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  3. End of a Legend: Bugatti Reveals the Final W16 Hypercar

End of a Legend: Bugatti Reveals the Final W16 Hypercar

19 Jul 2026
  • What is the last Bugatti powered by the W16 engine?
  • How fast is the Bugatti W16 Mistral roadster?

The year 2026 marks an emotional turning point for Bugatti as the French brand closes one of the most remarkable chapters in modern automotive history. The final example of the Bugatti W16 Mistral has left the company facility in Molsheim, completing a limited production run of only 99 cars.

This final road legal Bugatti powered by the legendary W16 engine follows the conclusion of Bolide production, which included 40 track focused examples. It also ends a story that began with the Veyron in 2005 and continued through the Chiron family before reaching its dramatic finale with the open top Mistral.

The Final W16 Masterpiece

The Final W16 Masterpiece

Carries the final Bugatti W16 Mistral a specification worthy of its historic position. Named The Last of Its Kind, this unique example features a two tone exterior that combines Pearl paint with sparkling accents, creating an elegant appearance that feels both modern and timeless.

Continues the personalized character inside the cabin through a refined combination of Magnolia tones and matte gray carbon fiber. Adds the signature of Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti a deeper historical connection, appearing on the headrests, aluminum door sills and inner surface of the engine cover.

Uses the Mistral the famous 8.0 liter W16 engine with four turbochargers, representing the final road car application of the power unit that transformed Bugatti into one of the defining performance brands of the modern era.

Completed Bugatti an extensive quality inspection before delivery. Covered the process around 400 kilometers of dynamic testing and included a high speed run reaching 300 kilometers per hour at Colmar Airport in northeastern France. Conducted three approved Bugatti test drivers the evaluation to ensure that the final car met the same demanding standards as every other Mistral.

Makes this combination of rarity, craftsmanship and engineering the final Mistral far more than another collector car. It serves as a physical farewell to an engine that shaped more than two decades of record breaking Bugatti performance.

Record Speed and a New Future

Record Speed and a New Future

Reached the Bugatti W16 Mistral a top speed of 453.91 kilometers per hour on November 9, 2024, setting a world record for an open top production car. Drove Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace the World Record Car at the Papenburg testing facility in Germany, giving the W16 engine one final global achievement before the end of production.

Moves Bugatti forward with the opening of La Manufacture in Molsheim, which will serve as the production home of the upcoming Tourbillon. Replaces the W16 power unit an entirely new hybrid system built around a naturally aspirated 8.3 liter V16 engine developed with Cosworth. Limits Bugatti global Tourbillon production to only 250 handcrafted examples, with production and deliveries planned to begin in 2026.

Keeps the W16 story alive for a very small number of collectors through Programme Solitaire. Creates the program up to two fully bespoke Bugatti models each year, using existing engineering foundations while introducing completely redesigned bodywork, interiors and personalized details. Demonstrate projects such as Brouillard and FKP Hommage how Bugatti can preserve its heritage while creating cars that remain completely unique.

Closes the final W16 Mistral an unforgettable performance era, but it does not signal the end of Bugatti ambition. Instead, it connects the record setting past of the Veyron, Chiron and Mistral with a new generation built around hybrid power, exclusive craftsmanship and even greater personalization.

Ahd Kamal

BY Ahd Kamal

Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.

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