The bugatti tourbillon combines a naturally aspirated v16 engine, designed entirely by Cosworth, with three electric motors for a total output of 1,800 bhp. Top speed is limited to 445 km/h, and acceleration from 0 to 300 km/h is achieved in 9 seconds. Only 250 examples will be produced, all of which have already been sold, with a starting price of 3.8 million euros net
by Francesco Michienzi
The Bugatti Tourbillon is the first hybrid with a 16-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. The 8.3-litre V16 with 90° cylinder banks produces 1,000 hp and 900 Nm at 9000 rpm. There are also three electric motors. With an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox mounted longitudinally in front of the engine, the Bugatti Tourbillon’s powertrain delivers 1,800 horsepower.
The Bugatti Tourbillon doesn’t use digital technology, instead using three analogue dials that display everything needed to drive the car. In other words, there are no screens but an analogue panel showing details such as the speedometer’s full scale at 550 km/h and, for the first time, the battery’s remaining charge that powers the three electric motors.
The Bugatti Tourbillon reaches 100 km/h from a standing start in around two seconds. At full throttle, 200 km/h is reached in around 5.0 seconds. 300 km/h is reached in just 10 seconds and 400 km/h in 25 seconds. Top speed is limited to 380 km/h unless the unique Speed Key is installed. When activated, the Tourbillon keeps its substantial rear wing down as the speed increases to 445 km/h.
The steering wheel rotates on bends, but the dials and some strategic buttons remain fixed, integrated into the column. The central part of the dashboard houses various controls and switches, including the one for starting the engine, which is protected by a glass cover. A small pop-up screen at the top of the dashboard houses the mirroring software for Apple CarPlay. A reversing camera is activated when the reverse gear is engaged.
From the front, the Tourbillon looks like a highly evolved Chiron: the inverted U or horseshoe mouth is very similar, as is the light signature, which makes the four LED elements stand out with their subtle silhouette on such a low and broad nose. But where the eye does not see, magic happens. The diffuser, essential for road-holding at very high speeds, starts almost immediately behind the passenger compartment, eliminating the need to raise the seats even slightly and creating the strategic Venturi effect that makes the whole package so efficient.
The V16 plug-in hybrid has an 8.3-litre engine that runs at 9000 rpm and produces 1,000 hp and 900 Nm without turbocharging. Three electric motors supplement this, for a total of 1,800 hp and 1,000 Nm.
The cockpit of the new Bugatti model completely eschews digital technology in favour of three analogue dials anchored to the column, which display everything needed to drive the car. In other words, there are no screens, just an analogue panel showing details such as the speedometer’s full scale at 550 km/h and, for the first time, the battery’s remaining charge that powers the three electric motors.
The exterior of the Tourbillon, similar to that of the Chiron, is characterised by a unique diffuser that starts just behind the cockpit and is virtually hidden from view.
The latest Bugatti loses nothing by becoming a plug-in hybrid except a bit of weight. Despite the battery pack and electric motors, Bugatti claims the Tourbillon is lighter than the Chiron. Moreover, it can drive around town without using the extraordinary V16 engine. It can go beyond the city with an electric range of 60 kilometres. The Bugatti Tourbillon will be hand-built at the Bugatti atelier in Molsheim, France, with a planned production run of 250 units and a base price of €3.8 million, with deliveries starting in 2026.
(Bugatti Tourbillon – Unrivalled – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, April 2025)
