Bugatti has unveiled the replacement for the Chiron – and the new Tourbillon hypercar packs even more power than its predecessor.
The Tourbillon is named after a Franco-Swiss watchmaking invention, created in 1801 to improve timekeeping accuracy. It’s the first modern Bugatti not to pay tribute to one of the marque’s legendary racing drivers.
Bugatti’s reason for the change of naming strategy reflects a radical change in powertrain for the car. The incredible 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 engine is no more, but its replacement is no less a feat of engineering…
‘Shaped by speed’
Frank Heyl, director of design at Bugatti, has channelled two decades of experience from the Veyron and Chiron into shaping the new Tourbillon.
Aerodynamics have led the overall design, although Bugatti trademarks such as the horseshoe-shaped front grille and two-tone colour split remain.
Thanks to a new diffuser, the rear wing no longer needs to be elevated for downforce at maximum speed. It still works as an airbrake, though, supporting the huge carbon ceramic brakes fitted all-round.
Bugatti has added upwards-opening dihedral doors to the Tourbillon, while its single windscreen wiper now parks in an upright position to aid aerodynamics. You may remember this approach was also used on Super Touring race cars in the 1990s.
True hypercar performance
The Tourbillon is powered by an all-new 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16 engine, developed with assistance from Cosworth. Capable of revving all the way to 9,000rpm, it produces 1,000hp and 664lb ft of torque on its own.
However, Bugatti has gone further, adding two electric motors to the front axle, plus a further motor to the rear axle. The result is a combined output of 1,800hp, with a 25kWh battery allowing the hybrid Tourbillon to travel 37 miles on electricity alone.
Despite the addition of the hybrid powertrain, extensive use of carbon fibre and 3D-printed parts means the Tourbillon weighs less than a Chiron, at 1,995kg.
Outright performance is suitably ludicrous, with 0-62mph taking 2.0 seconds, 0-124mph in 5.0 seconds and 0-186mph in 10.0 seconds.
The standard top speed is 236mph, but using the special ‘Speed Key’ unlocks the ability to reach 276mph.
An impeccably timed interior
The cockpit of the Tourbillon is notable for numerous reasons, not least the obvious absence of digital touchscreens. Bugatti notes that such is the progress of infotainment tech, a new car could look dated in just 10 years.
To keep the Tourbillon looking fresh when it appears at a concours d’elegance in 100 years’ time, the only touchscreen is hidden away. It can pop up in portrait mode in two seconds to show the reversing camera, while revealing a landscape-oriented display takes five seconds. But if you can live without Apple CarPlay, it can stay out of sight.
Living up to its horology-inspired name, the Tourbillon features an exquisite instrument cluster, created with help from Swiss watchmakers. It is made of more than 600 parts, including sapphires, rubies and titanium.
The steering wheel has a fixed hub and rotates around the instrument panel, ensuring drivers have an unobstructed view of the dials. There are small paddles for the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, too.
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Bugatti is putting the Tourbillon through an extensive test programme, with prototype models already on the road.
The company plans make 250 examples, each one built by hand at the factory in Molsheim – once the final Chirons have been completed. This first deliveries should take place in 2026.
Prices for Bugatti’s latest hypercar start from €3.8million before taxes, equating to around £3.85million when VAT is included.