Bugatti chief Rimac: A lighter Tourbillon with a manual gearbox is possible
Mate Rimac does not rule out a purist version of the V16 hypercar. Asked about a manual gearbox in a Top Gear interview, he said: "Absolutely. You bet."
Photo: Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Video: YouTube · Bugatti · youtube.com
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac floated a lighter, simpler version of the Tourbillon in an interview with British magazine Top Gear published Oct. 26. Asked whether Bugatti could also fit a manual gearbox, he replied: "Absolutely. You bet." The Tourbillon as it is now "will not be the last one that we'll do," Rimac said, pointing to "light weight and simplification of stuff."
The Tourbillon pairs an 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 with electric motors and a 25 kWh battery; combined output is 1,775 bhp, according to Top Gear, and weight 1,995 kilograms. Without the hybrid system and dual-clutch transmission, the V16 alone would deliver about 986 bhp with roughly 300 kilograms less weight, according to Top Gear. No such model has been officially announced.
An initial run of 250 cars is planned, according to Top Gear. Much of the development and production takes place at Rimac in Zagreb, with final assembly in Molsheim. The Bugatti video shows how the Tourbillon was created.