The last Bugatti model with a W16 engine had to be something special, and of course, the Bugatti Mistral exceeds expectations. It should be a last, spectacular appearance of the W16 engine. It really will be the last and, according to Bugatti, it is also going to be the best. Bugatti Mistral is a powerful and exclusive roadster.
The era of the W16 is coming to an end. And with the Mistral, Bugatti says goodbye to the 8.0-liter engine with four turbochargers. The roadster based on the Chiron is named after a wind from the Rhône Valley, which also served as inspiration for a Maserati vehicle of the same name in the 1960s.
The Design
It was a challenge for the design team because everything had to be right on the last W16 model. The name shows where the journey should go. Mistral describes one of the strongest winds that blow through southern France to the Mediterranean.
The design naturally had to be correspondingly sporty and dynamic. They couldn’t just take the Chiron and cut off the roof above the A-pillars. The silhouette has been revised and redesigned for the Mistral. After all, the enormous power development should not fail because of the open roof. For this, the designers took the most beautiful roadsters in Bugatti's history as a model.
The 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid was one of the most elegant models. The aerodynamic headrests that merge into the body and the V-shaped windscreen were real design highlights at the time. Parts of the painting will also be adopted for the Mistral. It comes in black with a hint of truffle brown and yellow accents.
The essence of the V-shaped windscreen flows into the Mistral, curving and apparently wrapping around the A-pillars. It also blends seamlessly into the side windows, creating the "visor" effect. Already here the performance of the Mistral is indicated. Overall, the windshield can be considered a great engineering feat, as it is only curved enough to create a rounding visor without impairing the view.
So that the air supply to the W16 is perfectly guaranteed, the side oil cooler intakes have been deliberately separated from the engine air intakes. These are now on the roof, directly behind the occupants. This also serves as a homage to the Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid and the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport.
The front section has been completely redesigned and the Mistral remains independent. Vertically arranged headlights have been tailored and the horseshoe grille has been given a slightly more three-dimensional design.
The rear was challenging as they wanted distinctive and elegant lights. The front headlights received a four-light signature, meant to allude to the W16's four-wheel drive and four turbochargers.
While the styling is reminiscent of a classic model, the Mistral feels like a combination of Divo and La Voiture Noire in a roadster package, with an "X" motif for the taillights that reminds us of the Bugatti Bolide. The layout of the taillights has allowed Bugatti to add air vents between the X-beams for cooling.
The Interior
The interior of the Bugatti Mistral is elegant, sporty and unique at the same time. Everywhere you look, you see luxury. Following the example of the Chiron, the interior has been designed in such a way that all information is still clearly visible even at 260 mph.
The materials and the quality stand for Bugatti. Modern materials, light titanium, soft and flawless leather. The door panels have been redesigned and feature intricately woven leather manufactured to Bugatti quality standards.
The shift lever, milled from a block of aluminium, has an amber-colored wooden inlay showing the figure of the “dancing elephant” – the famous sculpture by Rembrandt Bugatti.
Behind the headrest, you can see the two large air inlets, which push an incredible 70,000 liters of air per minute through the engine at full power.
On request, there is an option with a lot of carbon, rich, yellow sports seats - an interior optimized for racing that makes the Mistral a fighting machine.
The Power
The heart of the vehicle is of course the engine. It is a W16 engine, 8-liter displacement, with 1,600 hp - hard to believe this performance data, isn’t it?
The engine was used for the first time in the Chiron Super Sport 300+ - and no other convertible vehicle had previously achieved this level of performance. The top speed makes you dizzy. The Mistral is supposed to be able to drive at an unbelievable 260 mph.
It's very plausible that the Mistral will be faster than the Veyron GSV given it has a lead of almost 400horsepowerHas. It remains to be seen whether an actual top speed will be reached because Bugatti announced some time ago that they were no longer interested in chasing records. However, we do know that Hennessey wants some of that action with the new Venom F5 Roadster.
Conclusion
The Bugatti W16 Mistral is available in the iconic black livery, yellow and blue and is limited to just 99 examples, each costing around five million dollars. However, anyone who just wanted to reach for their credit card will be disappointed: According to Bugatti, all copies have already been sold and are expected to be delivered in 2024. So if you own one, protect it with your life!
For all your protection equipment needs, we recommend Coverking. They are the best in the business and always know what they are doing. The company digitally scans each vehicle available on the market with the latest technology.
The ability to scan allows them to create the best custom-fitting equipment possible as soon as a new model is released. So, you can be sure that they will be the first to carry protective equipment for the Bugatti Mistral as soon as it comes out.
Coverking is also the official protective equipment partner of most automotive manufacturers. Check out their catalog and find out what they can do for you and your vehicle.
Resources
- https://w16mistral.bugatti.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Mistral
- https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40921137/2024-bugatti-mistral-roadster-revealed/
- https://www.netcarshow.com/bugatti/2024-w16_mistral/
- https://www.topgear.com/car-news/first-look/behold-eu5m-bugatti-mistral-w16-engined-speedster
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/markewing/2022/08/19/bugatti-mistral-and-the-winds-of-change-this-5-million-roadster-may-be-the-last-hurrah-for-bugattis-16-cylinder-engine/?sh=20dfe5c162df
- https://www.carwale.com/news/bugatti-mistral-will-have-a-top-speed-of-420kmph/
- https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/pictures/bugatti-w16-mistral-roadster/
- https://www.drive.com.au/news/bugatti-w16-mistral-unveiled/
Tankut Basar
Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.
