The morning of 15 February 2023 saw storms rolling across our little island, but over at 45 Leng Kee, it was instead excitement over the arrival of a new and exotic car that was building in the air.
The day saw the arrival of the Bugatti W16 Mistral here in Singapore, for members of the media to view.
Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti, was present at the event to teach more about the design of the Mistral Named after the cold and north-westerly wind that makes its way through southern France, the Mistral is making a stop in Singapore as part of a world tour that has seen the car already making stops in Europe, the Middle East, and Japan.
And what a car it is. This Bugatti W16 Mistral, of course, was considered the final model that would get the firm's iconic W16 quad-turbo engine when it was announced.
This, however, changed in December 2022 when Bugatti revealed that it would put a one-off Chiron Profilee up for auction. Also equipped with the W16 engine, this Chiron Profilee entered the record books as the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. Bugatti has been utilising the W16 engine since it first revealed the Veyron in 2005.
The gear shifter of the W16 Mistral features an amber insert that houses a copy of Rembrandt Bugatti's famous dancing elephant sculpture Not that this fact should take away any of the exotica of the W16 Mistral. Originally designed to take the spot as the world's fastest roadster, its engine pushes out a total of 1,557bhp, placing it on par with the Chiron Super Sport 300+.
And it has a body fit for cutting through the Rhone valley at speed as well. Present at the event was Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti, who explained how close attention to airflow was considered and determined the design of the Mistral.
The design of the head lights, for example, have been intricately carved so as to optimise airflow along the side of the car, whether it is forcing air out of the wheel well for stability at speed, or to compact it into the side intakes that feed that engine's intercoolers.
Bugatti will be retiring the 8.0-litre W16 engine after all 99 examples of the Mistral are completed Also interesting on the Bugatti W16 Mistral are the integrated intakes within the roll-over hoops, designed to ram air into the engine while bringing the roar of the 8.0-litre engine closer to the driver and passenger.
Connoisseurs of the marque will recognise how the Bugatti W16 Mistral takes after both the Divo and La Voiture Noire at the front, while the stunning X-shaped taillights at the rear take after those first seen on the Bolide, fitting touches for a car that marks the end of an era for the firm.
Only 99 examples of this Bugatti W16 Mistral are going to be built, each priced from $7.15 million ($5 million Euro). Deliveries of the Bugatti Mistral will start in 2024, but you won't be able to get your hands on one, as all units are already accounted for.
The day saw the arrival of the Bugatti W16 Mistral here in Singapore, for members of the media to view.
And what a car it is. This Bugatti W16 Mistral, of course, was considered the final model that would get the firm's iconic W16 quad-turbo engine when it was announced.
This, however, changed in December 2022 when Bugatti revealed that it would put a one-off Chiron Profilee up for auction. Also equipped with the W16 engine, this Chiron Profilee entered the record books as the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. Bugatti has been utilising the W16 engine since it first revealed the Veyron in 2005.
And it has a body fit for cutting through the Rhone valley at speed as well. Present at the event was Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti, who explained how close attention to airflow was considered and determined the design of the Mistral.
The design of the head lights, for example, have been intricately carved so as to optimise airflow along the side of the car, whether it is forcing air out of the wheel well for stability at speed, or to compact it into the side intakes that feed that engine's intercoolers.
Connoisseurs of the marque will recognise how the Bugatti W16 Mistral takes after both the Divo and La Voiture Noire at the front, while the stunning X-shaped taillights at the rear take after those first seen on the Bolide, fitting touches for a car that marks the end of an era for the firm.
Only 99 examples of this Bugatti W16 Mistral are going to be built, each priced from $7.15 million ($5 million Euro). Deliveries of the Bugatti Mistral will start in 2024, but you won't be able to get your hands on one, as all units are already accounted for.
