The final Bugatti Bolide has left the Molsheim Atelier in France, closing a chapter of pure automotive madness. Chassis number 40 stands as Bugatti’s final unrestrained masterpiece — and the last series-production Bugatti model to ever feature the iconic quad-turbo W16, ending the 20-year run of unprecedented combustion engineering.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Bugatti Bolide is powered by an 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine that delivers a whopping 1,850 hp and 1,850 Nm of torque. Built purely as a no-frills, track-only machine, the Bolide exists for one purpose: to push the boundaries of what’s mechanically possible.
Its aerodynamics are so extreme that they make an F-22 fighter jet look tame, generating up to 3,000 kg of downforce. Combined with a full-carbon construction and aggressive weight-saving measures, the Bolide tips the scales at just 1,450 kg (dry) — giving it an unbelievable power-to-weight ratio of 1,276 hp per tonne.
Like most “final” Bugatti models, this last Bolide is extra special compared to the 39 units that came before it. According to Bugatti, it was commissioned by “a dedicated collector and longtime friend of the marque.” Its design pays homage to the owner’s personal Bugatti Type 35 and is inspired by the colours of his Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport — which, fittingly, was also the final example of that model produced.
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The final Bugatti Bolide features a “Black Blue” and “Special Blue Lyonnais” exterior, while the interior is trimmed in “Lake Blue” Alcantara with “Light Blue Sport” stitching. Its bespoke finishes reflect the collector’s passion for motorsport and Bugatti’s racing heritage.
While the Bugatti Bolide marks the final production run of the legendary quad-turbo W16, the engine will continue to live on in the Bugatti Brouillard — which is only available through the company’s Programme Solitaire creating special one-of-one models.
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While it’s bittersweet to see the W16 retire, Bugatti, now in partnership with Rimac, has introduced a new V16 in the Bugatti Tourbillon. The car pairs an 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16 engine developed by Cosworth with a hybrid system incorporating three electric motors, delivering a total output of 1,800 hp.
The world hasn’t seen a series-production V16 since the Second World War. And just as the W16 rewrote the rulebook in 2005, this new V16 marks the beginning of something new. As the saying goes, every ending sparks a beginning — and Bugatti’s journey is far from over.
READ MORE: Bugatti Tourbillon debuts – 8.3L V16, 1800hp, 0-100 km/h in 2.0 seconds
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