Episode Details

The W16 Is Still Taking Requests

Bugatti has released a teaser for the third one-off model under its Programme Solitaire. Not much has been revealed, but the video effectively confirms that the upcoming commission will use the brand’s 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine – the powerplant that powered the Veyron, Chiron, and their numerous derivatives.

That may be a noteworthy detail, given that Bugatti has switched the iconic W16 formula for a naturally aspirated V16 and three electric motors in the Tourbillon. The transition came after Bugatti moved from direct Volkswagen Group ownership into the Bugatti Rimac joint venture in 2021. The W16 itself was developed during the Volkswagen era by combining two narrow-angle VR8 cylinder banks.

As such, the upcoming one-off will preserve the potent engine that helped the French hypercar manufacturer break speed records while still providing the refinement welcomed in everyday driving, although fuel economy is another conversation.

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