It’s a momentous day for hypercar royalty. The Bugatti Tourbillon has arrived, and this next-generation hypercar shares absolutely nothing with its predecessors. It rides on an all-new platform, is draped in all-new coachwork, and features an entirely new engine. It’s the Bugatti for the next decade, and while it isn’t electric, its blend of an insane engine and modern electric assistance is one for the ages.
Beneath the deck lid of the Tourbillon sits an entirely new 986-horsepower 8.3-liter naturally-aspirated V16 engine. Developed in partnership with Cosworth, this 9,000 rpm motor is, in fact, the first traditional V16 in any production car since 1937. Combined with three electric motors (two on the front axle and one in the rear) and a 25 kWh battery pack, this electrified powerplant pumps out an enormous 1,775 horsepower without the need for pesky, laggy, sound-dulling turbochargers, and can launch this hypercar from zero-to-62 mph in two seconds.
The launch control procedure for the Tourbillon is particularly fascinating. Because the electric motors provide so much instant torque, the car slips the clutch off the line, locking in full combustion power at around 50 mph. From there, the V16 provides heaps of thrust, the motors fill in any power dips up at the top of the rev range, and voila — savage acceleration well into extralegal speeds. Bugatti claims that the zero-to-124 mph dash is done in fewer than five seconds, the zero-to-248 mph dash is dispatched within fewer than 25 seconds, and with the right stretch of tarmac, the Tourbillon will go on to a top speed of 277 mph, so long as the special high-speed key is along for the ride.
As a bonus, that battery pack and those electric motors make this plug-in hybrid hypercar capable of driving 37 miles on electric power alone, at least on the WLTP cycle. Add in a carbon composite structure, an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, forged aluminum control arms, and a curb weight less than that of the Chiron despite the addition of electrification, and the Bugatti Tourbillon is an all-encompassing hypercar for the next generation.
Visually, the Bugatti Tourbillon adopts a more longitudinal form than the rounded Veyron and Chiron. Emphasis on visual length, along with a silhouette 33 millimeters lower than the Chiron’s, imbues the new car with an enormous sense of speed, all while maintaining trademark Bugatti cues. The two-tone paint, the signature C-line, the strong C-pillars. Up front, slim headlights flank a wider grille and enormous bumper air intakes, all taking influence from limited-run and one-off models from the recent past.
Speaking of addition, the Tourbillon is the first mainline Bugatti since the EB110 to feature doors that go up. Yep, the trademark hypercar visual showpiece has made it back to Bugatti. However, the biggest visual departure from Bugattis of past is out back, where a curvaceous one-piece taillight, a positively gargantuan rear diffuser, and exaggerated hips add a huge dose of wedge and drama to this V16 hypercar.
On the inside, Bugatti has taken careful steps to help the Tourbillon age well, with the most striking element being a timepiece-like instrument cluster with sapphire glass, rubies, and a heavy emphasis on analog elements including concentric speedometer and tachometer dials. After all, it just makes sense — screen-based digital clusters age quickly, dials don’t. In normal operation, there’s no visible infotainment screen, but select reverse or press a button, and a hidden screen rises from the dashboard. It’s about time we brought that back. Speaking of rare elements we’ve seen once or twice before, the driver’s airbag stays fixed while the steering wheel rotates around it, a bit like on an old Citroën C4. Interestingly, the spokes of the wheel fall behind the gauge cluster, so it’s always visible. Talk about a great piece of design.
Of course, with such absurd craftsmanship, speed, and technology, the Bugatti Tourbillon won’t exactly be what you’d call inexpensive. It starts at €3.8 million before taxes, or around $4.5 million in freedom currency, but that doesn’t matter.
All 250 cars Bugatti plans to make are pre-sold. The 2000s had the Veyron, the 2010s had the Chiron, and the 2020s have the Tourbillon. With added electric punch and the drama and specialness of a naturally aspirated V16, Bugatti is here to show every other hypercar company that it’s still the king.
I appreciate that a V16 motor exists in this day and age.. I think that’s all the good I can say..
While I’m not sold on the exterior yet, that interior is AWESOME! They hit it outta the park with the design.
While I’m not sold on the exterior yet, that interior is AWESOME! They hit it outta the park with the design.
Sorry I honestly can’t tell these cars apart looking at the exterior.
God, so glad that’s not just me..
Same.
If you put this, a Chiron, and a Veyron in the same room I’d imagine 9/10 of people wouldn’t be able to tell you which is which. Hell I don’t think I could tell this and a Chiron apart. I can definitely pick out the Veyron due to how butt ugly it is.
Yep Veyron is the chonky seal, the others are just ctrl+c, ctrl-v.
See also: Almost every modern Mclaren.
Insert same, but different, but still same gif here.
Sorry I honestly can’t tell these cars apart looking at the exterior.
God, so glad that’s not just me..
Same.
If you put this, a Chiron, and a Veyron in the same room I’d imagine 9/10 of people wouldn’t be able to tell you which is which. Hell I don’t think I could tell this and a Chiron apart. I can definitely pick out the Veyron due to how butt ugly it is.
Yep Veyron is the chonky seal, the others are just ctrl+c, ctrl-v.
See also: Almost every modern Mclaren.
Insert same, but different, but still same gif here.
I wonder what would happen if one were to demand one of these at cost, on the basis that one is a serial Bugatti customer?
I wonder what would happen if one were to demand one of these at cost, on the basis that one is a serial Bugatti customer?
I’m sorry, but it just looks like it stuck it’s face in a vacuum cleaner hose.
I’m sorry, but it just looks like it stuck it’s face in a vacuum cleaner hose.
“Guess what my 2008 CTS and the new Bugatti have in common?”
“Guess what my 2008 CTS and the new Bugatti have in common?”
If you can’t look past your own hangups about money, power, politics, excess consumption etc., and just marvel at this car…you are dead inside.
Wow.
I am dead inside.
Anyone who isn’t dead inside either isn’t paying attention or is one of the people that can afford a Turdbillon/is convinced they’ll be able to one day
…also hypercars are fucking stupid. I haven’t cared about any super/hypercar since the last generation of the truly analog ones (Carrera GT, Ford GT, etc). Literally anyone can hop in one of these and go 277 with no skill or training whatsoever.
They’re just vanity mobiles for the class of people that are single handedly destroying our species. At least if I see some rich asshole whipping a Carrera GT, F40, McLaren F1, etc. around I know that it’s taken them time and patience to be able to learn the nuances of the car and how to handle a vehicle that’s actively trying to put itself into a wall at all times.
I can respect that. I don’t respect these abominations that do everything for you. Hell, Captain Slow himself managed to top out a Veyron for fuck’s sake!
I can appreciate elements of modern hypercars, but they generally all blend together for me. The only modern one I genuinely care about is the T.50.
This is the way
As someone who loves electric drive systems, I’m in full agreement with this.
If I were filthy rich, the only new supercar/hypercar that seats at least two which remotely appeals to me is the T.50.
Everything else is too damned big and heavy.
That said, I also like the McMurtry Speirling, which is electric, but it only seats one.
LaFerrari for me…
Easy to say on the internet, but if you saw one in person, you’d talk about how stunning it is for the rest of your life. Anyone who says otherwise is full of shit.
I saw an Isuzu Piazza 4 years ago and still remember exactly where I was and what I was wearing at the time. You underestimate how little I care about rich people cars.
It’s the same thing! lol. Rare is rare. Rare doesn’t have to equal “rich”.
The clutch of surviving Hyundai Ponies.
Evidently, I am full of shit (admittedly based on seeing ‘only’ a Chiron and a Veyron in person on a few occasions). Impressive, but far from stunning.
Fair enough. But, you remembered them, which is the point of a car like this. A tad different from seeing another Porsche or Maybach.
Strongly disagree. I went to a decent size show a while back and literally zero interest in all the expensive showy things with out of state plates.. now the blue Challenger the owner had poured his heart into? Way freaking cooler.
If you can’t look past your own hangups about money, power, politics, excess consumption etc., and just marvel at this car…you are dead inside.
Wow.
I am dead inside.
Anyone who isn’t dead inside either isn’t paying attention or is one of the people that can afford a Turdbillon/is convinced they’ll be able to one day
…also hypercars are fucking stupid. I haven’t cared about any super/hypercar since the last generation of the truly analog ones (Carrera GT, Ford GT, etc). Literally anyone can hop in one of these and go 277 with no skill or training whatsoever.
They’re just vanity mobiles for the class of people that are single handedly destroying our species. At least if I see some rich asshole whipping a Carrera GT, F40, McLaren F1, etc. around I know that it’s taken them time and patience to be able to learn the nuances of the car and how to handle a vehicle that’s actively trying to put itself into a wall at all times.
I can respect that. I don’t respect these abominations that do everything for you. Hell, Captain Slow himself managed to top out a Veyron for fuck’s sake!
I can appreciate elements of modern hypercars, but they generally all blend together for me. The only modern one I genuinely care about is the T.50.
This is the way
As someone who loves electric drive systems, I’m in full agreement with this.
If I were filthy rich, the only new supercar/hypercar that seats at least two which remotely appeals to me is the T.50.
Everything else is too damned big and heavy.
That said, I also like the McMurtry Speirling, which is electric, but it only seats one.
LaFerrari for me…
Easy to say on the internet, but if you saw one in person, you’d talk about how stunning it is for the rest of your life. Anyone who says otherwise is full of shit.
I saw an Isuzu Piazza 4 years ago and still remember exactly where I was and what I was wearing at the time. You underestimate how little I care about rich people cars.
It’s the same thing! lol. Rare is rare. Rare doesn’t have to equal “rich”.
The clutch of surviving Hyundai Ponies.
Evidently, I am full of shit (admittedly based on seeing ‘only’ a Chiron and a Veyron in person on a few occasions). Impressive, but far from stunning.
Fair enough. But, you remembered them, which is the point of a car like this. A tad different from seeing another Porsche or Maybach.
Strongly disagree. I went to a decent size show a while back and literally zero interest in all the expensive showy things with out of state plates.. now the blue Challenger the owner had poured his heart into? Way freaking cooler.
Actual dials and switches?!? It’s a miracle!
Including a physical volume dial!
Actual dials and switches?!? It’s a miracle!
Including a physical volume dial!
I would never have put “Bugatti makes a naturally aspirated car” on my bingo card for this century. And the interior is absolutely sensational. They clearly pulled a trick with the C-line, separating it from the window line to visually extend the cabin and hide some of the V16’s visual length, but I can’t care about exterior styling when that steering wheel just steals the show.
I would never have put “Bugatti makes a naturally aspirated car” on my bingo card for this century. And the interior is absolutely sensational. They clearly pulled a trick with the C-line, separating it from the window line to visually extend the cabin and hide some of the V16’s visual length, but I can’t care about exterior styling when that steering wheel just steals the show.
Tourbillonaire doors!
Tourbillonaire doors!
Tourbillon? More like TURDbillon am I right lads?
My thought was they just wanted their target market to know they were thinking of them. this car will only be on tour amongst the billionares. Its the tourbillion.
And they’re all certainly turds
Fuck that, I don’t care who buys it. What I care about is that the car is absolutely stunning on every level.
no, not at all.
Tourbillon? More like TURDbillon am I right lads?
My thought was they just wanted their target market to know they were thinking of them. this car will only be on tour amongst the billionares. Its the tourbillion.
And they’re all certainly turds
Fuck that, I don’t care who buys it. What I care about is that the car is absolutely stunning on every level.
no, not at all.
The exterior design, I don’t know, but that intruments panel has to be the best one ever build.
The exterior design, I don’t know, but that intruments panel has to be the best one ever build.
Could be faster and more fuel efficient with a better transmission… I’ll leave it at that.
Much smoother as well. Surely there’s some sort of transmission out there that doesn’t have a bunch of frivolous gears!
Especially if it was tuned to never simulate a shift!
Christian von Koenigsegg has entered the chat.
One gear for all. See: Regera.
Could be faster and more fuel efficient with a better transmission… I’ll leave it at that.
Much smoother as well. Surely there’s some sort of transmission out there that doesn’t have a bunch of frivolous gears!
Especially if it was tuned to never simulate a shift!
Christian von Koenigsegg has entered the chat.
One gear for all. See: Regera.