Bugatti president Mate Rimac has grand plans for the brand’s future, and they go well beyond the upcoming V16 Tourbillon hypercar. He wants to take full advantage of the company’s newfound freedom with Volkswagen and Porsche out of the equation. And being a car nut himself, Rimac is more in touch with what gets people excited than many other CEOs out there.
Case in point, he recently spoke to TopGear about some of his ideas, suggesting that a lightweight Bugatti model might be the next port of call beyond the Tourbillon. But what really caught our attention was his statement about the transmission hypothetically fitted in that future supercar.
A Manual Bugatti Is A Very Real Possibility
Bugatti Tourbillon Close-upBugatti
The Bugatti boss said the Tourbillon is more of a platform, not a bespoke architecture designed for a single model. And he gladly entertained the idea of a manual gearbox finding its way into a lighter, more nimble Bugatti based on said platform – no simulated wizardry; the real thing. “Having the company independent from any car manufacturer, we can really think long-term and do bold things. And we will do lots of cool stuff,” Rimac told TopGear.
When asked about the stick potentially showing up in future Bugattis, his response was short but firm. “Absolutely. You bet.” That creates plenty of room for speculation on how it might be implemented, because pairing the Tourbillon’s 1,775-horsepower hybrid V16 with a manual transmission is no piece of cake.
How Would This Idea Be Put Into Practice?
2027 Bugatti Tourbillon V16 EngineBugatti
One way Bugatti could go about this is to get rid of stuff like the hybrid system and dual-clutch transmission, so as to let that sweet 8.3-liter V16 do all the talking. That would significantly reduce the vehicle’s weight and still leave you with just under 1,000 ponies, which seems to align rather well with Mate Rimac’s objectives.
At the same time, though, Bugatti could also opt for more power with the help of turbos or a simpler hybrid arrangement, while finding a way to make the clutch and gearbox handle the colossal oomph. Hennessey managed it with the 1,817-hp Venom F5-M, so why wouldn’t Bugatti be able to pull it off, as well? But, once again, keep in mind that we’re only speculating at this point.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Mate Rimac gave us some fascinating insights into the next chapter of Bugatti’s story after the hybrid Tourbillon, and we’re thrilled to learn that a manual will be part of it. This is a good example of why Rimac is often thought of as a visionary, always staying one step ahead and planning the next big thing.
It will certainly take a while for his plans to materialize, as Bugatti will be pretty busy with Tourbillon production until 2029. But we’re inclined to think our patience will be rewarded generously, and Mate Rimac’s recent statements do a pretty great job at bolstering our confidence even further. Honestly, we’re already aching to see what will come of his plans.
Source: TopGear
