The fastest, most powerful Bugatti yet is a track weapon.

THE name? It’s French for “a very fast car” and performance data given out about Bolide, a 16-cylinder concept Bugatti reflects this.

A modern day homage to the 1920s’ and ‘30s Grand Prix racing cars that made Bugatti world famous, the modern two-seater can sprint from a standstill to 500 kilometres per hour in just 20 seconds, a benefit of an outrageous power to weight.

Bugatti claims the Bolide weighs 1240kg and the engine makes 1360kW. That means it is slightly lighter than a Toyota 86 sports coupe and has nine times the horsepower.

Stephan Winkelmann, the head of Bugatti, says driving the Bolide is “like riding a cannonball.”

The Bolide is a one-off, and it has not been approved for production yet, though the brand says that could happen.

The engine is the quad-turbocharged, 8.0-liter 16 cylinder in a ‘W’ configuration – so named because the four cylinder banks, using the same crankshaft, resemble the letter when viewed from the front – used by Bugatti’s production supercar, the 420kmh Chiron.

The power lift from the 1102kW maximum output Bugatti claims for the Chiron comes from the unit in the Bolide having modifications that suit race track rather than street and autobahn use.

It develops 1849Nm of torque with new turbochargers and the intake and exhaust systems being derestricted to let more air travel through. The oil system has been revised to cope with the high centrifugal forces experienced on the track. It also burns 110 octane race fuel.

The car’s top speed has not been tested in real life. The figure comes from a computer simulation undertaken at the headquarters in Molsheim, France, which was the home town of the brand’s founder, Ettore Bugatti.

The claim that the car could lap the Nurburgring race track, often used by car brands for testing and to establish performance records, in just five minutes and 23.1 seconds is also calculated.

The Bolide does not just rely on a massive engine. The car benefits from weight-saving techniques, including some not found in production cars. Every screw and fastener is made from titanium, auxiliary drive shafts use a blend of carbon fibre and 3D-printed titanium.

Aerodynamic innovations to reduce drag also feature, but one styling cue is also a nod to history. The X-shaped lights flanking the four exhaust tips were loosely inspired by the Bell X-1, which was the first plane to break the sound barrier.

The cabin features a pair of carbon fibre seats, a rectangular steering wheel and a small screen imparting vital information; it’s not as stripped out as a full competition car but neither is it as plush as a Chiron.

The car complies with safety requirements set by the world motorsport governing body, the FIA, so it would in theory be allowed to be raced, assuming any category would allow it.