Bugatti introduced the Tourbillon, a new hyper sports car with a completely redesigned powertrain and platform. The new design utilizes aluminum and other lightweight materials to improve performance. The new hyper sports car features an all-new 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 engine, which is paired with two electric motors in the front axle and one electric motor in the rear axle. In total, the Tourbillon produces 1,800 hp with 1,000 from the combustion engine itself and 800 hp from the electric motors.
The Tourbillon is part of a long line of hyper sports cars developed by Bugatti. In 2005, the company introduced its first hyper sports cars, the Veyron, which featured 1,001 hp. This was followed up with the world’s first 1,500 hp car, the Chiron, in 2016. At the heart of these cars was the highly advanced 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine. With the Tourbillon, the company is building on its engineering knowledge with the introduction of an entirely new powertrain and platform.
“The creations of Ettore and Jean Bugatti are ingenious in their aerodynamics, innovation and enduring beauty,” said Frank Heyl, director of design at Bugatti, who noted that the team lowered the frontal area of the Tourbillon, as well as the roofline and position of the driver to create specific proportions. “That’s something that was very important for us, carefully curating the placement of volumes that are both functional but also supporting the extreme proportions of the car. If the car is lower, it looks wider and the size of the wheels are emphasized; it looks like there is tension in the muscles, a posture ready to pounce. Every design decision is geared towards creating a sense of speed even at a standstill.”
The Tourbillon is designed around entirely new chassis and body structure, which is comprised of T800 carbon composite and aluminum. The design incorporates a number of weight-saving innovations, such as integrating the battery as a structural part of the monocoque chassis. Examples of this optimization are the front and rear frames produced from low pressure thin wall aluminum casting and 3D printed structural braces, contributing to a structure that is significantly lighter and stiffer than its predecessor.
The completely new chassis integrates a forged aluminum multi-link front and rear suspension, compared to the double wishbone steel construction in the previous Chiron. Engineers also saved 45% in the weight of the suspension by opting for a new 3D-printed aluminum suspension arm and upright, with an organic design. The rear also features an AI-developed 3D-printed hollow airfoil arm to enhance vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic performance.
The center console features an aesthetically beautiful design, with a combination of aluminum and crystal glass that allows the intricate workings of the switches and the engine start ‘pull’ lever to be revealed. The aluminum parts of the console are anodized and milled from a single block of metal.
“In the automotive industry, it is expected that each new model is heavier than its predecessor. Especially in case the new model adds a hybrid powertrain or more performance,” stated Bugatti in its press release. “But with a new Bugatti, the unexpected should be the norm. The Tourbillon boasts significantly improved performance, a very powerful electric powertrain system, a large battery pack and yet, it weighs less than the Chiron, which is a testament to the incredible engineering behind the Tourbillon. With its lightweight construction and instantaneous torque from the electric motors, the Bugatti Tourbillon delivers extraordinary performance.”
