The W16 Reaches its End

There’s no denying that over the last decade, few engines have impressed quite like Bugatti’s incredible 8.0l quad-turbo W16 masterpiece. Though the engine doesn’t especially have a sonorous, astonishing soundtrack, that was never the intention of Bugatti. What they wanted to create was an unruly, roaring, powertrain of torque, power and speed. And it’s fair to say, they did that.

This incredible engine has taken many cars, including the Veyron, Chiron and Mistral, to break speed records. However, owing to the stringent emission regulations, similar to Lamborghini’s 5.2l V10, Bugatti have decided to retire the W16 in favour of an all-new hybrid V16. We all assumed the engine’s end would come in the track-hard Bolide, as a testament to the engine's unruly performance. But we were very wrong.

Programme Solitaire: Bugatti’s New Coach-Building Division

Programme Solitaire is Bugatti’s brand new Coach-Building division that celebrates the past of what brought Bugatti to fame. You have to remember Bugatti has been around for 116 years, and back in its heyday, cars were built very differently. Essentially, Bugatti would offer a Type 57 chassis and engine, whilst the body was tackled by bespoke coach-builders like Galibier, Atlante and Ventoux.

Of course, Bugatti does have a specialised programme, Sur Mesure, but that’s more for creating bespoke liveries and parts for existing cars. Programme Solitaire, though, is far removed and instead seeks to fully reimagine the bodywork from the ground up, whilst keeping the chassis and engine the same, harkening back to the glory days of coachbuilding. This programme seeks to produce approximately two creations every year.

The Design of the Brouillard: External and Internal Beauty

The Brouillard is their first official creation of Programme Soilitaire. Its bodywork draws inspiration from Bugatti’s of old. Its elongated tail, for instance, is a call-back to the iconic Type 57SC Atlantic. It also features a fixed ducktail spoiler, aggressive diffuser, and functional roof scoops. And of course, the signature horseshoe grille, a design Bugatti has been using since the beginning.

According to Design Director Frank Heyl, the vehicle avoids sharp lines and instead uses reflection-based surfaces that evoke the athletic musculature of a trained horse. Which is appropriate considering the name Brouillard was the name of Ettore Bugatti’s prized horse. And also considering old race cars used to be called “race horses” and Bugatti were once the kings of LeMans, you can see how all this matches well.

But just as astonishing as the exterior is the interior. There’s custom-woven tartan fabric from Paris that’s perfectly meshed alongside green-tinted carbon fibre. Machined aluminium is also a key feature, especially on the gear shifter, which appropriately houses a miniature sculpture of Ettore Bugatti’s prized horse, Brouillard. One could say the spirit of the horse lives on inside.

There’s a panoramic glass roof that Bugatti says creates a “cathedral-like” atmosphere. The aluminium accents are finished in a deep misty grey to further this atmosphere. There are also subtle nods to equestrian artistry, leather-trimmed interior details and a custom emblem inspired by Brouillard himself. This is coach-building to the next level, every element and fitting is designed with an artistic level of precision.

The Brouillard’s Performance

Of course, powering the Brouillard, for the final time, is the 8.0l Twin-Turbo W16 out of the Mistral and Chiron Supersports. This engine develops 1,578 horsepower and 1180 lb-ft of torque. This power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed Dual Clutch gearbox, launching this nearly 2-tonne beast from 0-62mph in 2.3 seconds and onwards to a limited top speed of 261mph.

Of course, this is also assisted by the fact that the special design cues aren’t just there for show, they're designed to optimise the performance and allow this thing to be pushed to the max. But let’s be honest, no one is going to push this one-off bespoke coach-built masterpiece to its limits. Can you imagine the bill if someone dings it? No, simply, it’s going to go where all one-offs end up, to a special collector who will appreciate it for what it is.

Choosing the Right Buyer: A Celebration of What Made Bugatti Great

Bugatti have reportedly sold their one-off Brouillard to a very special buyer. Whilst he wishes to be unknown, what we do know about him is that he is very much a Bugatti collector. He owns furniture by Ettore’s father Carlo, sculptures by his brother Rembrandt, and of course legendary cars like the Type 57, Type 101, Type 49, as well as variants of the Veyron, Chiron and Mistral. Bugatti couldn’t have chosen a better buyer.

Because what the Brouillard represents is truly special. Through its final encore of the W16 to its coach-built body to all its design cues, it’s a celebration of Bugatti’s past. Everything that made the company great through its speed records, racing heritage and stunning designs. The future of Bugatti certainly looks bright with the Tourbillon, but it’ll simply never be the same. The Brouillard is very much the embodiment of that past coming out swinging, one final time.

F1rstMotors Facts and Figures

Manufacturer	Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S
Model	Brouillard
Year of Release	2026
Engine	8.0L Quad-Turbo W16
Horsepower	1578hp
Torque	1180 lb–ft
0–62mph (100km/h)	2.5 seconds
Top Speed	261mph (420 km/h)
Weight	1,995kg (2 tonnes)
Power to Weight	791 hp per tonne
Gearbox	8–speed Dual Clutch
Driven Wheels	All Wheel Drive
Amount Built	1

Source: Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S