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Bugatti Reveals W16 Mistral “Le Retour du Jeune Prince”, Its Latest Sur Mesure One-Off

Bugatti Reveals W16 Mistral “Le Retour du Jeune Prince”, Its Latest Sur Mesure One-Off

From hand-applied star constellations to a 3D-scanned silver rose housed inside the gear shifter, Bugatti’s Sur Mesure program delivers one of its most personal commissions yet

As Bugatti closes out the chapter on its glorious VW era, the French marque continues turning the W16 Mistral into a rolling canvas for some of its most personal Sur Mesure commissions yet. Following standout creations like “La Perle Rare” and the aviation-inspired “Fly Bug,” both of which were revealed earlier this year, this latest one-off from Molsheim may be the most unique interpretation of the roadster so far.

Dubbed the Bugatti W16 Mistral “Le Retour du Jeune Prince,” this bespoke open-top hypercar draws inspiration from literature, moonlight, and the owner’s own imagination. The commission centers around a continuation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s iconic “The Little Prince,” written by the collector himself and translated by Bugatti’s Sur Mesure division into an automotive work of art.

The project began in October 2023, when the collector met with Jascha Straub, Bugatti’s Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualization, in Molsheim to shape the car’s creative direction. Together with Bugatti’s CMF team in Berlin, the concept evolved into a deeply detailed specification built around earthy metallic tones, celestial imagery, and handcrafted storytelling elements.

“The W16 Mistral 'Le Retour du Jeune Prince' is a beautiful example of what Sur Mesure can achieve when a customer’s personal story is placed at the heart of the creative process,” - Jascha Straub, Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualization, Bugatti.

Finished in a bespoke copper-and-bronze colorway, this W16 Mistral reflects light with a warm metallic glow that dramatically shifts across the car’s sculpted surfaces. The signature horseshoe grille was redesigned with lines that visually flow upward with the hood, while gold accents surrounding the Bugatti Macaron, copper brake calipers, and matching “EB” wheel emblems reinforce the theme throughout the exterior.

Silver stars hand-painted into the rear bodywork form constellations across the roadster’s surface through an intricate layering process performed by Bugatti artisans. Hidden beneath the active rear air brake sits a tribute to Saint-Exupéry’s original story, revealing an illustration inspired by the famous prince-and-fox scene whenever the wing deploys.

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Inside, Terre d’Or and Driftwood leather upholster the cabin, joined by embroidered moon imagery stitched directly into the door panels and headrests. Brown carbon fiber trim carries constellation-inspired detailing, while the centerpiece remains the gear selector’s sculpted silver rose, created from a 3D scan of a real flower before being transformed into miniature jewelry-like artwork.

Beyond its craftsmanship, the W16 Mistral remains one of the greatest Bugattis ever made. The open-top hypercar serves as the final road-going expression of Bugatti’s W16 platform that began with the Veryon under Ferdinand Piëch, while subsequently also doing duty on the Chiron family, which includes the Mistral, limited to just 99 examples. Back in February, earned duPont REGISTRY’s inaugural Best in Show Award at this year’s Cars on 5th. 

Its 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged engine produces 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, launching the all-wheel-drive roadster from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds before reaching a verified 282 mph top speed, making it the fastest roadster in the world. 

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Images: Bugatti

Khris Bharath