Learn about what's changed between the hypercar that started it all and Bugatti's latest physics-defying creation
by Amreetam Basu on June 28, 2024, 07:12The story of French automaker Bugatti after the Volkswagen Group’s acquisition in 1998 is a wild ride. Remember the outrageous EB110? Yeah, Bugatti needed to blow everyone’s minds again with its successor, and the Veyron concept, which debuted in 2001, just did that. With a quad-turbocharged W16 engine pumping out a mind-boggling 987 horsepower, the Veyron shattered records and became the world’s fastest production car of its time. Some even consider the Veyron to be the world’s first hypercar, with its reign lasting nearly 15 years! And that was just the beginning of Bugatti’s prowess under VW’s guidance.
The Bugatti legacy continued with the Chiron in 2017, the successor to the Veyron with even more power (1,479 horsepower), more speed, a more aggressive design language, and a supremely luxurious cabin. In 2022, the 1,578-horsepower Chiron Super Sport 300+ broke the world record of being the fastest production car to reach 304 mph.
The latest news from Molsheim is electrifying. Bugatti unveiled the Tourbillon (successor to the Chiron) in June 2024, marking a new era for the carmaker. Embracing electrification with a hybrid powertrain, the Tourbillon boasts an all-new V16 engine instead of a W16, and this time, the block is normally aspirated, which is quite interesting. With the company of three electric motors, this hybrid powerhouse delivers, wait for it, a 1,775 horsepower output. Apart from the performance, the Tourbillon debuts Bugatti’s latest design language, which makes it more aerodynamic on the outside and extremely unique on the inside, especially with the clockwork-inspired instrument console.
So, if you check the two-decade timeline (give or take a few years) of Bugatti post-VW Group’s acquisition, the pursuit of speed and luxury remains the same. However, it’s the technology that goes under the skin that makes all the difference. Stick around with us to read more about the Evolution of the Bugatti brand in recent years.
The legacy of Veyron
Originally, Bugatti explored the idea of an 18-cylinder powered supercar and introduced several concepts designed by the renowned Giugiaro between October 1998 and September 1999. These concept vehicles, including the EB 118, EB 218, and the 18/3 Chiron, featured a Volkswagen-derived W18 and a permanent all-wheel drive.
However, Bugatti ultimately settled on a W16 configuration for the production-spec Veyron 16.4, which is literally two V8s horizontally bolted together. This iteration of the W16 displaces 8.0 liters and is backed by four turbochargers, just like its predecessor, the EB 110. The original Veyron 16.4 was rated at 987 horsepower and 922 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed Ricardo-derived dual-clutch gearbox transfers power to all four wheels. As a result, this brute force clocked a 60 mph time in 2.5 seconds during independent tests and recorded a maximum of 253.81 mph top speed!
But Bugatti didn’t stop there. It introduced the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport at The Quail in 2010, an even more potent version of the hypercar. Limited to only 48 examples, the Super Sport featured a tuned version of the original Veyron’s W16 and was rated at a whopping 1,183 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque. These numbers were considered absurd back in 2010, and with the power upgrade, the Super Sport could achieve a top speed of 267.856 mph, crowning it the fastest production car to exist at the time.
Beyond the engine, the Veyron’s design was a masterpiece of aerodynamics and style. Its sleek, curvaceous bodywork was optimized for high-speed stability and featured active aerodynamic elements like the electronically operated rear wing, which also acts as an airbrake under hard braking. Additionally, the revival of the "horseshoe" grille, which wasn’t a part of the EB 110, made Bugatti more in line with the heritage it brings with it.
Additionally, The Veyron was packing a bunch of firsts. It was the catalyst for the VW Group’s development of carbon ceramic brakes, a technology now commonplace in modern-day supercars. It also debuted the world’s first seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, titanium bolts in a production car. It even pushed the initiative of carbon fiber monocoque manufacturing for road-legal vehicles. With the Veyron, Bugatti restored the brand value that was once lost for the French marque.
Technological advancements from Veyron and Chiron to Tourbillon
The Veyron’s quad-turbo W16 engine is still a highly praised powertrain in the automotive world, but the Tourbillon has taken it to a whole new level. While retaining the iconic 16-cylinder configuration, the Tourbillon now has a slightly larger 8.3-liter V16 engine developed by Cosworth. Also, there’s no forced induction used this time, which is shocking because the W16 powering the Veyron and its successor, the Chiron, features not one, not two, but four turbochargers!
However, that doesn’t make the engine less potent; it still can produce 986 horsepower alone, identical to the Ferrari SF90’s total system output from its twin-turbo V8 and e-motors! Also, unlike most Cosworth engines, like the V12 from the GMA T.50, the Tourbillon’s V16 features a cross-plane crankshaft rather than a flat-plane one and can rev up to 9,000 RPM! This translates to the traditional guttural roar that almost mimics the W16 of the Veyron and the Chiron, in the lower revs, of course.
It may seem that the Tourbillon is losing ground compared to its predecessor, the Chiron, but fortunately, that’s not the case. There are three electric motors: two at the front, driving the front axle independently, and one at the rear, filling gaps in the V16’s power delivery. Altogether, the e-motors push out 789 horsepower, equivalent to that of the 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 under the hood of the Ferrari 812 Superfast! Adding the V16 to the mix, we’re talking 1,775 horsepower, and an earth-shattering 1,691 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the original Veyron, that’s an increase of almost 800 ponies and a torque increase of 789 pound-feet, mirroring the McLaren Senna’s raw power figures.
Category | Bugatti Veyron16.4 | Bugatti Chiron | Bugatti Tourbillon |
---|---|---|---|
Powertrain | 8.0L quad-turbocharged W16 | 8.0L quad-turbocharged W16 | 8.3L naturally aspirated V16 + 3 electric motors (PHEV) |
Gearbox | 7-speed dual-clutch | 7-speed dual-clutch | 8-speed dual-clutch |
Drive Type | AWD | AWD | AWD |
Horsepower | 987 hp | 1,479 hp | 1,775 hp |
Torque | 922 lb-ft | 1,180 lb-ft | 1,691 lb-ft |
0-60 mph | 2.5 sec | 2.3 sec | 2.0 sec |
Top Speed | 253 mph | 261 mph | 276 mph |
In addition to the engine swap, Bugatti utilized the space in the chassis and rearranged some of the drivetrain parts compared to the Veyron and the Chiron. For example, the gearbox now sits behind the V16, while a 25 kWh battery pack sits in place of the gearbox’s usual place in the middle of the seats. This creates an optimized weight distribution. The 25 kWh battery pack is believed to allow the Tourbillon to travel 37 miles using electric-only propulsion.
The Veyron was already a masterclass in aerodynamics, but the Tourbillon elevates this to an art form. Bugatti has lowered the frontal area to improve top speed. To increase downforce, the upper part of the hood houses air outlets, which help the hot air out of the radiator and push the Tourbillon to the ground. Additionally, Bugatti has installed "flying fenders," featuring vents underneath the headlights to route air to the shoulders. Apart from these features, you get a redesigned active rear wing and a substantial diffuser, which should remind you of the track-focused Bolide. On a top speed run, the diffuser should create enough downforce to make the Tourbillon stick to the tarmac, and as a result, the rear wing can remain undeployed. This was not the case with the Veyron and the Chiron.
Design evolution
The Veyron, a design icon of the early 2000s, is all about smooth, flowing lines and organic curves. It’s a car that looks fast even when it’s stationery, with a low-slung body, wide hips, and the iconic Bugatti "horseshoe" grille. While the Veyron debuted with a timeless design, especially with the Super Sport models, the Tourbillon, in comparison, looks even more aggressive and screams performance. Of course, it’s almost two decades since the Veyron was unveiled, and Bugatti has come a long way since then.
With the Tourbillon, you’ll get to see more aggressive lines, cuts, and creases with the traditional curvaceous body that debuted with the Veyron. Also, the horseshoe grille remains intact and is larger than the one found with the Veyron. However, the Tourbillon feels more like an amalgamation of other Bugattis. For example, the headlights look like the ones from the Chiron, the taillights will remind you of the one-off La Voiture Noire, and the diffuser, as mentioned above, gives out the Bolide vibes.
One of the Tourbillon’s most striking features is its unique dihedral doors, which swing upwards and outwards, like McLarens. This is the first time Bugatti has installed these in its production car. Upon stepping inside the cabin, you’ll notice it’s completely different from the Veyron and the now-discontinued Chiron. The driver is greeted with a unique steering wheel and a fixed instrument binnacle. The hub-mounted steering is reminiscent of old Citroën and DS cars and is a design feature that was never a part of past Bugatti vehicles.
What’s also new is the approach to an all-analog interior. Indeed, neither the Veyron nor the Chiron came with big screens like those found in most high-end vehicles. Continuing the analog theme, the whole of the instrumentation is based on "skeletonized" dials, as if they are clocks. You can look at the gears ticking like you would on expensive mechanical automatic watches, and Bugatti took help from a Swiss watchmaker, Concepto Watches, to design this masterpiece.
Although screens are the least favorite items on Bugatti’s list, customers want one for navigation and other settings for added intuitiveness. So, the carmaker has installed a decently sized touchscreen inside the dashboard top, which pops up with a press of a button. Neither the Veyron nor the Chiron had dedicated infotainment displays. Mate Rimac, the CEO of Bugatti Rimac, wants customers to drive the Tourbillon like a regular car, so installing a display makes sense for pure modern-day convenience.
Another cool feature is the Tourbillon’s illuminated "spine," a central fin that runs from the roof to the rear. This adds a touch of visual drama and serves as a nod to the old-school Bugatti designs from the 1930s.
A New Performance benchmark
First up, top speed. The Tourbillon is expected to hit a mind-blowing 276 mph, according to Bugatti. That’s 15 mph more than the standard Chiron (261 mph) and eight miles per hour more than the world record-holder Veyron 16.4 Super Sport (268 mph)! However, the Tourbillon is still slower than the fastest Bugatti to date, the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which, in Bugatti’s testing, clocked 304.77 mph top speed. While the Tourbillon is not trying to break the latest top-speed record of the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, it should be fast enough to scare the living soul out of you.
However, it’s not just about the top speed; the Tourbillon is also lightning fast off the line. We’re talking naught to 60 mph in two seconds. The Veyron Super Sport clocked 2.5 seconds to 60 mph, while the most potent iteration of the Chiron, the Super Sport 300+, could do the same in 2.4 seconds. Packing a punch is one thing, and delivering it efficiently to the road is another. Among the other Bugattis mentioned above, the Tourbillon is considered quicker for a possible reason. The electric motors, both front and rear, should provide instant torque and better traction off the line, resulting in faster acceleration.
Apart from the Bugatti Bolide, which is restricted to the racetrack only, no other Bugattis are meant to carve corners like you’d expect from a multi-million-dollar hypercar. These speed demons are meant to be garage queens for most of their lifetime because they are ridiculously expensive to repair should anything go wrong on the road. For your reference, the Veyron’s replacement transmission will set you back over $120,000. So, you can imagine how expensive the Tourbillon would be to maintain and repair.
However, if you still wish to drive the Tourbillon like a hooligan, Bugatti packs its latest hypercar with a carbon fiber monocoque, a 1.3-inch lower ground clearance than the Chiron’s, and a 45 percent lighter suspension than the Chiron’s. No worries about the lower suspension setup; Bugatti will surely offer the front axle lift system to avoid scraping. Additionally, the all-wheel-drive system also comes with "full torque-vectoring," as Bugatti says. Either way, this feature enhances cornering prowess, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Tourbillon handles corners when you show it some corners.
Amreetam Basu
While Amreetam hustles during the week, free time means one thing: hitting the open road. He dreams of cruising the Alps in a German masterpiece – a Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS or an F87 BMW M2 would be ideal! This 26-year-old automotive journalist loves every part of the job. Read full bio