The wait is finally over! Bugatti has unveiled its latest hypercar, heralding a new era for the century-old French automaker. Bugatti has abandoned the recent tradition of naming its hypercars after famous drivers and has chosen a very unconventional name for Chiron’s replacement. The latest seven-digit watch is called the Tourbillon – named after a mechanism used in expensive mechanical watches that counteracts the negative effects of gravity. But the unique name is just the tip of the iceberg; almost everything about the French brand’s latest creation is extraordinary. The first Bugatti model created under the direction of Mate Rimac is such an exceptional piece of automotive art that there seems to be an endless list of things to talk about. However, here are 7 things you need to know about the Bugatti Tourbillon.
Familiar yet completely customized
At first glance you might confuse the Bugatti Tourbillon with a sleek version of the mighty Chiron. Some design elements might even force you to think it’s a cool concept based on the brand’s old hypercar. The idea was to draw on Bugatti’s 115-year-old design philosophy, while retaining its instantly recognizable styling. The French automaker says it wanted the Tourbillon to be unmistakably Bugatti. But don’t let the familiar design fool you. The Bugatti Tourbillon is completely custom built and does not share a single part or component with the Chiron or its derivatives, which is absolutely insane!
Although the new hypercar is no longer than its predecessor, it sits 4.5 cm lower and the greenhouse is narrower to reduce drag. The famous horseshoe-shaped grille has also undergone a transformation, which is wider and shorter than before. Inspired by the iconic bolt-on central fin of the Type 57SC Atlantic, a center line extends from the new grille all the way to the rear. The sleeker headlights are topped by aerodynamic fins that direct air to the engine, while the hypercar features a one-piece taillight that beautifully outlines the curvaceous rear. If that’s not all, the new Bugatti comes with upward-opening doors.
Brand new hybrid powertrain
For its new hypercar, Bugatti ditched the insane 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine that powered all modern Bugatti hypercars and installed an all-new Cosworth-developed 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16. In fact, the automaker had teased the wild combustion engine a few months before launch. But now we finally have all the information, including the details of the electric side of the powertrain. By avoiding forced induction, the V16 engine can spin up to 9,000 rpm and produce 986 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.
The high-speed combustion engine is assisted by three electric motors: two on the front axle and one at the rear. The trio of e-motors produces 789 hp, bringing the total power to 1775 hp. The motors draw their power from a surprisingly large 25.0 kWh battery pack that is located in the center of the car and gives the hypercar an all-electric range of 48 kilometers.
Astounding performance figures
With almost 1800 hp, the Bugatti Tourbillon is destined to be lightning fast. The French automaker claims the new hypercar can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds and reach 250 mph in around 25 seconds. While it is unclear whether the hypercar will set a new top speed record, the Tourbillon is limited to 447 km/h for its customers.
Now let’s put that top speed figure into a hypothetical context. At a speed of 277 mph (or 445 km/h), the new Bugatti hypercar could orbit the Earth in just 90 hours – that’s the equivalent of three days and 18 hours! Imagine driving at a constant top speed on an endless straight line around the world, with a circumference of the Earth about 40,075 km. By comparison, ‘around the world in 80 days’ sounds almost relaxed. Even more impressive: at full throttle and without breaks you could reach the moon (384,400 km away) in just 36 days.
Inspired by Haute Horlogerie
Watchmakers and luxury cars have had close ties for decades, spawning countless special edition timepieces inspired by luxury cars. Bugatti’s collaboration with Jacob & Co. has even spawned some crazy limited edition timepieces. However, this is the first time that the world has seen a very exclusive vehicle strongly inspired by Haute Horlogerie. The influence is most clearly visible in the interior, which, unlike the exterior, is completely different from the hypercar’s predecessors. The switchgear and instrumentation of the Bugatti Tourbillon pays tribute to the art of making highly complex mechanical watches.
Reinventing the wheel
One of the biggest highlights of the Bugatti Tourbillon cabin is the insanely beautiful instrument panel and the steering wheel that rotates around it. Let’s start with the instrument console. When the entire industry moved to digital displays, Bugatti chose to equip its new hypercar with the most complex instrument panel with mechanical gauges. Developed in collaboration with Swiss watchmakers, the clocks are designed to look like skeleton watches with their intricate gear train on display.
Plus, Bugatti has paired it with the most complex steering system we’ve ever seen. The instrument panel appears to float in the center of the fixed-hub steering wheel, which features a complex planetary gear system.
Every single part is a work of art
Mate Rimac’s obsession with making the Bugatti Tourbillon the most striking modern car is clearly visible. Whether it’s the exposed V16 engine wrapped in mounds of carbon fiber, or the way a small entertainment screen emerges from the center console, the attention to detail is second to none. The center console is also a work of art, composed of crystal glass and aluminum. However, the obsession with aesthetics also extends to things that are not visible to the eye. Case in point: the car’s rolling chassis, made of carbon fiber, is so beautifully designed that it is nothing less than an achingly beautiful piece of sculpture.
More exclusive than its modern predecessors
Bugatti has announced that production of the Tourbillon will be limited to just 250 units, making it twice as exclusive as the Chiron. Mate Rimac said production will begin by 2026 and be completed within 2.5 years. As for price, the Bugatti Tourbillon starts at $4 million.
