Where could Bugatti go next after first amazing the world with its 1001hp Veyron, and then the 1500hp Chiron? Enter the 1800hp Tourbillon. This is the company’s next-generation hypercar, featuring hybrid power and a naturally aspirated engine for the first time.
Yep, no more quad-turbo setup. And no more W16. This time it’s an 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16 engine developed in part with Cosworth. Astonishingly, it revs to 9500rpm and produces 1000PS alone. But that’s obviously not enough.
So, paired up with the engine is a comprehensive electric motor assist system. The front axle features two e-motors, while the rear has one as well. These are powered by a 25kWh battery, combining to add 800PS to the mix. That leaves a total of 1800PS, or 1324kW in metric speak.
This is all channelled through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Interestingly, the Tourbillon is a plug-in hybrid and can drive on electric power alone, with a range of 60km. The electrical side of things no doubt comes with the help of brand CEO Mate Rimac – creator of the epic Rimac electric supercars. Explaining its decision to go with hybrid power for the new model, Bugatti said:
“The powertrain was perhaps the most important decision that we had to make, considering every option available to us; reengineering the W16, going fully electric or creating something entirely new. Ultimately, we chose the hardest possible option.”
The mind-blowing package propels the Tourbillon from 0-100km/h in just 2.0 seconds, which sounds about right, with 0-200km/h coming up in just 5.0 seconds, and 0-300km/h done and dusted in under 10 seconds. It’ll also do 0-400km/h in 25 seconds. And the top speed, you ask? That’s 445km/h with the speed key or 380km/h without.
Of course, a new Bugatti is not just about speed. Well, most of it is. But there are some other hugely-impressive details in other areas as well. Take the platform, for example. It is an all-new layout made from T800 carbon composite incorporating multi-link suspension front and back, made from forged aluminium and 3D-printed aluminium, with a new AI-developed hollow airfoil arm that’s also 3D-printed.
Inside, you get a clue as to where the Tourbillon name comes from. The instrument cluster is a mechanical masterpiece styled exactly like a tourbillon watch. Tourbillon watches use a complex rotating and balancing mechanism, patented by Swiss-French watchmarker, Abraham-Louis Breguet.
The speedometer needle and rev counter operate with mechanical gears presented just like one of those watches. It’s made from titanium by a Swiss watchmaker, of course.
Also inside, the multimedia screen can fold away out of sight to ensure the dash remains a design showpiece that’s not dominated by boring screens. For the driver, the steering wheel is mounted on a fixed central hub and just the outer rim rotates, allowing full view of the cluster.
So, what about the price? Well, if you’re one of the lucky 250 customers that gets on the order list, as only 250 are going to be made, then the US$4.5 million asking price is probably not much to you. Production is not scheduled to start until 2026, with lots of testing to be carried out between now and then. We can’t wait to hear it.
