Two decades after the birth of the hyper sports car, Bugatti once again revolutionizes the concept with the introduction of the Bugatti Tourbillon. In 2004, the Bugatti brand redefined automotive performance and luxury with the introduction of the Veyron, a hyper sports car boasting 1,001 horsepower. This revolutionary vehicle set a new standard as the first road car with over 1,000 hp.
In 2016, Bugatti surpassed even this achievement with the Chiron, the world’s first 1,500 hp car. Both of these extraordinary vehicles were powered by an 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, recognized as the pinnacle of automotive engineering.
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Naming and Philosophical Foundations
Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, explained that the development of the Bugatti Tourbillon was deeply rooted in the 115-year history of Bugatti and inspired by the words of Ettore Bugatti. “If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti,” and “nothing is too beautiful” were the guiding principles for the design and engineering teams.
These mantras drove the creation of a vehicle that embodies beauty, performance, and luxury, continuing the legacy of Bugatti icons like the Type 57SC Atlantic, Type 35, and Type 41 Royale.
The Tourbillon, unlike its predecessors, is not named after a legendary Bugatti racing driver. Instead, it derives its name from the French term for a watchmaking invention, reflecting its mechanical timelessness and the brand’s French heritage.
The Tourbillon’s design and engineering were influenced by the same principles that make the tourbillon a revered pinnacle in watchmaking—complexity, beauty, and timelessness.
Unmatched Powertrain and Performance
The Bugatti Tourbillon features an all-new 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 engine, developed with Cosworth, paired with a front e-Axle housing two electric motors and one rear-mounted electric motor. This hybrid powertrain produces a total of 1,800 hp—1,000 hp from the combustion engine and 800 hp from the electric motors. Despite its power, the V16 engine weighs just 252 kg, thanks to lightweight materials.
The electric motors are powered by a 25 kWh oil-cooled 800V battery, offering over 60 km (37 miles) of all-electric range. The front e-axle and rear motor provide four-wheel drive and full torque-vectoring for ultimate traction and agility. The electric powertrain features high power density, with electric motors spinning up to 24,000 RPM and a dual silicon-carbide inverter.
The Tourbillon is lighter than the Chiron, thanks to its hybrid powertrain, advanced materials, and engineering. The combination of a hybrid powertrain, lightweight construction, efficient packaging, and advanced aerodynamics significantly reduces emissions while enhancing performance.
Emilio Scervo, CTO of Bugatti Rimac, highlighted the Tourbillon’s incomparable engineering. The new powertrain combines the raw feel of a naturally aspirated engine with the agility of electric motors. The result is a car that delivers exceptional performance and a memorable driving experience.
Innovative Design and Aerodynamic Mastery
The Bugatti Tourbillon, like all modern Bugattis, is shaped by speed. Achieving speeds over 400 km/h requires meticulous attention to every surface, inlet, and ridge to ensure aerodynamic and thermodynamic efficiency. The Tourbillon’s design is influenced by four historical Bugatti elements: the horseshoe grille, the Bugatti Line, the central ridge, and the dual color split.
Frank Heyl, Bugatti Director of Design, emphasized the inspiration drawn from the aerodynamics and innovation of Ettore and Jean Bugatti’s creations. The Tourbillon’s design incorporates elements from the Bugatti Type 35, with its streamlined fuselage shape, and the Type 57SC Atlantic, which featured a lowered stance for improved aerodynamics and proportion. The iconic dual-tone paintwork, a hallmark of Bugatti design since Jean Bugatti’s era, is evolved in the Tourbillon to suit modern aesthetics.
The Tourbillon’s design is not just about aesthetics; every surface, intake, and vent is engineered to balance aerodynamic forces and thermodynamic requirements. The rear wing remains submerged during high-speed runs, with innovations providing a perfect equilibrium of forces. At lower speeds, the wing generates higher downforce and acts as an airbrake for stability during deceleration.
The new diffuser concept, rising behind the passenger cabin, contributes to the car’s aerodynamic balance. This diffuser integrates a crash concept within its structure, hidden from view to maintain the open rear-end design. The iconic horseshoe grille shapes the central fuselage, with flying fenders allowing air to flow underneath the headlights, enhancing air intake to the side intakes.
The frontal design features an efficient cooling system that directs air through and out of the front bonnet, improving downforce and housing a sizable frunk between the radiators.
The Tourbillon also features advanced electrically actuated dihedral doors, operable from the key fob, the door opening button, or the center console, providing both dramatic entry and practicality.
Timeless Interior Craftsmanship
The interior of the Bugatti Tourbillon eschews rapidly outdated digital screens for a timeless, analogue experience inspired by horlogerie. The instrument cluster, designed and built with Swiss watchmakers’ expertise, features over 600 parts and is constructed from titanium and gemstones such as sapphire and ruby. This skeletonized cluster is the focal point of the driving experience, remaining fixed as the steering wheel rim rotates around it, providing an unobstructed view of the instrumentation regardless of the steering angle.
The center console blends crystal glass and aluminum, showcasing the intricate workings of the switches and engine start lever. Developed over 13 stages, the glass is clear and strong, ensuring safety and clarity. The aluminum parts are anodized and milled from a single block of metal, with knurled aluminum switches revealing their mechanisms beneath the crystal glass. The ignition system offers a physical experience, a nod to historic automobiles’ rituals.
A hidden high-definition digital screen offers vehicle data and mobile connectivity, deploying from the center console for reversing camera use or full display. The seats, fixed to the floor for lightness and low positioning, allow the pedal box to be adjusted for comfort. This design makes the interior spacious and suitable for long trips and daily use. The advanced audio system uses exciters on the door panels instead of traditional speakers, making it lighter and more efficient.
Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti, emphasized the authenticity of materials and perfection in every part. The interior features genuine titanium, carbon fiber, and leather, all crafted to the highest standards. The new Bugatti platform expresses engineering excellence, with every component a work of art, as intended by Ettore Bugatti.
Advanced Engineering Excellence
The Bugatti Tourbillon is built on an entirely new chassis and body structure made from next-generation T800 carbon composite. This material incorporates weight-saving innovations, such as integrating the battery as a structural part of the monocoque and a crash composite rear diffuser inspired by motorsport.
The structure features low pressure thin wall aluminum casting and 3D printed structural braces, making it lighter and stiffer than its predecessor.
The new chassis integrates multi-link suspension front and rear, forged from aluminum, replacing the double wishbone steel construction of the Chiron. The suspension components are 3D-printed in aluminum, reducing weight by 45%. The rear suspension features an AI-developed 3D-printed hollow airfoil arm for enhanced dynamics and aerodynamics.
The brakes utilize advanced carboceramic technology with a bespoke brake-by-wire system, integrated with the moveable pedal box. Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires—285/35 R20 at the front and 345/30 R21 at the rear—are specially developed for the Tourbillon.
The ultra-compact front e-axle fits within the same space as the Chiron’s components, adding complexity without requiring more space. The clean-sheet chassis and bodyshell design also provide more storage space and a larger luggage compartment, allowing for bespoke Bugatti Tourbillon luggage.
Bugatti Tourbillon Arrives in 2026
Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, emphasized that the Bugatti Tourbillon follows the uncompromising spirit of Ettore and Jean Bugatti. The development of a new V16 engine, integrated with a battery pack and electric motors, and the inclusion of a Swiss-made watchmaker instrument cluster and 3D-printed suspension parts are what make the Tourbillon incomparable and timeless.
The Bugatti Tourbillon is now in its testing phase, with prototypes on the road in anticipation of customer deliveries in 2026. A total of 250 examples will be built, starting at 3.8 million EUR net. Hand-assembly will take place at the Bugatti Atelier in Molsheim, following the final W16-powered Bugatti models, Bolide and W16 Mistral.