We have extensively covered Bugatti’s docu-series throughout the year, which explored how the Tourbillon evolved from design studies to aerodynamics and engineering validation. New context shared alongside a short Instagram clip by Bugatti CEO, Mate Rimac, adds scale to that story.
The clip opens with an ecstatic Mate on a snowy day, pointing the camera at a two-door Wrangler, calling it the ideal vehicle for such weather. Moments later, though, he flips the camera for us to find two unlikely vehicles, Bugatti’s latest hypercar, the Tourbillon, sitting alongside a Rimac Nevera.
It is worth highlighting that, unlike typical spy footage of heavily camouflaged prototypes rushed through test programs by development drivers, this clip shows the company’s chief executive personally validating the final product that will soon ship to customers.
Now it goes without saying that a 4x4 would obviously be better suited in such conditions. Also, supercars, let alone hypercars, would never see the light of day in such weather, but Mate wanted to showcase just what these cars are capable and how they handle in low traction situations, on winter tires ofcourse. Rimac is later seen driving the production-intent Bugatti Tourbillon on snow, with a clear view of the analog dials in the Tourbillon’s interior, which inspired this car’s name.
All 250 cars are already spoken for. The Tourbillon marks a clean break from the W16 era that defined the Veyron and Chiron. Out goes the Quad-turbo beast from the Pïech-era and in its place, a naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 paired with three electric motors for an all-wheel drive setup. The combustion engine on its own produces more than 1,000 horsepower, with the hybrid system adding an additional 800 for a combined 1,800 horsepower. While the V16 appears to be the way forward, we're still unclear on the W16's future, because Bugatti showed it on the one-off Brouillard at the Quail earlier this year.
Bugatti has some big shoes to fill in the post-W16 flagship, and the Tourbillon has a lot to live up to when deliveries of this 4.4 million dollar hybrid hypercar commence.
Images: @materimac
