Most supercar hybrids use turbos but Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac said 'no thanks' and built this instead
Published on Jun 08, 2025 at 1:21 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 04, 2025 at 4:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has revealed why he didn’t opt for a turbocharged hybrid drivetrain for the Bugatti Tourbillon, despite it being a popular choice among other carmakers.
The Bugatti Tourbillon was unveiled in June last year as a successor to the legendary Chiron.
The upcoming supercar is being kept to a strictly limited production run of just 250 units.
And if you were hoping to get your hand on one, you’d need to part with $4.1 million.
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Pre-production tests for the Bugatti Tourbillon are currently underway, and it was recently spotted being put through its paces in extreme UAE temperatures.
As you’d expect from Bugatti, the supercar is set to be a powerful beast, kitted out with a Cosworth-developed, naturally aspirated, 8.3-liter V16 engine and a trio of electric motors that offer a combined output of 1,775hp.
Impressive stuff.
In a recent interview with Top Gear, Mate Rimac appeared to take a cheeky swipe at other hybrid supercars while explaining why Bugatti had decided against using a turbocharged engine.
He explained that by forgoing the turbochargers, Bugatti was able to keep the Tourbillon at a much lighter weight and therefore could offer more power.
He also noted that it gives the car a better range without needing to fire up that powerful V16.
“I have driven them all and I don’t get it really,” he said. “Why would you have a hybrid powertrain with a turbo engine? Like, a turbo engine is a compromise on its own, right?
“By going from turbo to naturally aspirated, we lost 600bhp. I knew we could more than make up for it with the electric powertrain. So the electric powertrain enabled the cool combustion engine.
“In the Tourbillon, you have 70km (43 miles) of all-electric range while others in electric mode are super limited.”
On the road, all that power translates to speed, and the Tourbillon can do 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in just two seconds and 0-124mph (0-200km/h) in less than five seconds.
It has a top speed of 277mph (445km/h) with the use of a speed key and is limited to 236mph (380km/h) without.
The Tourbillon is slated to go into production next year.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
