The horological world is often influenced by the automotive world, but not so much the other way around. Today, Bugatti flipped that script with the introduction of the new Tourbillon hypercar named after the specific and special mechanical movement feature invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1795 to improve accuracy while resisting gravity’s effects. Sit in the driver’s seat, and watch fans will find yet more delightful nods to their hobby.

The Chiron that Bugatti debuted back in 2016 is a car that makes you feel like Superman on any road, and at any speed. And, as a fan, this new release from the team at Molsheim is something to stand up for (or sit down for, as it were) as a gearhead. It promises to elevate the already ridiculous performance capabilities of the outgoing car while looking absolutely stunning doing it.

While most manufacturers are going the way of turbocharged, smaller engines as the industry moves into a hybridized or all-out electric era, Mate Rimac who heads Bugatti-Rimac has made it clear what his thoughts are on the matter. When it comes to the heart of the new Tourbillon, they shoved in a 9,500 rpm redline, 8.3 liter V16 (not a typo) connected to 3 powerful electric motors producing a pavement warping 1800 hybridized horsepower and equally astounding performance stats to accompany it. 

What are those performance stats you wonder? Well, zero-to-60 in 2.0 seconds to start, and it only gets more impressive from there. In five seconds, you’re at 124 MPH, in 10 seconds, you’re already at 184 MPH and you’re passing 236 mph 15 seconds after that. With a top speed of 276 MPH, there isn’t a doubt that this isn’t an absolutely astounding machine when it comes to performance. It’s also lighter than the Chiron, bucking the trend of hybrid cars being heavier than their non-hybrid predecessors

Bugatti doesn’t stop at impressive performance statistics. They build cars that become icons of aesthetic admiration as well, and the Tourbillon doesn’t back down from that reputation in the slightest. The lines are graceful and brutal at the same time. The Tourbillon looks stunning standing still with its graceful profile, or at 250mph-plus — at least, what you could see of it coming up in your rear view mirror with its purposefully menacing front facia, then flying by showing its meaty tire-exposing, diffuser-dominated rear. In a world of increasingly questionable modern automotive design, the Tourbillon is a winner to my eyes. 

While I can’t comment on the drive of the Tourbillon yet, I will laud Bugatti for putting such a unique NA motor in the Tourbillon. And it draws a parallel to a car I know and love: the Porsche 918 Spyder. While the 918 Spyder has half the cylinders (and half the horsepower) as the Bugatti, the way the electric motors fill the normal low torque output of lower RPM’s of its race-derived v8 makes for an instantly “whoa” level fast experience at literally any speed.

I can only imagine the Tourbillon multiplies that “wow” factor in ways that’ll likely wear out your wallet as the latest officer requests your license and registration and asks if you know how fast you were going. 

In my experience, Bugatti ties epic performance with a level of luxury and comfort fitting of a multi-million dollar hypercar in a way that no other manufacturer does. This car won’t be an exception. The interior looks absolutely incredible and has an even more low slung seating position than the Chiron has. 

At the center of the driver’s seat is a rather stunning gauge cluster harkening to this Bugatti’s namesake. In this case, it was created in collaboration with the Swiss watch movement manufacturer Concepto, and it looks incredibly cool, and naturally horological surrounded by the floating steering wheel. I’m skeptical from a functional perspective when a lot of wheel input is needed, but I’ll reserve final thoughts for when/if I manage to get behind the wheel of one. That’ll hopefully be something one of my friends will let me do once they get theirs…until then, I’ll be drooling along with the rest of the automotive world!

Learn more on Bugatti’s website here