Practical guide for everything a new owner asks on day one — starting the car, finding the gear selector, drive modes, infotainment, driver aids, and easy-to-miss features.
01
How to start it
Insert the silver driving key into the slot to the LEFT of the seat, between the door and the sill. Press the brake. Press the start button on the steering wheel. The W16 catches in about a second. (The second 'Top Speed' key only unlocks 261+ mph mode.)
02
Where the gear selector is (and how to use it)
Brushed-aluminum dial between the seats — rotate to R, N, A (Auto), or M (Manual) and use the paddles. There is no traditional 'D'; A is your daily-drive setting.
03
Drive modes
Drive modes are accessed via the second key (Top Speed key) + EB drive-mode dial. Available modes typically include EB, Autobahn, Handling, Top Speed. Each mode reshuffles throttle mapping, steering weight, adaptive dampers (if equipped), exhaust valves, and stability-control thresholds. On performance trims, an 'Individual' or 'Custom' slot lets you save your favorite combination so you can recall it with one click instead of nesting through menus.
04
Cluster & head-up display
The driver display is a Central analog tach flanked by digital displays. Use the steering-wheel left thumb-pad to cycle layouts (Classic, Sport, Navigation, Minimal). When in Sport / Track mode the cluster automatically swaps to a wide tach with gear indicator and tire-temperature readout. The head-up display brightness, height, and content are configured from Settings → Displays → HUD.
05
Infotainment & voice control
Infotainment runs on Minimalist console (intentionally analog-feel). Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; pair from Settings → Connections the first time, then it auto-connects whenever your phone is in range. Steering-wheel push-to-talk wakes the in-car assistant for nav, climate, calls, and messaging without touching the screen. The main display also hosts vehicle-specific apps: tire pressures, performance data recorder (where fitted), drive-mode customizer, and the camera views.
06
Driver assistance
Standard driver aids include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Toggle each system individually from the driver-assist menu (steering-wheel left-pad → Assistance). Highway-driving assist (hands-off in marked lanes on supported roads), automatic lane-change on indicator tap, traffic-jam assist for stop-and-go, and a 360° surround camera with transparent-hood mode are all available and worth enabling for the first time before driving in heavy traffic.
07
Fueling
Premium unleaded (91 or 93 octane) is required on Bugatti performance models — the engine timing is set for it and lower octane causes audible knock and reduced power. Fuel-cap release is a button on the driver door panel; the cap is capless (just push the nozzle in).
08
Keys & phone-as-key
Beyond the physical key, this car supports Two-key system (driving key + Top Speed key). Set up phone-as-key from the Bugatti Concierge app: it provisions a secure credential to your phone's wallet so a tap on the door handle unlocks the car and placing the phone on the wireless charging pad authorizes ignition. You can also share temporary keys to family members (with optional speed and area limits on performance trims) directly from the app.
09
First-week tips & easy-to-miss features
A few things every new owner tells us they wish they'd known on day one:
- Always use the front-axle lift before driveways and speed bumps — it stores the lift point in GPS so the car raises automatically next time.
- Warm tires and oil for at least 8–10 minutes before using Race / Track mode; cold rubber on this much power is the #1 cause of off-throttle spins.
- Download the brand app (Bugatti Concierge) and pair it with your VIN before your first long trip — remote climate, charging/fuel-level checks, and remote lock-status save you walking back to the garage in winter.