Bugatti finishes final W16 Mistral, ending production of W16-powered roadster
Bugatti has completed the final W16 Mistral, a two-tone 'Pearl and Sparkle' example, closing a 99-car run and the road-going era of its W16 engine.
- 99 cars
- 453.91 km/h (282 mph)
- Over 400 km/h
- Two decades
What Happened
The final W16 Mistral has rolled out of Bugatti's Atelier in Molsheim, finished in a two-tone 'Pearl' and 'Sparkle' livery with a 'Magnolia' and 'Grey Carbon Matt' interior. The car brings to a close the W16 Mistral's production story: 99 examples built, each shaped around its own owner. The W16 Mistral was unveiled at Monterey Car Week in 2022 and became the fastest open-top production car in the world with a 453.91 km/h (282 mph) run in November 2024. The model's name reflects its status as 'the last of its kind' — the final roadgoing swansong to the W16 engine.
Unveiled at Monterey Car Week.
Andy Wallace drove the one-of-one W16 Mistral World Record Car to 453.91 km/h (282 mph) at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg.
Series production of the W16 Mistral began.
At the Silverstone Grand Prix, the World Record Car was officially handed over to its owner; earlier this month, the one-off W16 Mistral 'Blanc Éternel' was unveiled.
Sur Mesure, Bugatti's personalization program, played a major role after series production began. The Sur Mesure team in Molsheim and Berlin worked closely with customers to create deeply personal interpretations, with no two masterpieces alike. The one-off W16 Mistral 'Blanc Éternel,' unveiled earlier this month, combined digital design with the porcelain expertise of Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin. The final production example also carries a dedication plate pairing the mantra 'The last of its kind' with a silhouette of the car.
- Ettore Bugatti's signature stitched into the headrests, rendered in aluminum on the door sills, and reimagined on the engine cover's inner trim.
- An armrest plate titled 'Spirit of the Wind,' cast in frozen crystal glass by Lalique, echoing the sculpture given to W16 Mistral customers.
- A falcon head atop the gear shift in place of the usual elephant sculpture, a nod to the customer's home region in the Middle East, complemented by an 'Anthracite' sketch embroidered across the door p
453.91 km/h (282 mph)
Set by Andy Wallace in the one-of-one W16 Mistral World Record Car at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in November 2024.
Previously from Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.
Bugatti's next-generation hypercar, the Tourbillon, has been developed with extensive simulation, from virtual models to a full-motion rig, before prototypes hit the track. Michelin and Bugatti identified the optimal tire specification for the Tourbillon after months of testing at Michelin's Ladoux facility.
- How Simulation Shaped the Bugatti Tourbillon From Screen to Track
- Bugatti Tourbillon Tire Development Reaches Key Milestone at Michelin Facility
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.'s official releases.
Why this matters
The final W16 Mistral closes a two-decade chapter for Bugatti's W16 engine, which powered the Veyron and Chiron and defined the brand's modern era. The last open-top roadster is one of 99 individually commissioned cars, with customers shaping bespoke details. Bugatti now shifts attention to the Tourbillon, which will be built at its new La Manufacture atelier in Molsheim.
Terms in This Story
- W16
- A 16-cylinder engine with cylinders arranged in four banks, creating a W-shaped layout.
- Sur Mesure
- French for 'custom-made'; Bugatti's personalization program that tailors vehicles to individual customers.
- Atelier
- A workshop or studio; in luxury carmaking, the facility where vehicles are hand-assembled.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.