Bugatti has introduced its latest supercar, the Tourbillon.

From the outside, you’ll see the family resemblance to the car it replaces, the Chiron, which had a resemblance to the car it replaced, the Veyron.

This latest beast capable of super speeds features a hybrid powertrain with total output of 1,800 hp.

The car features an all-new naturally aspirated 8.3-litre V16 engine that produces 1,000 hp and can spin up to 9,000 rpm. The engine was engineered with help from Cosworth. The Chiron and Veyron both had a quad-turbocharged W16 engine. Bugatti adds the new engine weighs 252 kilograms thanks to the use of lightweight materials.

The Turbillon’s remaining 800 hp comes from its electric motors, two at the front and one at the rear. The electric motors are powered by a 25 kWh oil-cooled 800V battery housed in a central tunnel behind the passengers.

Despite a design intended for speed, the 25-kWh battery provides enough juice for the car to drive more than 60 kilomtres on electric power alone (keep in mind estimated driving range would be measured at legal speeds).

The automaker says four-wheel drive and full torque vectoring provides the car with ultimate traction and agility.

Performance numbers

The car has a limited speed of 380 km/h (236 mph) or 445 km/h (276 mph) with the speed key.

Acceleration times as reported by Bugatti are:

• Zero to 100 km/h: 2 seconds
• Zero to 200 km/h: 5 seconds
• Zero to 300 km/h: 10 seconds
• Zero to 400 km/h: 25 seconds

Bugatti philosophy

“The Tourbillon had to be incomparable in every respect. Our philosophy has been to take any single aspect of Chiron and elevate it, looking for elegant and sophisticated engineering solutions and new technologies to deliver a timeless masterpiece. We wanted someone to be able to take any piece of this car, from inside, outside or under the skin, and believe that it could be placed in an art gallery. The result is a car which is beautiful inside and outside, the most powerful Bugatti to date which simultaneously elevates mechanical fascination and technical beauty to a whole new level,” said Bugatti CTO Emilio Scervo in a news release.

“The powertrain was perhaps the most important decision that we had to make, considering every option available to us; re-engineering the W16, going fully electric or creating something entirely new. Ultimately, we chose the hardest possible option, creating a powertrain from scratch and pairing it seamlessly with a complex system of e-motors, a new generation eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox and more, all developed from the ground up specifically for the Tourbillon. But it was important to us that this car retained that pure and raw analogue feel of a naturally aspirated combustion engine, while pairing it with the agility and ability provided by electric motors,” Emilio Scervo added.

“We have already heard what it sounds like when this car reaches its 9,000 rpm redline under full throttle, and it is a visceral, awe-inspiring experience that will echo for eternity. With the Tourbillon, we have engineered a car that delivers the best of combustion technology and electrification; free from compromises and built with a timeless dedication to creating a memorable driving experience.”

Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac said the team looked through Bugatti history and saw that founder Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean Bugatti refused to compromise. The team wanted to do the same with the Tourbillon.

“So yes, it is crazy to build a new V16 engine, to integrate with a new battery pack and electric motors and to have a real Swiss-made watchmaker instrument cluster and 3D-printed suspension parts and a Crystal Glass center console. But it is what Ettore would have done, and it is what makes a Bugatti incomparable and timeless. Without that kind of ambition, you might create a great hyper sports car, but you wouldn’t create an icon Pour l’éternité’,” he said in a news release.

The car’s starting price is Euro $3.8 million ($5.56 million Canadian). A total of 250 will be built, each one hand-assembled at Bugatti Atelier in Molsheim, France.