Introducing Bugatti Tourbillon Pour l’éternité
Bugatti introduces the Tourbillon, a new hyper sports car featuring a 1,800 hp powertrain and advanced aerodynamics, set for 2026 release. Share
In 2004, Bugatti redefined automotive performance and luxury with the launch of the Veyron, a 1,001 hp hypersports car. This groundbreaking vehicle was succeeded in 2016 by the Chiron, the world’s first 1,500 hp car, further raising the bar for what a hypersports car could be. Both models were powered by an 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, the most advanced of its kind. Now, Bugatti introduces the Tourbillon, an entirely new concept that redefines the hyper sports car with a fresh powertrain and platform, twenty years after the original Veyron.
Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti, explained that the Bugatti Tourbillon was inspired by 115 years of Bugatti history and the words of Ettore Bugatti. “If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti” and “nothing is too beautiful” were guiding principles for the development of the Tourbillon. Iconic models like the Type 57SC Atlantic, Type 35, and Type 41 Royale served as pillars of inspiration, combining beauty, performance, and luxury into the blueprint for the Tourbillon.
Unlike its predecessors named after legendary Bugatti drivers, the Tourbillon’s name reflects its character and French heritage. The term tourbillon, originating from Swiss watchmaking, represents a mechanism designed to improve time-keeping accuracy. This sense of mechanical timelessness influenced the Tourbillon’s design, focusing on timeless components like an analogue instrument cluster crafted by Swiss watchmakers, ensuring the car remains a symbol of luxury for generations.
The Tourbillon is ‘shaped by speed,’ with every surface, inlet, and ridge meticulously designed for aerodynamic and thermodynamic efficiency, necessary for achieving speeds over 400 km/h. The design incorporates four key Bugatti elements: the horseshoe grille, the Bugatti Line, the central ridge, and the dual-colour split. Inspired by historical models like the Type 35 and Type 57SC Atlantic, the Tourbillon features a low, wide stance with emphasized wheel size, creating a sense of readiness and speed even when stationary.
The hyper car features a new chassis and body structure made from next-generation T800 carbon composite, integrating the battery as a structural component. The new chassis includes multi-link suspension and advanced brakes with carboceramic technology. The front e-axle, with dual electric motors, fits within the same space as the Chiron, adding complexity without requiring more room. The Bugatti Line, inspired by the Type 41 Royale, is sharply curved, lending a leaping motion to the car’s profile. Each surface, intake, and vent balances aerodynamic forces and thermodynamic requirements, crucial for the car’s high-speed performance.
The Tourbillon boasts several patented technologies. Its rear wing remains submerged during top-speed runs, using innovations to maintain aerodynamic balance. The new diffuser concept, starting behind the passenger cabin, rises at an ideal angle, contributing to the car’s stability. Advanced dihedral doors enhance entry and provide a dramatic sense of arrival, operable from the key fob or centre console.
Bugatti focused on creating a timeless interior, avoiding rapidly outdated digital screens. Inspired by horology, the Tourbillon features an analogue instrument cluster crafted by Swiss watchmakers, made of titanium and gemstones like sapphire and ruby. This cluster remains fixed while the steering wheel rotates around it, ensuring an unobstructed view of the instrumentation. The centre console blends crystal glass and aluminium, revealing the workings of switches and the engine start lever. An HD digital screen, hidden until needed, displays vehicle data and offers mobile connectivity, deploying from the centre console for various functions.
The Bugatti Tourbillon is powered by a new 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16 engine, developed with Cosworth, paired with three electric motors. This setup delivers 1,800 hp, with 1,000 hp from the combustion engine and 800 hp from the electric motors. The electric motors, powered by a 25 kWh oil-cooled 800V battery, provide an all-electric range of over 60 km. The Tourbillon’s lightweight construction and advanced aerodynamics result in significantly reduced emissions and enhanced performance compared to its predecessors.
The Bugatti Tourbillon, limited to 250 units and priced at €3.8 million, will enter its testing phase with customer deliveries expected in 2026.
