Powerful and elegant, the Bugatti W16 Mistral is a force of nature like no other…
Bugatti W16 Mistral
Engine: 8.0L quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7 speed dual clutch
Power: 1176 kW
Torque: 1180 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Top Speed: 420 km/h
0-100 km/h: 2.3 seconds
Price: $7.3 million
A s far as we know Bugatti aren’t associated with SpaceX, but that hasn’t stopped them from making an open top missile – disguised as the Bugatti W16 Mistral. It lays claim to being the first Bugatti Chiron-based roadster, and the fastest roadster to come out of Molsheim, but also sadly, the last of the W16’s.
This roadster bids adieu to the French hypercar’s 8.0 litre quad-turbo W16 engine, the one that borrows its name from its cylinders and ‘W’ configuration. The Mistral has a unique body, but is a Chiron nonetheless. Instead of a proper roof, it gets a cover to keep the seats dry when parked, but can’t be used on the move – a tarp in other words.
To improve airflow, the rear side intakes are for the oil cooler, while the engine’s ram induction intakes are behind the headrests. These carbon fibre units can even support the weight of the car in the case of a roll-over.
The V-shaped LED tail lights are not only great to look at, but the empty space between them feature cooling ducts to keep the W16’s temperature in check. Inside, the black and yellow interior gets heavy influence by both the Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid and Ettore Bugatti’s preferred interior colour combo.
Topping out at 420 km/h, the W16 serves up 1176kW and 1600Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch. It’s still very much stable at high speeds thanks to its diffuser, which offers plenty of downforce without the drag reduction that comes with a wing.
Just 99 examples of the 2024 Bugatti W16 Mistral will be produced, and are already spoken for. Introduced in 2005 with the iconic Veyron, the W16 has powered every bug since, and now it’s in its final gear – it’s time to shed a tear.
By Bill Varetimidis
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