Mate Rimac's Bugatti tourbillon redefines hypercar excellence
Mate Rimac didn't disappoint. The creator of electric cars overseeing Bugatti has proven that the bar can be raised even higher in gasoline-powered automobiles.
Bugatti Tourbillon (pronounced tur-bee-yawn) is the new super (hyper?) car replacing the Chiron and the first entirely new model presented under the leadership of Mate Rimac. Rimac has already achieved impressive feats, such as the electric Nevera. However, while the Nevera isn't selling particularly spectacularly, the Tourbillon, or all 250 units, found new owners before its debut.
The Tourbillon has an entirely new, naturally aspirated V16 engine with an 8.3-litre capacity, developed by Cosworth. It revs up to 9,000 RPM. As if that wasn't enough, the engine is supported by a hybrid system consisting of three electric motors and a 25 kWh battery pack. This means that the Bugatti boasts a power output of 1800 horsepower. It also has an all-electric range of 60 kilometres.
Thanks to the use of carbon fibre and, for example, aluminum control arms, the Tourbillon weighs only 2,000 kilograms. This means that it can sprint to 100 km/h in just 2 seconds, reach 200 km/h in less than 5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 445 km/h. These values are simply absurd.
The name itself is not accidental. Tourbillon in French means whirlwind. It also refers to a prestigious mechanism in watches designed to eliminate system precision errors. Just look at the gauges in the new Bugatti to realize why it's a fitting name.
While other manufacturers focus on screens, Bugatti opts for timeless mechanical solutions. Of course, the car has a screen, but it pops out from the dashboard when the reverse gear is engaged. The seats are mounted "rigidly," but the pedals are adjustable. The Bugatti logo also has a fixed place on the steering wheel.
250 units of the Tourbillon will hit the roads, though that might be an overstatement. Each unit, priced at around $6.5 million CAD, has already been sold. It's an investment, not a toy.
