- Bugatti has revealed an alternative design for the Tourbillon.
- While the company didn’t fully reveal the proposal, it had a smaller horseshoe grille, angular headlights, and more aggressive bodywork.
- The first Tourbillon deliveries are slated to begin in 2026 and production will be limited to 250 units.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the automotive industry is what could have been. While we rarely get to see the road not traveled, automakers occasionally reveal concepts or production models that didn’t pan out. One of the better known recent examples is the ill-fated Volkswagen Phaeton D2.
Fast forward to today and we’re looking at an alternative design for the Bugatti Tourbillon, which was unveiled this summer. As part of the latest installment in a video series, the automaker takes us behind the scenes of design decision day in February of 2022.
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Two cars are prominently featured in the clip and one is clearly the predecessor to the Tourbillon. However, we’re far more interested in the alternative design proposal which is never fully shown.
That’s unfortunate, but the few glimpses we do get reveal a significantly smaller horseshoe grille as well as less flamboyant intakes. They’re joined by angular headlights and a recessed center section on the hood.
Further back, there’s angular and aggressive bodywork that hints at a more futuristic design. This could have been the proposal’s downfall as former director of design, Achim Anscheidt, said “I think a deciding factor is really what is modern day Bugatti DNA. Which car represents a Bugatti from 100 meters away, from 10 meters away, from one meter away.”
The design of the Tourbillon is certainly a departure from the Chiron, but it’s far from the only thing that has changed as the model features a naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 engine. It’s joined by a front e-Axle with two electric motors as well as a third electric motor mounted out back.
The motors are powered by a 25 kWh battery pack and they help to give the car a combined output of 1,775 hp (1,324 kW / 1,800 PS). The Tourbillon can also travel more than 37 miles (60 km) on electricity alone.
H/T to Top Gear
