Old man Enzo was so confident in the superiority of his motoring creations that he discarded the car’s aerodynamics as unnecessary to beat the competition. Then Ford knocked the winner’s champagne bottle out of the Italian’s hands in 1966 (and the following three Le Mans races). Powertrains alone weren’t enough to take checkered flags.
Ferrari was wrong – it wasn’t his only time – and carmakers had relied on cheating air resistance long before 1960. Chrysler developed the Airflow in the early 30s using a wind tunnel and turned to space engineers to shape out the famous winged warriors of 1969 and 1970 (the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Road Runner Superbird).
Aerodynamics isn’t just for going fast(er/est); it’s also for burning less fuel/draining less battery power over a given distance at a given speed. In other words, money- and planet-saving purposes. However, certain speed lords discard money out of the equation entirely because they build cars for filthy-rich customers. Summarized in a single word, this paragraph would be spelled like this: B u g a t t i.
Bugatti doesn’t simply make obscenely expensive and fast automobiles by adding more cylinders to the engines (although it sure seems like it if we look at the last two decades). The absurdly rapid machines rely primarily on aerodynamics to push the land speed milestone ever higher. And splitting the air at 400 kph (250 mph) is vital when there’s no roof over the two occupants.
This year, the W16 Mistral will begin delivery to the 99 customers who coughed up the €5 million ($5.4 million at the February 2024 exchange rate) for one. The hypercar is the final bow to the iconic sixteen-cylinder engine that debuted in 2004 on the ungodly Veyron.
Ranging in power from 1,000 to 1,618 PS (986 to 1,600 hp), depending on its Bugatti application, the famous W16 engine bids farewell to the Combustion Age in the W16 Mistral open-top bullet. The car was built with aerodynamics as its foundation, with digital simulations allowing the teams of engineers and designers to direct the air streams with microscopic accuracy.
To be fair, it wasn’t as much as getting to that speed of 420 kph (261 mph) that was the challenge (the Chiron Super Sport 300+ raised the bar at over 300 mph). The goal was to get there without shattering the driver’s and passenger’s eardrums from either noise or air pressure.
The brainiacs fiddled with the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software before going to the analog wind tunnel. The result was a profile that deviates airflow around and over the cabin and straight into the gaping intakes for the engine and its lubricant, transmission, and coolant radiators. That’s the main reason for the car’s reshaped horseshoe grille. The widened center-front intake forces air toward the central radiator, thus cooling the quad-turbo eight-liter W16 monster.
Bugatti’s latest creation, the Mistral, is a true marvel of engineering. With its exhaust-gasses-actuated compressors and carbon-fiber-enforced ducts, this car is built for speed. The air intakes not only provide a boost in performance but also serve as crash bars, ensuring the safety of the occupants in case of a rollover.
But it’s not just about power and safety, the Mistral is also designed with aerodynamics in mind. The spoiler channels air to the rear wing, creating optimal downforce for maximum stability. The headlamp design funnels air through the lights and out through the wheel arch, reducing aerodynamic drag. And let’s not forget about the iconic taillights, which effectively suck the air out of the car, creating a low-pressure zone.
Under the hood, the Mistral boasts Bugatti’s legendary W16 engine. Over the past two decades, engineers have managed to upgrade this powerhouse by over 60% in terms of raw output. From its humble beginnings in the Veyron, which scored 1,001 PS on the dyno, to the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which reached an astounding speed of 304.773 mph, Bugatti continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the fast-driving business.
As the final example of the Mistral prepares to leave the Molsheim Atelier, it carries with it the legacy of the W16 engine. This engine has become synonymous with Bugatti’s pursuit of speed and performance. It’s a testament to the dedication and expertise of the engineers who have worked tirelessly to make this car a reality.
In conclusion, the Bugatti Mistral is a true masterpiece. From its innovative design to its record-breaking performance, this car is a force to be reckoned with. The legacy of the W16 engine lives on in the Mistral, ensuring that Bugatti’s commitment to excellence will continue to inspire awe in the world of fast cars.
