Here’s How Bugatti’s V16 Hypercar Was Designed

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Key Takeaways

• Bugatti details the design ethos behind the new Tourbillon hypercar.
• Form has to follow function; there are no unnecessary styling elements on the Tourbillion, with everything having a purpose.
• Bugatti designs its cars to be timeless – you won’t find any trendy design elements or massive touchscreens here.

With the exception of limited-run masterpieces like the one-off La Voiture Noire, Bugatti has made just three cars in the last 20 years: the Veyron, Chiron, and now, the Tourbillon. As expected, the performance is extraordinary, with the V16 propelling the hypercar to breakneck speeds. But the styling is equally striking, which is why Bugatti is detailing the design process behind the all-new Tourbillon.

With more than a century of history to call back on, Bugatti has a distinctive design DNA to reference when designing a new car. Frank Heyl, Bugatti’s Director of Design, says this gives the brand a “guiding line” when styling a new Bugatti. “What we need to take into account is this: form always follows performance.”

Shaped By Speed

Bugatti has always made striking and beautiful cars, but one of the automaker’s chief priorities remains velocity. The Tourbillon is ‘shaped by speed’ which means every component is crafted to maximize performance. Aerodynamic parts are also considered. Bugatti won’t add anything to its cars if there is no performance purpose. That means there’s nothing superfluous, with each styling element having a function.

That’s not to say Bugatti has no interest in aesthetics – the elegant Tourbillon is proof of this. Molsheim’s latest hypercar takes inspiration from watchmaking. This is evident inside, with the detailed instrument cluster imitating a high-end wristwatch. The tachometer and speedo share a space, with the needles chasing each other around the dials. The interior is a celebration of analog design, with a focus on high-end materials and a luxurious ambiance. There is a screen, but it’s hidden away until needed.

“The experience – that is what we tailor-made the Tourbillon to evoke. It is about how you feel when you sit in the driver’s seat; touching the aluminum switchgear; how weighted the dials are when you touch them; the smell of the leather; the noise of the naturally aspirated, 9,000-rpm V16 engine. It sounds really emotional. The design of the Tourbillon could be seen as an evolutionary approach. However, the radicality and extremeness of this concept’s execution is unlike anything we have ever done before. We believe through this approach, the experience of driving, owning, and living with a Bugatti is incomparable. You simply have to experience it.”

– Frank Heyl, Bugatti Director of Design

Designing Masterpieces, Not Trendy Cars

Importantly, a Bugatti should have a timeless design. These cars stick around for a long time, and become desirable collectibles the moment they leave the factory. As such, they have to maintain their beauty over decades, even as design changes come and go, says Heyl: “What dates a car is the technology of the time it was created in; 100 years from now, today’s technology won’t be cutting-edge anymore. Instead, we need to focus on preciousness.”

And that’s exactly what the brand has done over the years. An EB110 or a Type 41 (Royale) are far from being the fastest cars in the world. But their timeless design and innate desirability means both are highly sought after by connoisseurs. Heyl references screens spanning the width of the fascia and notes that while it’s great for others, it’s not for Bugatti. These mighty screens are impressive now, but they will look extremely dated in a decade. And that’s not the Bugatti way. “We need to keep away from those things and go into the preciousness. We are a brand that is about luxury,” added Heyl. We’ll be speaking to the man in greater detail at Monterey Car Week, so keep an eye out for more insight into the Tourbillon’s design and engineering.