Continental has engineered a sophisticated electronic brake control system for the Bugatti Bolide, a hypercar featuring Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Traction Control System (TCS), based on Continental Engineering Services’ (CES) ‘Motorsports ABS Kit.’ Designed for the racetrack-exclusive Bolide, which boasts 1,600 horsepower, this advanced system allows professional racers and enthusiasts alike to harness the vehicle’s full potential with precision and control.
The Bolide, derived from the Bugatti Chiron platform and now set for a limited production of 40 units, combines high-performance dynamics with CES’s custom brake control technology, enabling safer handling without sacrificing power. The first units are expected to be delivered by the year-end.
The collaboration between Bugatti and CES builds on years of partnership on advanced developments for Bugatti models like the Chiron and Veyron. According to Bugatti’s Chief Engineer Christian Willmann, the Bolide represents a breakthrough, with ESC now paired with carbon-carbon brakes, elevating the vehicle’s performance, stability, and safety.
CES, bringing its motorsport expertise, tailored the Motorsports ABS to manage the Bolide’s immense acceleration and braking forces effectively. CES head Volker van Lier highlighted the project’s unique challenge of developing a system that makes the Bolide manageable for drivers beyond professional racers, marking an achievement in hypercar brake control.
The system offers five adjustable driving modes, providing flexibility based on track conditions, weather, and tire status. Each mode can be selected from the steering wheel, allowing real-time adjustments on the racetrack.
The engineering behind the system had to account for the Bolide’s extreme forces, including braking deceleration of up to 2.5 g and aerodynamic downforce at high speeds of 380 km/h. CES optimized the control algorithms to interact seamlessly with racing-specific components, such as the carbon-carbon brakes and endurance slicks, ensuring peak performance even under intense physical loads.
Despite weighing less than two kilograms, this compact control system manages the Bolide’s brake pressure accurately even at top speeds, enabling precise control through sharp curves. Developed within a single year, the system represents a leap forward in racing brake technology, supporting Bugatti’s vision of ultimate racetrack performance.
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