Bugatti Waving Goodbye to Magnificent W16 Engine

Undoubtedly, Bugatti is one of the most respected supercar makers. It has one of the wildest powerplants ever used in four-wheel vehicles, namely the quad-turbocharged W16. This engine is not a joke at all. The one powering the Veyron develops 1200 HP while the newer unit found in the Chiron and Divo puts out nearly 1500 HP.

According to the company’s CEO Stephan Winkelmann, the W16 engine is an irreplaceable product. Indeed, it can be regarded as the soul of Bugatti’s road monsters. So once it reaches the end of its life cycle, there will be no replacement for it. In his interview with CarAdvice, Winkelmann said that it’s just a matter of time before “the legislation will force everybody to take radical steps”.

Winkelmann further stated that there will be no more new W16 produced, which means that the Divo will be the last model to inherit the monstrous motor. It’s kind of sad, because the W16 is such an incredible engine which is famous for its enormous power, and that’s what attracts a lot of enthusiasm.

Of course fans want the engine to remain and continue to be developed. No, even Bugatti wants the same thing and will do whatever it can to make the W16 live longer. But change is change, sooner or later it will be necessary. Especially in the era of hybridization like today. Bugatti thinks something needs to be done to anticipate future regulations.

Cars like the Veyron, Chiron and Divo are well-known for their outstanding performance, and Bugatti understands very well that a big change in technology shouldn’t make it lose the aptitude it has for offering a usual high-performance at the W16-level.

Winkelmann suggested that such a performance with a hybrid system is achievable if the weight of the batteries can be drastically trimmed. In addition, emission levels should also be adjusted to the acceptable standards. And more importantly, these optimizations combined should produce a solution that can satisfy Bugatti’s customers.