Rimac Opts for V16 Over Electric Power

After Mate Rimac joined Bugatti alongside Porsche in 2021, Volkswagen Group initially envisioned an electric successor to the Chiron. Rimac, however, insisted on a clean-sheet design centered around a naturally aspirated V16 as the foundation of a hybrid powertrain.

Rimac’s experience with the Nevera had convinced him that there were too few buyers for ultra-expensive electric hypercars to justify making Bugatti’s flagship a pure EV. After Dieselgate, VW was pushing hard into electrification, and a battery-powered hypercar would have suited that strategy.

According to Rimac, “When we started discussing with VW about our ownership of Bugatti and the future of Bugatti, they were pushing me to make the next Bugatti electric.” He already had the hardware to do it, with the Nevera offering four-wheel drive, a 400-km/h top speed, and the comfort of a cruiser.

Market feedback changed Rimac’s mind, and he decided to make the Tourbillon a V16 plug-in hybrid. Nevera sales reinforced that conviction, with only 71 of the 1,914-horsepower EVs sold against a planned run of 150 units.

The decision produced the Cosworth-powered Tourbillon, separate from Rimac Automobili.

Speaking about future plans, Rimac said, “There are so many cool Bugattis we have planned in the product portfolio. We know what we want to bring to the market for the next 10 years. It’s fine art on four wheels.”