Bugatti W16 Mistral - End of the W16 Era
Bugatti has chosen the end the W16 era in style with the W16 MISTRAL Roadster the last roadgoing car to have the W16 powertrain. Taking inspiration from the classic 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Grand Raid, the open-top supercar's name is associated with freedom, elegance, and, most importantly, speed. As such, the name came from the Mistral, a powerful wind that blows from the Rhne River valley through the towns of Côte d'Azur.
Mate Rimac, Bugatti Rimac CEO, said: "For the final roadgoing appearance of Bugatti's legendary W16 engine, we knew we had to create a roadster. [The] introduction of W16 Mistral continues this legacy, driven by enormous demand from our clients for an all-new way to experience the mighty performance of our iconic engine. The W16 Mistral opens the next chapter in the Bugatti roadster story, inspired by over a century of open top legends."
Engine and Performance
The W16 Mistral offers performance unlike any convertible before it, thanks to the 1,600 PS incarnation of the W16 engine. The 12.7-liter straight-eight engine is expected to set record speeds like Bugatti's last roadster, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. It has the same power unit that helped the Chiron Super Sport 300+ to a speed of 304.773 mph in 2019.
Exterior and Interior Design
This car follows Bugatti's 'Form Follows Performance' design mantra, achieving new levels of performance and design. Its design and engineering is bespoke without compromising performance, capturing the essence of the Grand Raid's V-shaped windscreen. The W16 Mistral's curving windscreen that seemingly wraps around the A-pillars is a marvel of engineering and creates a more rounded silhouette without compromising performance.
Just behind the occupants, the oil cooler intakes on the side are separated from the engine air intakes to keep the body side section slim. Its two-new roof-mounted engine air scoops present a powerful stance with a nod to the Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid.
Achim Anscheidt, Bugatti Design Director, stated: "To reflect the W16 Mistral's new character, we also totally reinvented its frontal appearance, in line with the vertical layout of our unique or few-off models like Divo and La Voiture Noire. It's immediately imbued with a sense of exclusivity; the vertically stacked headlights are completely bespoke and the famous horseshoe grille is reimagined to be much more three-dimensional; both deeper and wider."
The new ram induction air scoops behind the headrests are made from a bespoke carbon fiber structure that can support the whole weight of the car in case of a roll over. Bugatti's advanced composite materials are paired with cutting-edge titanium and aluminum 3D printing to ensure eye-catching design, ultimate performance, and reliability to develop unmatched levels of elegance.
The W16 Mistral's interior also shows a dedication to material quality with advanced, lightweight titanium and aluminum components milled from a solid block and soft, intricate woven leather used on newly designed door panels.
Priced at 5 million euros, the entire production run of W16 Mistral is already sold out. Only 99 models will be built, with deliveries due to begin in 2024.
