Bugatti's New V16: A Symphony of Power and Precision
For 116 years, Bugatti has pursued excellence, fusing artistry with engineering to stretch performance boundaries. That ethos propels the marque into a new era of innovation and its resolve to craft the extraordinary. Episode Seven of the ‘A New Era’ docuseries, now on YouTube, captures the defining moment when engineers first breathed life into the all-new Bugatti V16.
Mate Rimac’s 2021 call to Cosworth triggered the quest to create the powertrain that will drive the next generation of Bugatti hyper sports cars. Rather than assemble a single-cylinder mule, the Molsheim team built a complete prototype, underlining the project’s importance and showcasing their confidence in the concept.
In 2023, Bugatti and Cosworth united vision and ingenuity on the dyno as the first complete 8.3-litre, naturally aspirated V16 thundered into life, its note instantly signalling a fresh chapter for the legendary brand. Engineers treated every component as a functional sculpture, iterating the plenum until it delivered optimal airflow and the elegance synonymous with Bugatti craftsmanship.
Powertrain director Emilio Scervo recognised that a free-breathing V16 would evoke a visceral bond, and by pairing it with a hybrid system, the team could unleash immediate torque. The resulting Tourbillon¹ combines the 1,000 hp V16 engine with three electric motors, which add 800 hp, resulting in a total of 1,800 hp and 900 Nm of torque. The hyper sports car sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds and accelerates to 445 km/h, setting new benchmarks for acceleration and top speed.
This radical combination redefines what modern automotive engineering can achieve, making the Tourbillon the only production car to feature a naturally aspirated V16. More than a hypercar, it embodies elegance, innovation and audacity. With the engine perfected, Bugatti now integrates this masterpiece with its hybrid system, preparing the hyper sports car that will shape the marque’s next era. Watch ‘A New Era: A 16-cylinder Heart’ on the official Bugatti YouTube channel.
