Bugatti W16 Mistral: A Roadster Roars Into History

First revealed in 2022 at Monterey Car Week, the Mistral stunned onlookers with its sculpted silhouette and a whisper of nostalgia. Inspired by the great Bugatti roadsters of the past – the 1934 Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid Usine, the Type 57S Corsica Roadster – the Mistral borrowed not only their wind-in-your-hair spirit but also their grace. The Mistral’s name, too, evokes motion: one of the Mediterranean’s most powerful natural winds, coursing from the French mainland to the glittering Côte d’Azur.

‍

And like its namesake, the Mistral is elemental – raw, visceral, and impossible to ignore. Beneath its bodywork lies the final iteration of the iconic 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 engine. This is the same powerhouse that once shattered records in the Veyron and Chiron, but here it sings its swan song in an open-top configuration – a thunderous mechanical aria that hits a top speed of 453.91 km/h, making it the fastest roadster in the world.

Bugatti’s engineering team has treated the Mistral like the masterwork it is. Before it ever left the prototype phase, the car was subjected to one of the most demanding testing regimes in the brand’s history. Over 40,000 kilometres of testing across mountains, deserts, traffic, and tracks ensured it would deliver not just record-breaking speed, but also reliability, safety, and elegance. Aerodynamic performance was refined down to the millimetre; crash tests were passed with international precision; and each part of the new monocoque chassis was designed to fuse strength with sensation.

‍

But even as it roars, the Mistral is never vulgar. This is automotive art. The first units delivered showcase Bugatti’s obsession with bespoke beauty: one version cloaked in Black Carbon with Bugatti Light Blue Sport accents, the other in ethereal White Glacier, trimmed in Blue Carbon, Atlantic Blue, and a touch of Italian Red. Inside, luxurious leather upholstery, carbon finishes, and intricate stitching speak to a level of craftsmanship that no automated process could ever replicate.

And then there’s the detail that ties it all together: the gear lever, each one unique, crowned with Rembrandt Bugatti’s famous Dancing Elephant sculpture – a miniature work of art milled from solid aluminium or encased in glass and hand-carved wood. It’s a nod to the Type 41 Royale, the most luxurious car ever built, and a symbol of how Bugatti never forgets its lineage, even while it breaks into the future.

‍

Production has now officially begun at the Bugatti Atelier, with the first cars already in the hands of collectors. Each is a piece of history – not just because of its exclusivity or speed, but because it represents the end of the W16 era. An era that dared to dream louder, drive faster, and refuse limits.

‍

As Bugatti turns its focus toward the Tourbillon and a new age of electrified hyper-luxury, the Mistral stands as a final, glorious encore. A roadster for the ages – breathtakingly fast, heartbreakingly beautiful, and forever unforgettable.

‍