Exploring the heart of the Bugatti V16

Exploring the heart of the Bugatti V16

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There is a battle raging in the automotive world. Manufacturers are fighting emissions standards and electrification, forcing the development of EVs and downsizing engines. It's disappointing for car enthusiasts that legends like the Jaguar F-Type and Audi R8 are being phased out, but a few brands refuse to join the extinction list and have created incredible masterpieces before the final grain of sand in the electrification timer runs out. 

Bugatti is well-known for leading the charge in automotive engineering, particularly when it comes to complex top-speed monsters. Now they have a new car on the block, which is being received incredibly well, mostly due to the new engine that lives at the rear. The Tourbillon, unlike Bugatti's recent trend of chasing top speed records, focuses on the experience rather than top speed. So what engine do you put in a more driver-focused Bugatti? You might think it’s the famous quad-turbocharged W16, but no, it’s an 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16, and it makes one heck of a noise. 

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Where do we start when unpacking an engine? Well, figures are the best place to begin. The Tourbillon generates 1,342kW, 597kW of which are electrified and delivered via two front- and one rear-mounted electric motors. The remaining 746kW are produced by this fire-breathing engine. Before you roll your eyes at the thought of another hybrid hypercar, consider that the V16 in the Tourbillon alone produces more power than the W16 in the original Veyron. 

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So, what makes this engine so special? Well, it was designed and built from the ground up by Cosworth, which is perhaps the world's top performance engine development firm. It also sounds truly spectacular, with hints of both the V8 depth and V12 scream while providing a rather unique yet utterly mesmerising sound. It's estimated that the Tourbillon will have a 0-100km/h time of under 2 seconds and a top speed of about 445km/h once the V16 is bolted to the 8-speed DCT gearbox. It's not the fastest car in the world like Bugattis of the past, but it makes up for it in the noise department.

An 8.3-litre V16 engine is a huge piece of kit, and in the goal of building a fast car, weight isn’t your friend. Somehow, the engineers at Bugatti and Cosworth got the weight of their new V16 down to 252kg, which is downright impressive. This level of achievement places a significant burden on the materials required to achieve such output goals while remaining lightweight. Bugatti and Cosworth designers spent a significant amount of time developing the engine to ensure its strength in both power and rigidity while keeping weight to a minimum. 

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On the electric end, the new Tourbillon comes with a 25 kWh oil-cooled 800V battery placed behind the seats, making use of the centre tunnel. This allows for 60km of full electric drive, making city driving that much easier to manage. Furthermore, continuing with the theme of lightness, various material studies were carried out inside the cabin to guarantee an extraordinary and one-of-a-kind interior that adds minimal weight to the manufacturing of a car that's lighter than the Chiron.

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What a beautiful sight it is to see a company dedicated to maintaining the ICE engine. While some companies are pushing towards an EV future, brands like Bugatti aren't ready to conform just yet and instead choose to challenge the laws of physics with another spectacular car.

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