Bugatti Tourbillon Hypercar Revealed; Gets V16 Hybrid Engine

Bugatti has unveiled its latest hypercar, the Tourbillon. It may look similar to the Chiron but is an all-new model which also gets a brand-new powertrain. For the first time, a Bugatti model features a hybrid powertrain with 1,775 bhp.

The biggest highlight of the Tourbillon has to be its powertrain. It gets an 8.3-litre V16 petrol engine that gets no forced induction but is paired with three electric motors. The engine, developed with the help of Cosworth, itself produces 986 bhp and 900 Nm and revs to 9,000 rpm. The Tourbillon has three 250 kW (335 bhp) electric motors with two powering the front axle and the third powering the rear axle.

The top speed of the Tourbillon has been limited to 380 kmph but can be unlocked to 445 kmph with the "Speed Key". Bugatti claims its new hypercar can do the 0-100 kmph sprint in two seconds and 0-400 kmph in just 25 seconds.

The Tourbillon has a 24.8 kWh battery pack that is mounted in the centre of the car. Furthermore, it has an 800V architecture and Bugatti claims the Tourbillon has an electric-only range of more than 60 km. Power is delivered through an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that is now mounted behind the engine. In the Chiron, it was mounted between the front passengers.

The new placement of the transmission allows Bugatti to make the Tourbillon’s interior even more luxurious and ergonomic than the Chiron. The Tourbillon’s instruments have been crafted by Swiss watchmakers and are made up of more than 600 parts. That’s not even the most interesting part. The instrument cluster is mounted on the hub of the steering wheel which also remains fixed despite the movement of the steering wheel. Instead, only the rim of the steering wheel rotates.

Bugatti claims that the Tourbillon has been designed keeping timelessness in mind. So for that, it has avoided extensively using digital displays and touchscreens throughout the car. It said, “For a car that will be displayed on the Concours lawns of this and the next centuries, technology can easily date – especially large digital screens – so it’s important that it uses as many timeless components as possible.” However, there is a digital display in the Tourbillon that is hidden mostly and has smartphone connectivity. Even the dials in the dashboard, which have a knurled finish, have small displays for the temperature and volume.

Getting in the Tourbillon has also become an interesting affair. The Veyron and Chiron made do with standard doors but the Tourbillon now gets dihedral doors, which open upwards instead of outwards. At the front, the Tourbillon gets Bugatti’s signature Horseshoe grille flanked by slim, four-pod LED headlamps and massive air intakes.

In profile, it retains the iconic C-shaped divider that debuted on the Chiron and which also allows for a seamless two-tone paint scheme. At the back, the Tourbillon gets a full-width with an illuminated Bugatti logo in the centre and a humongous diffuser to help with aerodynamics. It also has an active rear wing which Bugatti says remains hidden during top speed runs.

Bugatti will build 250 units of the Tourbillon which will be assembled by hand at the Bugatti Atelier in Molsheim, France. Prices for the Tourbillon will start at EUR 3.8 million (roughly ₹34 crore) and deliveries are expected to begin in 2026.