⚡ Quick answer
The Bugatti Tourbillon is Bugatti's new flagship hypercar and the replacement for the Chiron. It pairs a naturally aspirated 8.3-litre Cosworth V16 with three electric motors for a combined 1,800 PS (1,775 hp), reaches 445 km/h (277 mph) with its speed key, is limited to 250 cars, and starts at €3.8 million before taxes and options.
For twenty years, one engine defined the word "hypercar": Bugatti's quad-turbocharged W16. It powered the Veyron, then the Chiron, and it broke the 300 mph barrier. Now it's gone. In its place sits something nobody expected in 2026: a screaming, turbo-free V16 that revs to 9,000 rpm, backed by electric motors.
The car is called the Tourbillon, named after the most complicated mechanism in luxury watchmaking. And it sums up everything Bugatti has always sold: boost (insane power), beauty (design as art), and bling (prices and personalisation that make a Ferrari look like a bargain).
Boost: 16 Cylinders, Zero Turbos, Three Electric Motors
The heart of the Tourbillon is an 8.3-litre V16 developed with British engine specialist Cosworth. On its own it makes 1,000 PS at 9,000 rpm. Then come three electric motors, two on the front axle and one at the rear, adding another 800 PS. Together: 1,800 PS and 2,300 Nm of torque, sent to all four wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
A 24.8 kWh battery means this Bugatti can also do something no Bugatti has ever done: drive in silence. It's rated for about 60 km (37 miles) of electric-only range on the WLTP cycle.
Bugatti's official acceleration targets
Here's how far Bugatti's power has climbed in just two decades:
Beauty: A Car Built Like a Swiss Watch
From the outside, you know it's a Bugatti instantly: the horseshoe grille, the curved line that splits the side of the car, and now butterfly doors. The design team was led by Frank Heyl. But the real surprise is inside.
While every other new car is covered in giant screens, the Tourbillon goes the other way. Its instrument cluster is fully analogue, built by Swiss watchmakers with more than 600 parts. The steering wheel has a fixed centre so the gauges are always visible. A small digital screen exists, but it stays hidden until you want it. Bugatti's logic is simple: screens get old fast, fine mechanics don't.
Even the seats break the rules. They're fixed directly to the floor to keep the car low and light. Instead of the seat moving, the pedals and steering wheel adjust to the driver, just like in a race car.
"Nothing is too beautiful."
Ettore Bugatti, the brand's founder, and still its design rule a century laterBling: When €3.8 Million Is Only the Starting Point
The Tourbillon starts at €3.8 million before taxes, which works out to roughly $4.1 to $4.5 million depending on the exchange rate. And almost nobody pays the base price. Every car is specified with the owner through Bugatti's personalisation programme, so colours, leathers, metals and finishes push the final bill higher.
For the very top clients, Bugatti goes further with one-off cars built for a single owner. Recent examples include the Brouillard, delivered this month at the Château de Chantilly in France, and the F.K.P. Hommage, a modern tribute to the original Veyron and to Ferdinand Piëch, the executive who pushed the Veyron into existence.
What Is It Actually Like to Drive a Bugatti?
Owning a Bugatti isn't only about speed. It's about attention. When CNN drove a roughly $3 million Chiron 325 miles from Monterey to Los Angeles, the reporter found there was no room for a suitcase, so Bugatti sent a pickup truck behind the car carrying the luggage and extra fuel. At every stop, strangers gathered for photos, and the team had to budget 10 to 15 minutes just for selfies and questions.
💡 The funny truth: the most powerful car on the road can still get stuck behind a slow driver on a narrow two-lane road. 1,500 horsepower means nothing if there's no space to pass.
Veyron vs Chiron vs Tourbillon: The Three Kings Compared
| Veyron | Chiron | Tourbillon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2005 | 2016 | 2026 |
| Engine | 8.0L quad-turbo W16 | 8.0L quad-turbo W16 | 8.3L V16 + 3 e-motors |
| Power | 1,001 PS | 1,500 PS | 1,800 PS |
| Built | 450 | 500 | 250 planned |
| Famous moment | First 1,000-PS road car | Broke 300 mph (Super Sport 300+ prototype) | First hybrid Bugatti |
117 Years of Bugatti in Seven Moments
Bugatti Tourbillon FAQ
How much does the Bugatti Tourbillon cost?
It starts at €3.8 million before taxes, roughly $4.1–4.5 million. Personalisation usually pushes the final price higher.
How fast is the Bugatti Tourbillon?
Top speed is 445 km/h (about 277 mph) with the speed key inserted. Bugatti targets 0–100 km/h in under 2 seconds.
What engine does the Tourbillon have?
A naturally aspirated 8.3-litre V16 developed with Cosworth (1,000 PS), plus three electric motors (800 PS), for 1,800 PS combined.
How many Tourbillons will be built?
Bugatti plans to build 250 cars worldwide.
Why is it called "Tourbillon"?
A tourbillon is one of the most complex mechanisms in luxury watchmaking. The name reflects the car's watch-inspired, mechanical design, including its analogue instrument cluster.
The Bottom Line
The W16 is dead, and Bugatti didn't replace it with something smaller or quieter. It replaced it with more cylinders, more power and a dashboard you could wear on your wrist. The Tourbillon proves that in the age of electric cars, the most exclusive brand in the world is betting on emotion, craftsmanship and sound. Boost, beauty and bling, turned all the way up.
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