Bugatti has unveiled its first hybrid hypercar, the Tourbillon, which boasts a powertrain capable of 1,800 horsepower.
Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac unveiled the new addition to the lineup during a celebration at Bugatti’s Molsheim headquarters. According to a press release, the Tourbillon features an “all-new chassis and performance-honed body.”
The hybrid hypercar has a new, 8.3-liter V-16 engine capable of producing 1,000 horsepower. A trio of electric motors — two at the front axle and one at the rear — produce another 800 horsepower. This setup pairs with a new generation eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
According to Bugatti, the Tourbillon can travel more than 60 km/37 miles on electricity alone with its relatively large energy content of 25 kWh.
The Bugatti Tourbillon will be available in limited quantities. The automaker will build 250 units, which customers can expect in 2026. The starting price will be 3.9 million euros or just over $4 million.
The Tourbillon’s name has an interesting backstory
Bugatti has chosen to look at history when naming its past supercars. Racing driver Pierre Veyron inspired the name of the Bugatti Veyron. Louis Chiron inspired the name of the Bugatti Chiron.
This is not the case for the new hybrid bearing the Bugatti logo. A tourbillon is a mechanism inside high-end watches that helps counteract the effects of gravity. This ensures more accurate time-keeping inside the watch.
Bugatti chose this word for multiple reasons. One, it serves as a reference to the company’s French heritage. Two, the tourbillon dates back to 1801 but still stands as the “pinnacle of watchmaking.”
Bugatti wanted to ensure a similar mechanical timelessness with its new car, so the company shied away from digital displays or other pieces of technology that could age poorly. The sapphire crystal glass center console is only one example.
Swiss watchmakers crafted an entirely analog instrument cluster for the Tourbillon. This is also a reference to the Swiss watchmaker who lived in France when he invented the watch mechanism hundreds of years ago.
“As well as the spectacular (analog) innovations that have gone into creating a timeless interior such as this, we focused on authenticity of materials and perfection in every part,” said Bugatti President Christophe Piochon in a statement.
“Informally we say that ‘what you see is what you get’, describing the fact that if you see a piece of what you think is titanium, then that’s what it is. Or if you see carbon fiber, or leather, then it will be exactly that — and always the best possible.”