WAY OF THE

Taking design cues from a 1934 roadster, the Bugatti W16 Mistral sits firmly in the future.

WORDS : Ed Jones

••• Conceptualized

The legendary W16 engine, known for its multiple turbochargers, insane power, and inclusion among the world’s most famous hypercars, bids farewell — but in a most magnificent way. Introducing the new Bugatti W16 Mistral, a roadster that will end an era for the French automaker.

“For the final road-going appearance of Bugatti’s legendary W16 engine, we knew we had to create a roadster,” says Mate Rimac, Bugatti Rimac CEO. “Well over 40 percent of all Bugatti vehicles ever created have been open-top in design, establishing a long lineage of performance icons that — to this day — are revered the world over.”

Inspiration for the W16 Mistral came from the legendary 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid. In fact, many of the standout design cues and features of the model are modern interpretations of those found on the Grand Raid. This includes the V-shaped windscreen, roof-mounted engine air scoops, and even the debut livery.

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To make the roadster design of the W16 Mistral and have it be a true open-top model, Bugatti did more than simply cut o the top of an existing monocoque. Instead, the designers and engineers at Bugatti reengineered and reshaped the monocoque so that the silhouette could be as stylish as they intended without compromising the overall performance and rigidity.

At the front of the W16 Mistral stares a face that you may find familiar. For the headlights, Bugatti borrowed the vertical layout of the individual lights from the Divo and La Voiture Noire. Unlike those models, the W16 Mistral features a four-light setup that nods to the four-wheel-drive system and four turbochargers. For the taillight, Bugatti went with an “X” design that’s similar to the Divo. This taillight delivers more than good looks, as it also allows the side oil coolers to vent through ducts found in the negative space between the X beams.

While the exterior design is undoubtedly beautiful, so is its powertrain. At the rear, the famous quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine produces an astonishing 1,578 horsepower. This is the same engine found in the Chiron Super Sport 300+, a hypercar that reached a world-record top speed of 304.773 mph in 2019. Naturally,

Bugatti is set on breaking another record with the W16 Mistral, as they intend to make it the fastest roadster in the world.

To control that engine, the driver will sit in an interior that is as luxurious as you’d expect from Bugatti. Inside the cabin, the driver and passenger will have new door panels with woven leather, as well as milled titanium and aluminum components. An aluminum gear shifter features wood with an amber insert displaying the famous “Dancing Elephant” sculpture of Rembrandt Bugatti.

If you’d like to sit in the driver’s seat of your own Bugatti W16 Mistral, you will have to wait a bit for one to hit the market, as all 99 examples of the production run have been sold. Each came with a price of just over $5 million.