Posted on 06/24/2024 1:18:08 PM PDT by Red Badger
The 2027 Bugatti Tourbillon is here to officially supplant the outgoing Bugatti Chiron as the Chiron did the Veyron before it. People probably have a million queries about the new Tourbillon, but considering its Bugatti lineage, we’re sure there’s one question in particular above all else: How fast is it?
Bugatti’s resurgence with the Veyron was built on that coupe claiming the production-car top-speed crown from the legendary McLaren F1. Since then, Bugatti has chased that carrot with each new variation of its models. So it’s not surprising the first question we have about the new hybrid Tourbillon is how outright fast it is.
“What’s the point of a car that fast? You’ll never reach those speeds on the street!” Yes, we’ve all heard this more than once when discussing the top speeds of supercars and hypercars. And it’s generally true, but the criticism misses the point. The fun is in simply knowing a car could go that fast even if it never actually does at the hands of an owner ensconced in the amazing cabin.
Creating a car that can easily reach speeds exceeding 200 mph is not easy, and it only gets more difficult for each mile-per-hour of speed beyond that mark. The entire exercise becomes a delicate balance of power, weight, tire grip, and aerodynamics. With each new record, it seems impossible to go even a click faster without the laws of physics saying, “That’s fast enough now, turn back.” Yet it continues to happen.
2027 Bugatti Tourbillon
So, How Fast Is the Bugatti Tourbillon?
The 2027 Bugatti Tourbillon can reach a top speed of 277 mph, the company says, though we believe the automaker targets 300 mph to bring it in line with the Chiron Super Sport 300+. This first version of the Tourbillon may not reach that goal, but we don’t think it’s crazy to speculate Bugatti will create faster variants in the not-too-distant future.
036 2027 Bugatti Tourbillon
How Can the Bugatti Tourbillon Go That Fast? With a 277-mph top speed, the new Tourbillon isn’t the fastest car Bugatti has ever made, but it’s still plenty quick and it’s faster than a base Chiron. How did Bugatti pull it off? It started with weight savings. Unlike the Chiron and Veyron before it, the Tourbillon doesn’t have four turbochargers. That means it also doesn’t have the accompanying oil coolers and intercoolers thos e turbos would require.
The Tourbillon’s engine is also a traditional V-16 rather than a W-16. Bugatti’s W-16 engine required more metal to achieve its compact size. The V-16 layout may take up more space, but it also uses less material. Furthermore, the engine is made completely from aluminum, which saves even more weight. Fun fact: The Bugatti Tourbillon has four throttle bodies and the longest crankshaft Bugatti has ever made—more than 3 feet long.
The hybrid powertrain does add about 661 pounds, but that weight is likely negated by the 800 hp it provides, along with the other weight-savings methods mentioned previously.
Speaking of the electric powertrain, please note you will need the boost from the electric motors to maintain the car’s 277-mph top speed. Running on the 1,000-hp combustion engine alone won’t get you there; we’re sure this fact will earn some jeers about how electrification is ruining supercars, but remember, we’re still talking about speeds well more than 250 mph here.
2027 Bugatti Tourbillon
Can the Bugatti Tourbillon Exceed 300 mph?
Bugatti has not openly admitted its goal for the 2027 Tourbillon is a 300-mph top speed, but we know what’s up. The question is, will the launch iteration of the Tourbillon reach that unstated goal? Because the electric drivetrain plays a factor in its top speed, it’s possible the hypercar is just one OTA software update away from 300 mph. Otherwise, we may have to wait for a future variant—we all know they’re coming—to pull it off.
I know the drill. Sweep for “hazards,” then turn around for a speed run.
My son and I saw a Bugatti Veyron at the Laguna Seca Raceway August 17, 2012. Of all things, it was at the race gas pump filling up!
A tourbillon is a watch movement to fascinate wristwatch nerds. Odd name but I’m sure there will be a matching wristwatch for it. Doesn’t look that much different from the Veyron and Chiron.
Look at that escargot!
My Porsche 993S has a spoiler like that.
Nowhere near as fast, but almost as sexy. And 26 years old.
I’d much rather spend the money on an airplane.
Too rich for my blood
I saw a story once about the rich in Saudia Arabia wrecking their very expensive cars. They’d have another to drive that same day.
Many owners keep their exotics stationary in garages and when required to move, the cars are towed.
Driving real low, high end exotics on LA highways is a real big risk. Even for the rich guy.
Kinda ugly to me.
Top Gear ended when the producers forced out Clarkson, May, and Hammond. They WERE the show. Their Grand Tour specials on Prime are fun, but nothing compares to the original Top Gear. They made me laugh so hard sometimes I could hardly breathe.
It was manufactured from 1986 to 1993, first as a Group B rally car and later as a road legal production car designed to satisfy FIA homologation regulations requiring at least 200 units be produced.
The license plate said "Canepa Design." That's a custom auto company created by Bruce Canepa. He builds the most exotic cars imaginable. Here's the information about what they do to the 959: Porsche 959 Reimagined by Canepa. It is staggering what they do to restore the car and vastly improve on the original.
So why do I bring that up? On our drive home from Laguna Seca back to the Bay Area last night, somewhere around Watsonville, that white 959 passed us on Highway 1 going north. That $4 million car was being driven to and from the racetrack! (we thought it might be Bruce Canepa's personal car)
Here's a great video on YouTube narrated by Bruce: CANEPA DIFFERENCE.
My son and I have toured Canepa Design in Scotts Valley. It's a combination showroom floor, museum, and shop tour all rolled into one. Highly recommended if you ever get out our way.
oh interesting - thanks.
That thing is HUGE!
Our ship did a port call in Monaco, it was a few days prior to the race. They were setting up barriers ,bleachers, etc. The semis hauling the cars were beginning to show up. We left two days before the race. That would have been something to see in person.
149 mph was the absolute fastest my Supra Turbo would do straight out redline and that was scary as hell.
One little twitch of the wheel..
That was SOP in our neck of the woods.
I-90 from eastern Montana to the Minnesota border.
Still it would be a fools charge.
Even a little prairie dog would send you flying at 300mph.
With that being said, Detroit recently held a Grand Prix in downtown. I would like to see the same cars on a race from the Toledo border to the Mackinac bridge on I-75.
Balls out, all the way, with stops for gas.......
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