By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
    Auto ShowsShow More
    All the Classic Genres at the 13th rendition of The Classic Car Show
    July 8, 2025
    Entries Open for The Cape 1000 – South Africa’s Most Beautiful Drive Returns for 2026
    June 10, 2025
    Ulterio Motiv Toyota Land Cruiser 6×6 and 6×4 to invade Land Cruiser Festival
    June 3, 2025
    Driving Trade Forward: AfCFTA, AGOA,BRICS and the Tariffs – All On The Menu At Automechanika CEO Breakfast
    May 9, 2025
    LDV (Maxus as Known in China) Makes a Bold Statement at Shanghai Motor Show
    April 30, 2025
  • Bikes
    BikesShow More
    25YM Honda NC750X
    May 13, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the new R 18 models
    January 22, 2025
    BMW Motorrad presents the BMW Concept F 450 GS
    November 5, 2024
    BMW Motorrad presents the new bikes
    November 1, 2024
    24YM HONDA NX500
    October 15, 2024
  • News
    NewsShow More
    LEPAS brand to launch in South Africa in 2026
    July 10, 2025
    Chery Tiggo Cross HEV: 10 fast facts
    July 9, 2025
    GWM RECOGNISED AMONG SOUTH AFRICA’S BEST
    July 9, 2025
    Kia Secures Prestigious Honours in 2025 IIHS Safety Awards
    July 9, 2025
    Stellantis Pro One announces start of production in the Italian Atessa plant
    July 8, 2025
  • Concepts
    ConceptsShow More
    Audi unveils Q6 e-tron offroad concept
    January 28, 2025
    CITROEN PRESENTS C5 AIRCROSS CONCEPT
    October 15, 2024
    Lotus Unveils Theory 1:  The Future Of Intelligent Performance
    September 23, 2024
    First sketches of Škoda Enyaq RS Race
    May 3, 2024
    W16 Mistral: the art of bringing Bugatti’s ultimate roadster to life
    January 24, 2024
  • EVs
    EVsShow More
    Volvo Car South Africa confirms third quarter arrival of new EX30 Cross Country
    June 17, 2025
    Special Envoy Launches XPress – SA’s First Full EV Courier Fleet
    June 11, 2025
    JAECOO J7 SHS debuts in South Africa with 90 km all-electric range
    June 10, 2025
    OMODA launches C9 PHEV in South Africa
    June 10, 2025
    Volvo Car South Africa reaffirms sustainability ambitions on World Environment Day
    June 5, 2025
  • Motosport
    MotosportShow More
    AFRICAN OPEN GLORY FOR TGRJA’S COETZEE
    July 8, 2025
    SAES welcomes the Maserati GT2 to compete in the championship
    July 3, 2025
    FIGHTING SPIRIT FROM TGRSA AT 2025 NRC SEASON OPENER
    July 3, 2025
    Castrol NWM Ford Team Secure Dominant Victory and Strong Finishes at Bronkhorstspruit
    July 3, 2025
    VARIAWA CLAIMS P2 AS TGRSA OPENS 2025 SARRC CAMPAIGN
    July 3, 2025
  • Trucks & Buses
    Trucks & BusesShow More
    UD Trucks Southern Africa celebrates dealers breaking barriers at 2025 awards ceremony
    June 11, 2025
    HINO KUILSRIVIER ACHIEVES PRESTIGIOUS FIRST-TIME VICTORY AS HINO DEALER OF THE YEAR
    June 10, 2025
    NAMIB MILLS RELIES ON HINO FOR RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY
    June 4, 2025
    Volvo reaches milestone with 5,000 electric trucks sold worldwide
    April 29, 2025
    HINO ONCE AGAIN ANSWERS FARMERS’ CALL FOR HELP
    April 24, 2025
  • Reviews
    ReviewsShow More
    Introducing the Ferrari Amalfi
    July 9, 2025
    Ferrari 296 Speciale: driving thrills reach new heights
    July 9, 2025
    Opel unveils next generation Grandland
    July 9, 2025
    Introducing Range Rover SV Black
    July 9, 2025
    Introducing the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Edition 1 in South Africa
    July 9, 2025
  • Tech
    TechShow More
    Volvo EX90 LiDAR and smartphone cameras: What you need to know
    June 2, 2025
    Chery unveils AiMOGA: Revolutionising the car-buying experience through intelligent robotics
    April 24, 2025
    Volvo Cars uses AI and virtual worlds with the aim to create safer cars
    March 21, 2025
    Chery drives AI innovation with DeepSeek partnership
    March 3, 2025
    Stellantis Unveils STLA AutoDrive
    February 20, 2025
Hot News
LEPAS brand to launch in South Africa in 2026
Introducing the Ferrari Amalfi
Chery Tiggo Cross HEV: 10 fast facts
Ferrari 296 Speciale: driving thrills reach new heights
GWM RECOGNISED AMONG SOUTH AFRICA’S BEST
Latest News

TOYOTA TOPS THE SALES CHARTS IN SEPTEMBER

Motosport

SA RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO VRYHEID FOR THE SECOND YEAR

Reviews

Volkswagen celebrates world premiere of the all-new Tiguan

Reviews

Xperi Connected Car

Font ResizerAa
The Auto MagazineThe Auto Magazine
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Search
  • Home
  • Auto Shows
  • Bikes
  • News
  • Concepts
  • EVs
  • Motosport
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Reviews
  • Tech
Follow US
Crafted by Intellegere Media. © 2024 The Auto Magazine. All rights reserved.
Concepts

W16 Mistral: the art of bringing Bugatti’s ultimate roadster to life

Itumeleng Garebatshabe
Last updated: January 24, 2024 12:53
By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
288 Views
6 Min Read
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Bugatti’s rich lineage of open-top performance icons is revered the world over. Influenced by a standard of engineering that pushes established boundaries, challenges design norms and sets new benchmarks, the development of the W16 Mistral opens a new chapter in the brand’s unmatched roadster legacy.

For well over a century, Bugatti has been responsible for bestowing to the world some of the finest roadsters ever created. Jean Bugatti in particular was the driving force behind many of these revered models. Created between the mid-1920s through to the late 1930s, Bugatti’s open-top automobiles were built in small numbers and with an absolute dedication to perfection. This includes the Type 40 A, the Type 41 Roadster Esders, the Type 55 Roadster and the iconic Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid Gangloff.

The W16 Mistral is a Bugatti tour-de-force; an automobile from Molsheim that is evocative, compelling and highly significant on many levels. This is, after all, Bugatti’s first roadster since the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse which premiered in 2012 – and it is also the last road-going Bugatti model that will be powered by the brand’s legendary W16 engine. It’s for these reasons – and many more – that the development program of the W16 Mistral needed to be immersed in absolute engineering excellence; in essence, it needed to be far more than simply a re-development of the Chiron.

Crafted around the definitive 1,600 PS incarnation of Bugatti’s W16 engine, the W16 Mistral offers exquisite craftsmanship and luxury that is unlike any other open top car. In its design and engineering it is completely bespoke; the existing monocoque has been reengineered and reshaped to create a more rounded silhouette that fully complies with stringent crash regulations even though the car has no roof.

As a result, a perfect matrix of flawless engineering attributes fusing performance, comfort, safety, dynamics, handling and drivability had to be delivered for the development of the car. Emilio continues: “One of the primary challenges was to meet the goal of creating a roadster that has a top speed of 420km/h and mixing this performance-defining quality with an experience in the cabin that is luxurious, refined and assured.”

This objective required careful practice of Bugatti’s ‘Form Follows Performance’ mantra, with each component designed not just to set new standards for beauty, but to also play a role in achieving completely new levels of performance. The key was to make the roadster’s architecture as rigid but lightweight as possible, so that the car’s driving dynamics would be similar to those of the Chiron. Staying true to its roadster roots, the W16 Mistral is a hyper sports car that is dynamic, agile and responsive, which meant the development team employed ultra-high performance lightweight composite materials and complex structures to minimize mass while at the same time increasing the rigidity of the chassis. This approach was also adopted for the doors of the W16 Mistral, which were a key focal point during development, featuring an innovative architectural arrangement that allows them to absorb an exceptional amount of energy in the event of a side impact, thus keeping the driver and passenger safe and secure.

Due to the new exterior design of the roadster, an all-new and highly advanced air intake system had to be created specifically for the W16 Mistral. Meanwhile innovative ram induction air scoops located behind the headrests were also designed and developed with stringent – but highly important – rollover safety tests in mind. Each ‘scoop’ is made from a bespoke carbon fiber structure that can support the whole weight of the car in case of a roll over. This new intake layout also enriches the driver’s W16 experience, emphasizing the orchestra that plays from the legendary 8-liter powertrain. It is an unmatched aural sensation in the automotive world.

Nevertheless, the soundscape inside the W16 Mistral is not limited to the visceral signature presence of the W16 engine; it is accompanied by a high-end sound system specially developed for the roadster, which makes listening to music a pleasure for the senses – even when the W16 Mistral is embarking upon a scintillating high-speed adventure, mirroring the powerful wind that the open-top Bugatti hyper sports car is named after.

Within the interior of the W16 Mistral, intricate woven leather is used on newly designed door panels, which have been meticulously tested and produced to Bugatti’s highest quality standards. In a nod to the W16 Mistral’s illustrious forebears, the gear shifter – machined from a solid block of aluminum – features an homage to Rembrandt Bugatti’s famous ‘dancing elephant’ sculpture. Iterations of this sculpture adorned the bonnet of the legendary Type 41 Royale, the most luxurious Bugatti ever created. It is a fitting connection to Bugatti’s modern day roadster masterpiece – one that seamlessly continues the brand’s long tradition of incredible roadsters that have been admired and revered for decades.

TAGGED:BugattiType 40 AType 41 Roadster EsdersType 41 RoyaleType 55 RoadsterType 57 Roadster Grand Raid GangloffW16 Mistral

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Stay Updated! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn VKontakte Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Share
ByItumeleng Garebatshabe
Editor
Follow:
Itumeleng is the Managing Editor of The Auto Magazine. He is a tech and car enthusiast

Follow US

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
TiktokFollow
TelegramFollow
Google NewsFollow
LinkedInFollow

You Might Also Like

Latest News

BUGATTI TO GROW ITS MOLSHEIM HOME

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
June 28, 2023
Latest News

Bugatti and adidas create limited edition football boot crafted for maximum speed and style

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
November 1, 2023
Latest News

Two decades of dedication for six of the Bugatti team

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
December 6, 2023
Latest News

A visionary Design – The Bugatti EB112 on its 30th anniversary

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
August 9, 2023
Latest News

The first ever “Luxury Summit hosted by Bugatti”

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
August 31, 2023
Latest News

100 years of the trailblazing Bugatti Type 32 ‘Tank’

By Itumeleng Garebatshabe
July 4, 2023

The Auto Magazine

  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
  • Bikes
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Trucks & Buses
  • Auto Shows
  • Latest News
  • Motosport

Crafted by Intellegere Media. All rights reserved. 2024

Don't not sell my personal information
Join Us!
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner