Rimac Steered Bugatti Toward V16 Instead of All-Electric Tourbillon
Before Rimac took control, Volkswagen considered making the Bugatti Chiron's successor a fully electric model. Mate Rimac instead argued for a V16-powered Tourbillon. The decision shaped Bugatti's latest hypercar around a combustion engine rather than batteries alone.
Before Rimac gained control of Bugatti, Volkswagen weighed an all-battery replacement for the Chiron. Mate Rimac pushed a different path: a V16-powered Tourbillon. That choice defined the newest Bugatti hypercar around an internal-combustion engine rather than relying solely on electric power.
The episode highlights a strategic fork for ultra-luxury performance cars: electrification versus preserving a combustion-focused identity. The Tourbillon's direction reflects Rimac's argument within that decision, according to the available account.
The decision may matter most to luxury-car buyers, engineers, and enthusiasts who associate Bugatti with dramatic combustion engines. It could also influence how other high-end brands weigh battery-only plans against hybrid or combustion options. For the wider public, effects may be indirect, potentially shaping perceptions of automotive innovation and the pace of electrification in low-volume performance segments rather than everyday vehicles.