Bugatti W16 Mistral: 400-km Alsace Test Ensures Perfection
Bugatti demands nothing less than perfection: “Nothing less than perfection: that is what is demanded of each example of the Bugatti W16 Mistral¹ before it is delivered to its owner.” To prove every handcrafted W16 Mistral meets this uncompromising standard, engineers drive each car for at least 400 kilometres across the varied landscapes of Alsace, subjecting the open-top hypercar to real-world demands long before an owner occupies the cockpit.
The core of the quality programme is a 350-kilometre route through the picturesque Alsatian countryside. Test drivers scrutinise every component in turn, feeling the precision of the steering, checking the fit and function of every interior feature, and confirming that each system responds instantly and flawlessly.
As the W16 Mistral glides through storybook villages, tackles winding country roads, cruises along extended autoroute sections and climbs challenging mountain passes, it reveals its agility, high-speed stability and towering power. Cobblestone lanes expose the slightest chassis imperfection, while open stretches let the quad-turbo W16 crescendo through the open-air cockpit, proving the powertrain’s robustness under changing elevation and atmosphere.
The assessment embraces all senses. Technicians evaluate noise with and without the removable roof, analyse wind and road sound, appraise the exhaust’s signature and monitor rolling refinement. They study gear changes during acceleration, deceleration and heavy-load scenarios, even listening to echoes in narrow medieval streets that act as natural acoustic chambers, amplifying subtle notes an untrained ear would miss.
Only three elite specialists hold the authority to conduct this appraisal, each bringing decades of experience and expertise to the task. New test drivers train intensively, sitting beside senior experts before performing solo drives that demand complete sensory analysis. Bugatti attributes ninety per cent of its quality verdict to these professionals’ sight, sound and touch; their encyclopaedic mechanical understanding lets them pinpoint the faintest vibration or unfamiliar tone.
During every run, the lead driver records observations using a dictaphone for later diagnosis in the workshop, where engineers dismantle and rectify any anomalies. Sophisticated telemetry and high-precision data loggers supply the remaining ten per cent of verification, tracking every parameter kilometre by kilometre.
After the road evaluation, the programme moves to Bugatti’s exclusive 1,600-metre Colmar airfield test track. Here, drivers push the W16 Mistral to 300 km/h while checking emergency braking, ESP, and ABS. The removable roof mechanism faces its endurance trial: engineers repeatedly fit and remove the panel, then confirm its integrity at top speed—the only configuration that unlocks the roadster’s full 1,600 PS.
The process is iterative and relentless. Once technicians correct even the slightest irregularity, they perform a fresh verification drive of at least 50 kilometres. They repeat this cycle until the W16 Mistral exhibits flawless behaviour in every conceivable condition, demonstrating Bugatti’s unwavering commitment to excellence and ensuring each customer receives a hypercar worthy of the marque’s legendary name.
