The successor to the Bugatti Chiron loses its quad-turbocharged W16 engine but gains an electrified and naturally aspirated V16 instead. The Tourbillon is not only even faster than the Chiron but also achieves a fully electric range of 60 kilometers and features gemstones in the instrument cluster made by Swiss watchmakers.

As Bugatti entered a new era under the wing of the experts at Rimac, electrification was impossible to avoid. However, this does not mean that enthusiasts of combustion-powered hypercars are set to be disappointed with the French brand’s latest offering, the Tourbillon. Named after a Swiss watchmaking invention to counteract the effects of gravity, Molsheim’s new flagship does indeed defy the laws of physics.

Hybrid V16 replaces turbo W16

After over twenty years, Bugatti’s iconic quad-turbo W16 engine has been laid to rest, replaced by a new, 8.3-liter naturally-aspirated V16 created in collaboration with Cosworth, which also builds Gordon Murray’s T.50 and the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s V12 engines. The all-new engine develops 1,000 horsepower and revs to 9,000 rpm.

But that is not enough to raise the bar from the Chiron. To achieve this, the Tourbillon gets three electric motors (two on the front axle, one on the rear), each 250 kW (340 hp) strong, with a combined electric power of 800 hp. A 25 kWh battery delivers the necessary energy and also provides an all-electric range of up to 60 km.

Even faster than the Chiron

Combined, the hybrid powertrain achieves a peak power figure of 1,800 hp, enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 2 seconds, 0 to 200 kph in 5 seconds, 0 to 300 kph in 10 seconds, and 0 to 400 kph in 25 seconds. Given enough space, the Bugatti Tourbillon can reach a top speed of 445 kph—lower than the Chiron Super Sport 300+, but top speed was not the main goal here.

Bugatti’s hybrid system also sets new standards for PHEV systems. To keep weight down and efficiency up, an 800 V battery was used, while the electric motors feature silicon carbide (SiC) Mosfet inverters. The result is over 6 kW per kg of e-axle mass, including inverters, motors, and gearboxes. In total, the Bugatti Tourbillon weighs 1,995 kg, similar to the non-hybrid Chiron.

Timelessness

As for the design, Bugatti has stayed true to the visual codes of the Veyron and especially the Chiron, but it has integrated elements from other one-off or hyper-exclusive models such as La Voiture Noire. On the inside, an analog experience was chosen to preserve the Tourbillon’s timelessness for 100 years to come, similar to how vintage watches can still look modern today.

Notable details include a fixed hub steering wheel, where the center stays fixed when turning, a crystal glass and aluminum center console, and, of course, the analog dials for the instrument cluster, which weigh just 700 grams in total. A display is present but hidden away unless needed for the rear camera or smartphone mirroring.

€3.8 million without options or taxes

The Bugatti Tourbillon will now start testing, with customer deliveries planned for 2026. 250 examples will be built at the Bugatti Atelier in Molsheim for a starting price of 3.8 million euros each, without taxes.