Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing.

Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing.

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      The powerhouse engine that propelled Bugatti from its historic roots into the contemporary realm of record-setting supercars has officially ceased production. On Thursday, Bugatti revealed that the last W16 Mistral had departed the factory, signaling the conclusion of the production of the distinctive engine that powered every Bugatti since the brand's resurgence under the Volkswagen Group at the century's beginning.

      Similar to that revival, the quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 was conceived by former VW Group CEO Ferdinand Piëch, who also advocated for the acquisitions of Bentley and Lamborghini. According to the official narrative, even before deciding to bring Bugatti back, Piëch imagined a colossal engine, sketching a naturally aspirated 18-cylinder giant composed of three VW VR6 blocks while traveling on a Shinkansen high-speed train across Japan.

      It was challenging to deter Piëch from any idea, but thankfully, someone was determined in this instance. After VW secured the rights to the Bugatti name (following a previous unsuccessful revival which resulted in the EB110 and the abandoned EB112 sedan), the aim was to create a vehicle featuring the iconic horse-collar grille with 1,000 metric horsepower. The intricate W18 was initially designed to have a displacement of 6.2 liters and produce only 547 hp, so it was replaced with the forced-induction W16 design, which was first experimented with in 2001.

      That engine enabled the Veyron to achieve production-car speed records in its original 16.4 configuration (253 mph) and later in the Super Sport version (267 mph). An extensively revised variant powered the Chiron, which amassed its own array of records, including a remarkable top speed of 304 mph for the specially developed Super Sport 300+ version that surpassed the 300-mph mark for production vehicles.

      Bugatti did not initially intend to produce a Chiron roadster, but the brand never overlooks an opportunity for a high-end, limited edition model. Therefore, to provide a fitting farewell to the W16, it initiated a rapid development program to create the Mistral. The $5 million roadster made its debut at the 2022 Monterey Car Week and set a new speed record for open-top cars (282 mph) in 2024, powered by a 1,578-hp version of the celebrated W16. The first of 99 customer cars was delivered in 2025. The last of these models features a subtle two-tone paint scheme of Pearl and Sparkle, with “the last of its kind” inscribed throughout, and a dashboard plaque designating it as the final W16-powered Bugatti.

      Transitions between eras are rarely so clear-cut. Just days before the last Mistral was finished, Bugatti held a ribbon-cutting event for La Manufacture, the facility that will produce its upcoming supercar. The Bugatti Tourbillon still retains 16 cylinders, but they are now arranged in a more conventional “V” configuration rather than the “W” layout that was once a VW Group trademark at the direction of CEO Mate Rimac.

Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing. Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing.

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Modern Bugatti Established Its Reputation with the W16. Now, It’s Disappearing.

Bugatti has just completed the production of the W16 Mistral, the final vehicle featuring this distinctive engine.