The Bugatti Tourbillon’s standout feature is an 1,800-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain built around a high-revving V-16, but Bugatti didn’t forget concerning the aerodynamic work needed to utilize the immense power on tap.
The goal was to surpass the Bugatti Chiron in slipperiness, Paul Burnham, chief engineer for the Tourbillon, said in a video posted on Bugattis’ YouTube channel Thursday. Lower aerodynamic drag can be mandatory to match—or perhaps surpass—the highest speed that defined the Chiron and its predecessor, the Veyron.
A significant change in comparison with the Chiron is the Tourbillon’s smaller greenhouse, which reduces the brand new automobile’s frontal area. But much of the event work focused on smaller details with a view to optimize airflow across all surfaces.
Bugatti Tourbillon aerodynamic testing
Aerodynamic development work began with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, before moving to wind-tunnel testing. That process, which began about 15 months before the Tourbillon’s June 2024 unveiling, began with a half-scale model constituted of over 250 3D-printed components, and studded with over 100 pressure taps to measure airflow.
Engineers moved as much as full-scale prototypes in early 2024. By that point much of the event work had already been done with computer simulations and small-scale tests; putting a full-scale automobile within the wind tunnel mainly served to validate that work, Burnham said within the video.
The aerodynamic bodywork is draped over a brand new chassis that shares nothing with the Veyron and Chiron platform. The clean-sheet opportunity allowed engineers to package the brand new naturally-aspirated 8.3-liter V-16, together with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and three electric motors. This setup replaces Bugatti’s long-serving quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16, and is predicted to get the Tourbillon from 0-60 mph in only 2.0 seconds.
The design, meanwhile, goals for timelessness by eschewing flashy trends. As an alternative of a digital screen, for instance, it features an intricate mechanical gauge cluster for the motive force, something designers hope will remain appealing well into the long run.
Production of the Tourbillon is scheduled to start out in 2026. Just 250 examples—all of that are spoken for—are planned.
Prices start at about $4 million.
This Article First Appeared At www.motorauthority.com
