Bugatti's new era begins with the arrival of the long-awaited Bugatti Tourbillon hyper-GT. Replacing the Chiron, the Tourbillon features a bold new design, and a revolutionary hybrid V16 engine, and aims to become the world's fastest road car. In 2004, Bugatti revolutionized automotive performance and luxury with the Veyron, a hypersports car boasting 1,001 hp. This groundbreaking car was the first to exceed 1,000 hp. In 2016, Bugatti surpassed this achievement with the Chiron, a 1,500-hp marvel that reset expectations for performance. Both cars were powered by an advanced 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine. Now, 20 years after creating the hypersports car category, Bugatti is redefining it again with a brand-new powertrain and platform - The Bugatti Tourbillon.
As with every modern Bugatti, the Tourbillon is 'shaped by speed.' To travel at over 400 km/h, every surface, inlet, and ridge must be perfectly designed to be aerodynamic and help with cooling the car. This principle guides the design of the Tourbillon, which incorporates four key Bugatti design elements inspired by its history: the horseshoe grille, the Bugatti Line, the central ridge, and the dual-colour split.
The horseshoe grille, a signature Bugatti feature, is prominently displayed at the front, symbolizing the brand's heritage. The Bugatti Line, a sleek, flowing curve, runs from the front to the back of the car, enhancing its aerodynamic efficiency and giving it a distinctive profile. The central ridge adds structural strength and aesthetic appeal, while the dual-colour split creates a striking visual contrast, highlighting the car's elegant and aggressive lines.
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The Design of the Bugatti Tourbillion
The Bugatti Tourbillon is a masterpiece of design and engineering, balancing beauty with exceptional performance. Every surface, intake, and vent is crafted to manage the aerodynamic forces and thermodynamic needs of its V16 engine, electric motors, and battery, even at speeds over 400 km/h. Drawing on over 20 years of expertise from the Veyron and Chiron, the Tourbillon introduces numerous patented technologies.
Its rear wing remains submerged during top-speed runs, achieving perfect equilibrium, and provides higher downforce at lower speeds while acting as an airbrake for stability during deceleration. The innovative diffuser concept, integrated with a new crash structure, keeps the car balanced and complements the open rear-end design.
The design of the Bugatti Tourbillon centres around the iconic horseshoe, from which all lines of the car flow, incorporating flying fenders and an ultra-efficient cooling system. If you look at the set of advanced, electrically actuated dihedral doors of this Bugatti concept, it not only allows for easy entry into the vehicle but provides a dramatic sense of arrival, able to be opened and closed from the key fob, the door opening button found just underneath the Bugatti Line and on the centre console.
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac refers to the Tourbillon as "art on wheels, a moving painting", and says he wanted to continue the company's legacy of “bending physics.” He further stated “We wanted to have it very emotional. It has to feel special because if it is comparable, it is no longer Bugatti.”
The interior of the Bugatti Tourbillon showcases Bugatti’s dedication to classic design and top-notch craftsmanship. Instead of using the common digital displays found in most modern cars, the Tourbillon proudly features a fully analogue instrument cluster focused on timelessness. Inspired by the world of watchmaking, where watches over 100 years old can still be worn and fit seamlessly into modern life, Bugatti's design and engineering teams created a genuine analogue experience inside the cabin. The instrument cluster, crafted by Swiss watchmakers, is an engineering masterpiece with over 600 parts. Made from titanium and gemstones like sapphire and ruby, it weighs just 700g and is built with precise tolerances down to 5 microns. This cluster stays fixed in place while the steering wheel rotates around it, giving drivers a clear view of their instruments no matter how they steer.
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The centre console features crystal glass and aluminium, revealing the detailed workings of the switches and the engine start lever. Developed in 13 stages for perfect clarity and strength, the glass showcases anodized aluminium parts made from a single block of metal. Starting the V16 engine and electric powertrain is a hands-on experience, reminding us of historic cars with a pull to start and a push to stop. There also presents a hidden high-definition screen that shows vehicle data and offers mobile connectivity, popping up from the console in either portrait or landscape mode.
Every interior decision in the Tourbillon, just like the exterior, focuses on ultimate performance while maintaining practicality and comfort. The seats are fixed to the floor to be as light and low as possible, while the pedal box can be adjusted electrically to ensure a comfortable driving position for everyone. This design makes the interior spacious, perfect for long trips and daily use. Even the audio system is innovative, using exciters on the door panels and throughout the car to turn existing interior panels into speakers. This advanced system is lighter and more efficient than traditional audio setups.
The Bugatti Tourbillon has now entered its testing phase, with prototypes already on the road and customer deliveries expected in 2026. A total of 250 units will be produced, starting at 3.8 million EUR net. These cars will be hand-assembled at the Bugatti Atelier in Molsheim, following the final W16-powered models, the Bolide and W16 Mistral.
