Listen to the V16 Bugatti Tourbillon Sing Uniquely.

      Bugatti

      It’s not unexpected that a hypercar costing millions of dollars would have an impressive exhaust sound. However, in today’s world of large turbos and electrification, high-performance vehicles don’t quite deliver the same audio experience as before. This is why being able to listen to the new Bugatti Tourbillon rev its V16 engine so distinctly is something every automotive enthusiast should take a moment to enjoy.

      Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac shared a video on Instagram featuring a camouflage-wrapped Tourbillon revving its enormous new engine before taking off. Unfortunately, the engine doesn’t reach its 9,000-rpm redline yet due to a soft rev limiter, but Rimac is optimistic that they can eliminate the limiter for idle revving in the production version. Nevertheless, the sound of the Tourbillon’s V16 is still remarkable, with deep, powerful tones at low RPMs that growl and become more aggressive as the revs increase.

      We are simply pleased that it exists at all. Until now, Bugatti had relied on the same engine for nearly two decades: an 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged W16. This engine is legendary, a remarkable piece of engineering conceptualized by former VW Group head Ferdinand Piech. The W16 was capable of producing over 1,600 horsepower in its most powerful variant and emitted a sound that could never be mistaken for another engine.

      However, powerful engines are diminishing in availability. Lamborghini is moving from a V10 to a twin-turbocharged V8 (which still sounds fantastic), Ferrari has introduced a hybrid V6 to its selection, and even Aston Martin has acknowledged that its V12 won’t be around for much longer. It’s noteworthy that Bugatti not only maintained its iconic 16 cylinders but did so by removing the turbochargers and increasing engine displacement, especially in the current regulatory climate.

      This new 8.3-liter cross-plane-crank V16, built by Cosworth, may be one of the engine maker’s most remarkable feats. It can rev up to 9,000 rpm and produces 986 horsepower on its own, without the help of turbos. When combined with the Tourbillon’s three electric motors, the total system output reaches 1,775 horsepower. The specifications are impressive on their own, but one gains an even greater appreciation for this powertrain when witnessing its rapid rev changes—an astonishing achievement for such a large engine with 16 pistons, connected to a crankshaft that is nearly a meter long!

      Bugatti

      I eagerly anticipate hearing this engine at full throttle and reaching redline. Since Bugatti's revival under the Volkswagen Group, it has consistently redefined performance benchmarks with each new model. It’s only fitting to expect the Tourbillon to follow suit and sound incredible while doing so.

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