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.
Finally a new car with no screens. I just need 4.499999999999 more dollars and I can buy one. Oh, they are sold out. Shoot.
Finally a new car with no screens. I just need 4.499999999999 more dollars and I can buy one. Oh, they are sold out. Shoot.
I was pondering whether it’s just an age thing about how I’m not enthralled by super and hypercars so much anymore. The numbers are, of course, impressive. But I would like to see Bugatti do something else, though. Like a modern Royale equivalent.
I was pondering whether it’s just an age thing about how I’m not enthralled by super and hypercars so much anymore. The numbers are, of course, impressive. But I would like to see Bugatti do something else, though. Like a modern Royale equivalent.
You seem to forget about Cizeta-Motera V16T (1991–2003), the first post-war V16 engine.
Cadillac did offer the second generation side-valve V16 from 1938 to 1940 for its Series 90.
(I have said often in the past about The Autopian needing the proofreaders.)
The key word here is “production” vehicle, while the Cizeta V16T certainly did exist, something like 14 were ever built for customers over 4ish years (allegedly they’ll still build you one, but I doubt that), and while they claimed the V16T was a “production” vehicle, it certainly wasn’t that.
For FIA homologation rules, they consider a “Production Vehicle” to be a model which produces at minimum 25 units in a 12 month period, and based on Bugatti’s historical output for Veyron and Chiron, this will just qualify for that metric.
As for the Cadillac, that’s completely fair, and the listed year should have been bumped to 1940 to account for that.
You seem to forget about Cizeta-Motera V16T (1991–2003), the first post-war V16 engine.
Cadillac did offer the second generation side-valve V16 from 1938 to 1940 for its Series 90.
(I have said often in the past about The Autopian needing the proofreaders.)
The key word here is “production” vehicle, while the Cizeta V16T certainly did exist, something like 14 were ever built for customers over 4ish years (allegedly they’ll still build you one, but I doubt that), and while they claimed the V16T was a “production” vehicle, it certainly wasn’t that.
For FIA homologation rules, they consider a “Production Vehicle” to be a model which produces at minimum 25 units in a 12 month period, and based on Bugatti’s historical output for Veyron and Chiron, this will just qualify for that metric.
As for the Cadillac, that’s completely fair, and the listed year should have been bumped to 1940 to account for that.
They finally got the snout and overall shape right with this iteration. It just flows so much better than the last brutes. Hip and shoulder fenders look more related to each other as a whole. The gauge cluster is the most desirable one I’ve ever seen.
They finally got the snout and overall shape right with this iteration. It just flows so much better than the last brutes. Hip and shoulder fenders look more related to each other as a whole. The gauge cluster is the most desirable one I’ve ever seen.
First Bugatti in the modern era that I’ve liked the lines on. Pretty. Still hate the snout but I like the profile and the tail. The analogue dials are rad, the interior is garish as would be expected.
8/10
First Bugatti in the modern era that I’ve liked the lines on. Pretty. Still hate the snout but I like the profile and the tail. The analogue dials are rad, the interior is garish as would be expected.
8/10
Meh, rehashed Veyron with steampunk overtones and a dumb name. Ill stay with Lada.
Meh, rehashed Veyron with steampunk overtones and a dumb name. Ill stay with Lada.
I’m holding out for the Lexus Spring Drive.
Deep cut
Well played.
I’m holding out for the Lexus Spring Drive.
Deep cut
Well played.
“First V16 since 1937”
Didn’t Cadillac make their V16 until 1940?
I wonder if haters reading the newspaper or whatever hated on that car when it was new, or if awesome, technology-advancing cars were simply allowed to be cool then.
Seriously, this comment section is depressing.
Correct, in fact one just sold on Bring A Trailer.
What a beautiful machine. Those old black Caddies always make me think of the Godfather. Well bought at that price too I think.
I mean I suppose you’ve got a 6 figure sum to figure out how to make it run haha. I was watching that auction but man the idea of a “Project V16” sounds absolutely terrifying. Great looking car though
The thing is, there’s (I assume) nothing complex in that engine. Assuming parts exist or can be reverse engineered from the broken engine, it shouldn’t be *that* difficult to rebuild it.
Note, all of the above is uninformed speculation, and I am no kind of expert on Cadillac V16s or pre war engines in general.
The Cizeta-Moroder V16T has entered the chat.
It is the will of the people (ha) here that every article will have 60%-ish Negative Nellies chiming in. It’s just how it goes, I suppose.
“First V16 since 1937”
Didn’t Cadillac make their V16 until 1940?
I wonder if haters reading the newspaper or whatever hated on that car when it was new, or if awesome, technology-advancing cars were simply allowed to be cool then.
Seriously, this comment section is depressing.
Correct, in fact one just sold on Bring A Trailer.
What a beautiful machine. Those old black Caddies always make me think of the Godfather. Well bought at that price too I think.
I mean I suppose you’ve got a 6 figure sum to figure out how to make it run haha. I was watching that auction but man the idea of a “Project V16” sounds absolutely terrifying. Great looking car though
The thing is, there’s (I assume) nothing complex in that engine. Assuming parts exist or can be reverse engineered from the broken engine, it shouldn’t be *that* difficult to rebuild it.
Note, all of the above is uninformed speculation, and I am no kind of expert on Cadillac V16s or pre war engines in general.
The Cizeta-Moroder V16T has entered the chat.
It is the will of the people (ha) here that every article will have 60%-ish Negative Nellies chiming in. It’s just how it goes, I suppose.
Looks the same. Engine is cool. I will never even see one. Carry on everyone.
Come to Los Angeles and you might see one on the 101. The risk is it’s driven by a 19 year old son of a kleptocrat who strip mined their country’s wealth so you might get killed by it.
Looks the same. Engine is cool. I will never even see one. Carry on everyone.
Come to Los Angeles and you might see one on the 101. The risk is it’s driven by a 19 year old son of a kleptocrat who strip mined their country’s wealth so you might get killed by it.
A tourbillion is a an interesting, sophisticated heart of clockwork mechanism patented in 1801.
In a tourbillon the escapement and balance wheel are mounted in a rotating cage, with the goal of eliminating errors of poise in the balance giving a uniform weight.
So is this Bugatti going to rotate driver to eliminate effects of gravity and acceleration forces?
Perhaps a reference to the funky way the wheel rotates independently of the airbag and dash unit?
Tourbillons impress people new to mechanical watches, but the more people learn about watches the more gimmicky they become.
Tourbillons are often less accurate than non-tourbillon mechanical watches because of the added complexity.
In addition, they were invented for pocket watches, which remain static in people’s pockets, while wristwatches already position the movement in different directions with respect to gravity as they are worn throughout the day.
Honestly, I think the car deserves a better name. If it is going to be named after a Abraham-Louis Breguet invention, I think “Equation of Time” would be better.
It would make sense then that the instrument cluster resembles a fine, mechanical watch. That interior is just stunning.
A tourbillion is a an interesting, sophisticated heart of clockwork mechanism patented in 1801.
In a tourbillon the escapement and balance wheel are mounted in a rotating cage, with the goal of eliminating errors of poise in the balance giving a uniform weight.
So is this Bugatti going to rotate driver to eliminate effects of gravity and acceleration forces?
Perhaps a reference to the funky way the wheel rotates independently of the airbag and dash unit?
Tourbillons impress people new to mechanical watches, but the more people learn about watches the more gimmicky they become.
Tourbillons are often less accurate than non-tourbillon mechanical watches because of the added complexity.
In addition, they were invented for pocket watches, which remain static in people’s pockets, while wristwatches already position the movement in different directions with respect to gravity as they are worn throughout the day.
Honestly, I think the car deserves a better name. If it is going to be named after a Abraham-Louis Breguet invention, I think “Equation of Time” would be better.
It would make sense then that the instrument cluster resembles a fine, mechanical watch. That interior is just stunning.
That’s not a nose, that’s a proboscis!
Gotta say, too, that the fact that they can list a 0 – 400 kph figure is insane.
That’s not a nose, that’s a proboscis!
Gotta say, too, that the fact that they can list a 0 – 400 kph figure is insane.
I can’t unsee the Zaku Mobile Suit in the front end.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3ciOuUR0zK/
I can’t unsee the Zaku Mobile Suit in the front end.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3ciOuUR0zK/
I appreciate that a V16 motor exists in this day and age.. I think that’s all the good I can say..