It's been a busy month for petrolheads of all ages, as we have a brand-new BMW M5 that's slower than the old one, in a straight line anyway, and a fresh-off-the-lot Bugatti. The Tourbillon is the Chiron's successor, and while it may look about the same overall, save for the obvious design novelties, it is a new product with an entirely new powertrain.
Due to its C-shaped profile reminiscent of some older Bugattis, its large horseshoe grille, and other traits, you won't mistake it for anything else if you are lucky enough to encounter one on the road, as production is capped at 250 copies, and each one costs the equivalent of $4.1 million, plus taxes.
Even though it was a true engineering marvel, the old W16 engine, with its four turbochargers and 8.0-liter displacement, didn't sound that exciting regardless of what model it powered. Bugatti has certainly stepped up in this game by fitting the Tourbillon with a naturally aspirated 8.3L V16, which is more sonorous than its predecessor.
Mind you, it may lack forced induction, but it hasn't evaded the electrified trickery. Three electric motors assist the Bugatti Tourbillon's V16 engine, and the total output is rated at 1,775 horsepower (1,800 ps/1,324 kW). Those keeping track know that it is 296 hp (300 ps/221 kW) punchier than the Chiron, and according to the Molsheim brand, the new hypercar takes just 2 seconds from rest to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph).
Photo: Bugatti
How fast can the Tourbillon go? 236 mph (380 kph) without breaking a sweat, considering that you will find a long stretch of road where you can legally and safely hit such dizzying speeds. Use the 'speed key,' and the top speed will increase to 277 miles an hour or 445 kilometers per hour. It is certainly capable of doing more, but record top-speed runs have become a delicate topic at Bugatti.
For such an important addition to the car world, the Bugatti Tourbillon has almost avoided the rendering frenzy. However, that does not mean it hasn't fallen victim to pixel manipulators worldwide; in this case, it was imagined with new running shoes that are larger than the stock wheels revealed in the official press shots during the car's premiere.
This digital illustration made its way to the World Wide Web on carlifestyle's Instagram account and shows the Bugatti Tourbillon with Vossen's five-spoke proposal. It is a wide-lip set finished in an interesting hue, and we like the way the hypercar looks on it. However, trading those expensive OEM alloys for new ones will certainly take its toll on the vehicle's performance, especially a dizzying-fast hypercar, so we wouldn't recommend doing that on a Bugatti. But doesn't it look good?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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