Since Europe remains Bugatti's biggest market, when the automaker developed its 1500-horsepower hypercar, it couldn't jeopardize the design to respect America's hopelessly outdated bumper regulations. Needless to say, being the crown jewel of the Volkswagen Group, the Chiron is as safe as a car that can achieve 261 mph can get.

Yet the law applies to all, and now that the first U.S.-spec Chirons have arrived in New York City, we finally got a good look at what this country's federal bumper standards translate to on a $2.6 million ride. These ugly tacked-on lumps, plus add-on amber side markers, are mandatory equipment on all U.S.-bound Chirons.

Máté Petrány

Máté Petrány

Máté Petrány

Of course, this isn't the first time we've seen ugly chunks of rubber slapped onto supercars to appease Uncle Sam. The most well-known victim was the Bertone-designed Countach, but the original McLaren F1 (imported to the U.S. by Ameritech) also arrived here with some unfortunate bulk.

1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000QV, federal spec. Vetatur Fumare Flickr

The single-seater Ameritech McLaren F1 kit. Ebay

The back of a Bugatti Chiron, anywhere outside of America. Bugatti

The good news is, these tacked-on lumps are really only there to make the cars street-legal until they're sold. Most owners, we assume, will have the federal bumpers and markers removed the moment they take possession of their outrageous hypercars, revealing the true, beautiful lines beneath.

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