Engineering Services, based in Regensburg, discovered that an audible warning is activated when the car reaches speeds over 15 mph (24 km/h) and travels a distance of 500 meters (1,640 feet). Alternatively, the alert will sound 60 seconds after starting the engine.
However, there is an issue with the described conditions. According to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, the audible signal should activate when the ignition switch is turned on or in the start position, and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt. This implies that the vehicle is stationary. Bugatti and the software supplier for the instrument cluster also confirmed that all 501 vehicles have the same software version, which was developed in accordance with ECE R16 regulations.
Given these circumstances, the 156 units that were delivered to customers in the US are being recalled for a software update. The necessary software is currently being developed. Despite this, dealerships have already been informed about the recall. Owners will receive notification by mail no later than March 31.
A message from Alexis Ploix, the director of aftersales & customer services, was sent via email to dealers nationwide, urging them to contact affected customers as soon as possible. In other words, owners should expect a phone call or email today or in the near future. Additionally, dealerships have been instructed to arrange for the vehicles to be picked up from customers and transported to the dealership. These services will be provided to owners free of charge.
The reason for Bugatti’s exceptional treatment of their customers can be explained in several ways, starting with the high price tag of a Chiron. It is also important to consider the exorbitant costs of servicing these vehicles. However, the most significant factor is the value Bugatti places on their Chiron owners. With the upcoming launch of their new hypercar this summer, these clients will be the first to be contacted by their dealerships regarding the opportunity to reserve a build slot.
Bugatti-Rimac’s CEO, Mate Rimac, has made it clear that the new hypercar will heavily feature electrification. Powered by a different engine than the Chiron’s 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo monster, the successor, which has yet to be named, was unveiled behind closed doors at the end of 2023. The first deliveries are scheduled for early 2026, and rumors suggest that Bugatti’s next hypercar will be even more exclusive than the limited production Veyron, with only 450 units expected to be produced.
There are numerous speculations regarding the engine of the latest version, starting with a twin-turbo V8 similar to the Lamborghini Huracan-replacing LB63x. The most outlandish rumor proposes a Cosworth-engineered V16, which seems somewhat unfeasible considering it would be lengthier than the current W16. Nonetheless, do you recall the Cizeta-Moroder V16T and its horizontally-mounted V16?
According to the Source autoevolution.com