The End of the W16 Bugatti’s 8.0l quad-turbo W16 masterpiece has now established itself as an iconic engine of the 21st century. An unruly, roaring, powertrain of torque, power and speed. Yet like Lamborghini’s 5.2l V10 and Jaguar’s 5.0l Supercharged V8, emissions tests have rendered this engine no longer operable. However, before the W16 joins the retirement home for legendary engines, Bugatti decided to send it out in a wave of glory. A car that embodies the engine's roaring spirit of torque, power and speed. We all assumed, the Mistral, would be the final instalment, the final encore of the W16, but we were wrong. The Bolide: Bugatti’s Track-Hard Hypercar Because that honour goes to the Bolide (literally French for racing car). Bugatti’s $4.7 million track-hard, toy, their equivalent to Ferrari’s FXXK and Pagani’s Huayra R. Like those cars, this car was not designed for the road because of noise regulations and recent emissions. Nor was it designed for racing also because of regulations that would inevitably slow it down. Bugatti went to town when designing the Bolide, working in collaboration with Dallara to ensure it met the regulations set by the FIA LeMans Hypercar championships. The car is constructed out of titanium and carbon fibre. Its chassis like most of the racers is a monocoque. It’s design is heavily inspired by Bugatti’s Vision GT concept with aerodynamics helping to generate 2,630kg of downforce (1810 kg at the rear and 820kg at the front). The height of the Bolide was also matched to Bugatti’s famous LeMans racer, the Type 57C. The concept car was said to weigh 1,240kg, yet the production variant ended up a rather hefty 1450kg. Similarly, Bugatti claimed in concept the car would produce 1,825 horsepower and 1,364 lb-ft of torque but in reality, it was tuned back to 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft. Nevertheless, the Bolide is claimed to achieve 0-62mph in 2.2 seconds and supposedly has an incredible top speed of 311mph. Plus with all those aerodynamic advancements, it will corner with the agility of a flea. Inside the Bolide features a minimalist interior fitted with polished aluminium and Alcantara that blends French Racing Blue with Beluga Black. A custom track plate inscribed ‘Équipe Curtis’ adds a personal touch, honouring Ettore Bugatti’s famed racing team. It truly gives a focus to driving this incredible car. No wonder Bugatti have limited production to 40 units. The Circuit of the Americas: The Perfect Proving Grounds for the Bolide Clearly, quite a special car deserves a special delivery. So there was nowhere better for the owner to receive his car than at the renowned Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Located in Austin Texas, this 3.5-mile circuit is renowned for holding the US Grand Prix as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship. It may not be quite as iconic as Willow Springs or Laguna Seca but COTA is quite the tricky circuit to master. From a steep uphill hairpin on turn 1, fast-flowing Essses from turns 4-6 and a triple apex on turns 16-18, it’s the ideal circuit to push any race car to its limits. A perfect proving ground for the Bolide. A Truly Eventful Rain-Filled Day The customer’s Bolide was certainly a sight to behold. Finished in iconic French Racing Blue with Nocturne Black accents, its duotone scheme pays homage to legendary models like the Type 35. However unfortunately the day of the collection, unexpectedly, rains started in the Lone Star State. So before it was unleashed on track, the boffins at Bugatti went to town to ensure everything was perfect. After ensuring the tyres were at optimum temperature and the static handover was complete, the owner was given a thorough in-depth brief on the Bolide’s intricate nuances, both handling tips and safety protocols. He was then taken out for a two-lap warm-up session to familiarise himself with these intricate nuances. After the second warm-up lap, there was a quick pit stop for final checks, before the Bolide was ready for action. Clearly, the owner was having a whale of a time, pushing the car all the way to 206mph, despite the rain providing quite a challenge. Nevertheless, the Bolide’s all-wheel-drive system and aerodynamic proficiency allowed it to manage these trick conditions with ease. The owner stated after his run, It wasn’t just about speed, but about connecting with a machine built for greatness.” And I think we can all agree, that the Bolide is beyond the word great. It is a final hurrah for the W16 and what better way to celebrate than what that engine was designed for; Unbridled power, torque and speed. F1rstMotors Facts and FiguresManufacturerBugatti Automobiles S.A.SModelBolideYear of Release2024Engine8.0L Quad-Turbo W16Horsepower1578hp (1825 in concept)Torque1180 lb–ft (1364 in concept)0–62mph (100km/h)2.2 secondsTop Speed311mph (420 km/h)Weight1,450kg (1.4 tonnes) (1,270kg (1.3t) in concept)Power to Weight1088 hp per tonne (1437 in concept)Gearbox7–Speed Dual ClutchDriven WheelsAll Wheel DriveProduction Units40Source: Bugatti
