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Bugatti Chiron Special Edition Is the Only Time 42 Seconds Were a Good Thing

Normally, you wouldn't want a car that says "42 seconds" on the exterior, because that's so ambiguous it could be interpreted in less than flattering ways. Especially by the kind of people who are attracted by expensive, exotic hypercars.
Bugatti Chiron 42 in Frankfurt 8 photos
Photo: Guido Ten Brink/SB-Medien
Bugatti Chiron 42 in FrankfurtBugatti Chiron 42 in FrankfurtBugatti Chiron 42 in FrankfurtBugatti Chiron 42 in FrankfurtBugatti Chiron 42 in FrankfurtBugatti Chiron 42 in FrankfurtBugatti Chiron 42 in Frankfurt
At the same time, it could be a very good conversation starter - not that you really needed one with a car that will only have 500 units built, comes with an 8-liter W16 quad-turbo engine and 1,500 hp. Oh, and it looks like it could serve as the first line of defense against an alien invasion.

As hard as that may be to believe, those 42 seconds can make the Chiron seem even more impressive. If you read our report on the accomplishment yesterday, then you already know what that's all about. If not, here's a quick rundown.

The Chiron has set a new world record as the quickest production car to accelerate from zero to 249 miles per hour (400 km/h) and then brake to a complete standstill again. It did it in 41,96 seconds, which Bugatti was confident enough to round off to 42 seconds.

The feat was done with former Formula One driver Pablo Montoya behind the wheel, but given the refinement of the Chiron and how well it hides the dizzying speeds it can reach, people with less exposure to danger in their background could have done it as well.

To mark the occasion, Bugatti commissioned a special edition of the already scarce Chiron and brought it to the Frankfurt Motor Show. Apart from the black and neon blue color scheme and the 42 inscriptions on the front, rear, and sides, the car looks like any other Chiron out there.

That makes perfect sense considering any of them would be capable of replicating the trick. All anybody would need is a closed straight road that's at least 3,112 meters (1.93 miles) long, a Chiron, plenty of gas, and balls of steel. Or enough money to ask Pablo Montoya to do it for them.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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