The Bugatti Tourbillon is designed to compete with the most expensive and fastest two-seater cars powered by electric traction and internal combustion engines. It is lighter, more powerful and faster than its predecessor, the Chiron. Special attention is paid to the powertrain, which is the most important element of the car.
The new Tourbillon is powered by a Cosworth-designed 8.3-litre V16 engine that develops 1,000 hp without the use of turbos. The engine's maximum rpm reaches 9,000 rpm. Thanks to Bugatti taking over from Rimac in 2021, the new hypercar utilises the know-how of the Croatian electric car manufacturer, namely the hybrid system.
Two electric motors are mounted on the front axle. Another electric motor is located at the rear and helps spin the rear wheels. These electric motors are powered by a centrally located 25 kWh battery pack. Together, they add another 800 hp. Therefore, the combined power output of the Tourbillon's powertrain is 1,800 hp. At the same time, the company does not disclose the torque, although it is obvious that this parameter is huge.
That's not too much of a leap compared to the 1,500bhp of the regular Chiron or the 1,600bhp of the. of the Chiron Super Sport. But the figures show that Bugatti has definitely made progress.
According to official data, the Bugatti Tourbillon accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h by 0.4 seconds than the original Chiron, and reaches this goal in 2 seconds. At the same time, the 300 km/h mark is reached in "less than" 10 seconds. That is, approximately 3-4 seconds faster than its predecessor. But that's not all: the Tourbillon accelerates to 400 km/h in "less than" 25 seconds. The Chiron takes 32.6 seconds, while the record-breaking Rimac Nevera takes 21.3 seconds.
The default top speed is 380 km/h, like the Chiron. But when a second "speed key" is fitted, the electronic limiter shifts to 445 km/h.
Interior
If you engage the reverse of the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, after two seconds a small screen appears at the top of the front fascia showing what's happening behind you. It can also be summoned independently, and after five seconds it will rotate to landscape orientation with full access to Apple CarPlay.
The rest of the interior is very similar to the Chiron, but has a few really neat details. One of these is the handle on the console that is used for starting. It's an homage to an early 20th century classic. If the knob is pulled, the V16 will start, and if it is pushed, the engine will stop. The electrically adjustable pedal unit (the seats are fixed) is another highlight.
The steering wheel has two spokes, positioned at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock. But what really makes it unusual is the fixed hub and the fact that the spokes are mounted behind the instrument cluster, which means that Bugatti's "B" always stays upright and the spokes never block the driver's view of the instruments.
Exterior
The doors now lift upwards, giving ample access to the cabin. The horseshoe-shaped grille at the front has also been enlarged compared to its predecessor, while the Bugatti name on the tail is illuminated and incorporated into a segmented strip of LED lights that follows the upper contour of the bodywork.
Bugatti claims that the Tourbillon's chassis and body structure are all-new. A 25 kWh battery is integrated into the carbon monocoque, while additional design tricks, including making the diffuser part of the body structure and replacing the steel double wishbones with forged aluminium ones, result in the hybrid Tourbillon weighing the same 1995kg as the Chiron.
Price and availability
Bugatti built only 500 examples of the Chiron. The last one left the Mollsheim factory nine years after the car was first unveiled in 2015. However, the Tourbillon's mintage will be half that - just 250 units. The company is now conducting final tests before production starts. The first customers will receive their cars in 2026.
As for the price, the previous Bugatti hypercar cost $3.3 million at the end of its existence. The Tourbillon is estimated to cost from $4.1 million excluding taxes.
Source: Bugatti