$3M Bugatti Chiron being towed by a Volkswagen on the streets of Germany sparked controversy, but everyone was jumping to the wrong conclusions
- A Bugatti Chiron without license plates was spotted being towed around Germany
- Powered by a W16 engine, the unlicensed car wasn’t allowed to drive on public roads
- Power levels for the Chiron peak at over 1,600HP for the Super Sport version
Published on Feb 03, 2025 at 4:29 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 03, 2025 at 4:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A Bugatti Chiron hypercar worth around $3 million was spotted being towed in Frankfurt, Germany.
Video footage and images showed the Chiron leaving the Klassikstadt yard, a museum for cars and vehicles that is also an unofficial meeting spot for gearheads.
Despite looking like the Chiron had suffered at the hands of mechanical gremlins, it would appear that isn’t true.
The Bugatti lacks license plates, signaling that it is not yet registered legally on Germany’s roads.
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An Unregistered Vehicle Can’t Drive On German Roads
Unsurprisingly, vehicles without license plates are not legally allowed to drive on Germany’s public road network.
However, the Chiron can be towed on German roads even if it lacks registration.
Even more bizarre is the fact that the ‘driver’ of the vehicle being towed doesn’t even need a driver’s license to steer the car.
It’s highly likely that this Chiron was also towed to a car meeting while it awaits registration.
With no chance of driving home under its own power, its owner has clearly taken matters into his own hands to get it back in their garage.
With the Chiron costing at least $3 million and rising to well over $4 million depending on the trim and options the owner selects, this is an undignified way for this Bugatti to get around town.
The Bugatti Chiron boasts over 1,400HP
Whatever the case with this particular Chiron, the Bugatti hypercar packs in a mighty punch. Under the hood, it has an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine, making 1,479 hp. In the Chiron Super Sport and Super Sport 300+, the W16 makes a staggering 1,578 hp.
The Chiron took its name from famous Monegasque racing driver Louis Chiron. After racing for 35 years, Chiron won the 1931 French Grand Prix driving a Bugatti T51.
The Monegasque was also the first resident to win his home Monaco Grand Prix, being the only driver to do so until Charles Leclerc won the race for Ferrari in 2024.
The Bugatti Chiron tops out at over 260mph
With its massive W16 engine under the hood, the Chiron can top out at an incredible 261mph.
Acceleration is just as fierce, with the 0-62mph time just 2.4 seconds, and 124mph is reached in only 6.5 seconds.
While its performance is out of this world, the Chiron’s fuel economy isn’t.
Thanks to how much gasoline it uses, the Chiron achieves just nine miles-per-gallon in the city and 14mpg on the highway, leading to a combined figure of 11mpg.
