Introducing the new Bugatti Tourbillon, the successor to the Chiron, featuring a hybrid V16 engine and delivering truly impressive performance figures.
Design and Aerodynamics
Let's start with the design, which offers plenty to explore. The Tourbillon is undeniably stunning, and it's not just about aesthetics - functionality plays a key role too.
This is an entirely new car built from the ground up, with no trace of the Chiron, yet it still preserves some of Bugatti's signature design elements, including the horseshoe grille, centre line, and the two-tone C-shape in the rear quarter.
Thanks to some ingenious engineering, Bugatti has made significant advancements over the Chiron. In the Chiron, the gearbox was positioned between the driver and passenger, which pushed them apart and widened the cabin. However, in the Tourbillon, the gearbox is mounted behind the engine, allowing the cabin to be narrower and enabling a more muscular front wing design.
This smart layout also lowers the front end, enhancing airflow over the car—though the aerodynamic innovations don’t stop there. With a short front overhang and the need to accommodate crash protection, two electric motors, and the engine's radiators in the nose, air is channeled through the grille, around the front cargo area, through a pair of radiators, and out of two vents on the top of the bonnet.
Shifting to the rear, the massive diffuser immediately catches the eye. It's not just for show; it serves as the rear crash structure since there's no space behind the engine and gearbox for a traditional steel beam, extending all the way to the driver's seat. To ensure maximum efficiency, the entire car is designed around this diffuser. It needs to be positioned at an 11-degree angle, which required tilting the engine to fit.
The sleek rear light bar features the illuminated Bugatti script at its centre, and the massive active rear wing remains a standout. The spine running down the middle of the engine compartment also doubles as the third brake light. Every element of this car is both visually stunning and highly functional.
Bugatti Tourbillion Engine and Hybrid system
Now, let's focus on the centrepiece of the new Tourbillon: its V16 engine. This engine is 40 cm longer than the Chiron's W16, posing a significant challenge for the engineers who had to fit it in without extending the car's length too much. Ultimately, the car grew by just 27 mm compared to the Chiron.
The engine is naturally aspirated, a rarity for recent Bugatti models. While both the Veyron and Chiron featured quad-turbocharged engines, the Tourbillon employs three electric motors to enhance its power.
The engine alone delivers 1,000 horsepower, matching the output of the old Veyron, while the three electric motors add an additional 800 horsepower. Combined, the new Bugatti boasts a total of 1,800 horsepower and a staggering 2,300 Nm of torque.
The vehicle features three electric motors: one integrated into the gearbox to enhance the engine's performance and two driving the front wheels. This setup is similar to the system found in the Lamborghini Revuelto. The 25 kWh battery also offers up to 44 miles of all-electric range.
Performance
So, what does all this power mean in terms of performance? The Tourbillon can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under 2.0 seconds, making it slightly faster than the Chiron.
However, it's likely that top speed is your main concern. The new car is capable of reaching 277 mph given the right conditions, 16 mph faster than the original Chiron. Expect even faster versions in the future; for comparison, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ can achieve 304 mph, ranking it among the fastest cars globally.
Chassis and Suspension
You might assume that incorporating a hybrid battery and three electric motors would make the Tourbillon heavier than its predecessor, but Bugatti is actually aiming to make this car lighter than the 1,995 kg Chiron. How is that possible?
One way the engineers have reduced weight is by using 3D printing for the suspension components, assisted by AI. They input data into a computer, including the forces the suspension must endure and the space it must fit into, and AI generates the optimal shape for these components.
What results is a component that looks more like a human bone than a typical suspension arm, yet it's precisely engineered with no excess metal. Every cutout in the part is meticulously designed to reduce weight, as the computer determined those sections of metal were structurally unnecessary. It's this meticulous attention to detail that helps keep the weight to a minimum.
Interior
At nearly two tonnes, the Tourbillon is still relatively heavy for a hypercar—comparable to the Ferrari SF90, which is about 500 kg lighter. However, the Tourbillon isn’t designed as a bare-bones track car. Its interior luxury and meticulous attention to detail are unparalleled, rivaling only the Pagani Huayra.
The interior contains no plastic; instead, it features leather, carbon fibre, and metal throughout. The central "spine" of the console, which holds the control knobs, is crafted from crystal glass, allowing a view of the inner mechanisms and enhancing the high-end watch aesthetic.
This car features no visible screens, a rarity in an era dominated by 20-inch displays. Instead, there’s only a small screen that emerges from the dashboard for phone mirroring and the mandatory reversing camera, which can be retracted for a complete digital detox.
Instead of a digital instrument cluster, the driver faces a set of mechanical gauges featuring watch-like cogs that visibly turn as the revs increase. The dials themselves resemble a watch face, creating a truly captivating and elegant display.
This is encased by a stunning steering wheel that rotates around the dials. The gauges and central boss remain stationary, while the rim of the steering wheel moves around them—a design concept reminiscent of the Citroën C4 from the mid-2000s.
To learn more on the exciting new release from Bugatti, click through to watch our official partner - SHMEE150's recent video where Tim gets up and personal to the new Tourbillon
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