Developing a hypercar as immensely powerful and eminently capable as the Bugatti Chiron is undoubtedly no simple matter. But the process is now complete, with the first examples of Molsheim’s latest already in the hands of their wealthy customers. So what’s this prototype doing testing at the Nürburgring?

That’s the question posed by this video, captured and submitted for our by Michael de Jong – the automotive spy videographer who goes by the handle Automotive Mike.

The two-and-a-half-minute clip shows a Chiron, all murdered out in matte black with its brightwork stripped, circling the vaunted Nordschleife during an Industry Pool day earlier this month. The 1,500-horsepower exotic is moving at what looks like a more than decent clip, putting all its costly components to the test. But why?

The answer we’re hoping for is that Bugatti is preparing a more hardcore version, like the Supersport was to the previous Veyron. By the same formula, we could be looking at as much as 1,800 horsepower from a potential Chiron SS. But there could by any of a number of other reasons why Molsheim could be putting this Chiron through the ringer, and we may never find out exactly what that may be. We can certainly dream, though.

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