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1,600-hp Bugatti Mistral roadster marks the end of the line for the W16 engine

Bugatti's mighty W16 engine will retire in the coming years, but it's not sailing off into the sunset quietly. It will power one final street-legal car: a roadster named Mistral that stands proud as the first convertible of the Chiron era. Built due to customer demand, the Bugatti Mistral is a striking, limited-edition model that looks ready to add another speed record to the French firm's trophy case. I sat down with some of the people who created it, including Bugatti design director Achim Anscheidt and head of design Frank Heyl, to get the droptop's full story. "For the final road-going appearance of Bugatti’s legendary W16 engine, we knew we had to create a roadster. Well over 40% of all Bugatti vehicles ever created have been open-top in design," said Bugatti-Rimac CEO Mate Rimac. Heyl added that customers "begged" Bugatti to create a Chiron-derived convertible, and that granting them this wish was a "bucket-list" item for the members of his team. Power for the Mistral comes from the same 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine that propelled the Chiron Super Sport 300+ to a record-breaking 304.773 mph in 2019. It's rated at 1,600 horsepower, and it spins the four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Bugatti estimates that the Mistral's top speed will check in at approximately 261 mph (420 kph). Will this number get verified? Hell, yes! "There can only be one goal in mind: to become the fastest roadster in the world once more," Bugatti pledged in a statement. While the Mistral is Chiron-based, Bugatti made several important structural changes to offset the inevitable loss of structural rigidity caused by chopping off the roof. Heyl explained that the monocoque's sills and transmission tunnel were reinforced and that the a- and b-pillar structures are new, though the front crash structure is the same. And, the two models intentionally share no exterior styling cues. "We had the pressure of creating something that is precious and valuable in a car collector's garage. It's not just a fashion statement: 'Oh, let's do a roadster!' Or, even worse, 'Let's take a Chiron and just cut it open,' which would have looked terrible. This burdens us with the responsibility that this is the last of its kind of that generation and how that's going to sit in those collections," Anscheidt told Autoblog.

Bugatti's next model could have 4 doors, electrified powertrain

Back in 2009, Bugatti showed a four-door concept called the Galibier, and it seemed like it would make it to production. That project stalled out, though, sidelined during the development of the Chiron. The idea of a four-door Bugatti hasn't been completely discarded, though, and, as Automotive News reports, the supercar manufacturer might ready the car for 2024. "The four-door car is not dead," Bugatti President Wolfgang Durheimer told Automotive News at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the automaker showed a Chiron that set a 0-249-0 speed record of 42 seconds. Durheimer also suggested it would be Bugatti's sole model, as he said, "For the time I can foresee, [Bugatti] will be a one-model brand." The Chiron will be Bugatti's model for eight years, with replacement scheduled around 2024 or 2025. Bugatti hasn't decided on the powertrain for its next model, and is considering all its options, be they internal combustion, electric or hybrid. What matters, Durheimer said, is that it provides the level of performance Bugatti customers expect from the brand. Bugatti also considered electrifying the Chiron's powertrain, but, Durheimer said, abandoned the idea due to weight and packaging challenges. The company was still able to achieve 1,500 horsepower through traditional means. Related Video: Related Gallery Bugatti 16C Galibier concept View 11 Photos News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Bugatti Green Bugatti Electric Hybrid Luxury Performance Frankfurt 2017 Bugatti Chiron wolfgang durheimer bugatti galibier

Bugatti SUV is a possibility, automaker's president says

If you think of luxury brands related to the sprawling Volkswagen group, quite a few of them have an SUV in their model portfolio. Porsche offers several, Bentley has the Bentayga, Lamborghini has the Urus, and it appears that Bugatti is also considering expanding its lineup to a high-riding vehicle. At least that's what company president Stephan Winkelmann is saying. Currently, Bugatti makes the Chiron in various guises, and it also showed the Divo at the Paris Motor Show. Speaking to Automotive News at the Paris show, Winkelmann said that "the brand is ready for more," and that while the W16 engine is currently the focal point of the storied carmaker, it needn't always be so. "The W-16 engine is at the core of the brand today, but it won't remain the heart forever." Winkelmann said the company is evaluating engine and chassis options, as well as a possible name for an SUV. Last month, Winkelmann told Car Advice that the 1,500-horsepower W16 isn't irreplaceable, and that the company is thinking ahead. "This will be the last of its kind," said Winkelmann then. "Sooner or later the legislation will force everybody to take radical steps. [...] If you want to be on the edge of advanced technology, it's important you choose the right moment to change." In Paris, Winkelmann, a former Lamborghini executive, added that "a hybrid engine could be part of the future — you have consider social acceptance in terms of emissions." The numbers need to work out, as Bugatti has been making limited-edition hypercars instead of mass-produced vehicles, and an expansion like that must be justified to company shareholders. SUVs have turned out to be profitable for other manufacturers formerly known for just sports cars or luxury cars, and Lamborghini has disclosed that the Urus has been heartily welcomed in regions not normally considered supercar-friendly, such as Russia. Related Video: