logo
Plenty of rain and no roof! We drive the £5.2mil Bugatti Mistral

Plenty of rain and no roof! We drive the £5.2mil Bugatti Mistral

Auto Express16-07-2025
Comparing a Bugatti to a 'normal' car is probably like comparing Concorde and a paper aeroplane. The Mistral – on behalf of all W16-era models – represents a place and time in humanity's engineering journey that broke boundaries and pushed the limits of what a road car could be. Yet what's most incredible is how easy the Mistral is to use, and how beautifully polished its driving experience is. Advertisement - Article continues below
Few modern brands command as much reverence as Bugatti. This iconic manufacturer of ultra-luxury cars has always seemed to operate in a vacuum, building the most exquisite and finely formed cars, irrespective of cost. This isn't just in terms of the quality of leather used on the seats or its carbon-fibre body work, but the otherworldly engineering that goes into every single nut and bolt. It's always a privilege to drive a Bugatti, but to drive the Mistral – which is the last, and one of the most expensive, of this generation – well, that's bucket list stuff.
But what is the Mistral? Named after a strong wind in southern France, its limited-run of 99 units is a celebration of the Chiron era, fitted with a completely bespoke open-top body and a powertrain derived from the wild, record-breaking Chiron Super Sport 300+. In fact, to call it a powertrain is probably something of a disservice, because it's arguably better likened to the propulsion units of steampunk locomotives – something that isn't without precedent, given that Bugatti's pre-war straight-eight did power high-speed trains during the second world war. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View e-208 View 500L View Stonic
The Mistral's W16, though, is far more sophisticated than anything connected to rail tracks, with eight litres of swept capacity and four turbochargers providing incredible thrust without any electronic assistance. Power is rated at 1,577bhp, with 1,600Nm of torque driving all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. These figures might lack genuine shock and awe in the age of electric hypercars, but as we'll come to, the ability to generate such performance through purely mechanical means is quite a different experience. Advertisement - Article continues below
An acceleration time almost seems arbitrary, but the 0-62mph time of 2.5 seconds is still impressive. Yet like all modern Bugattis, this hypercar is more about ultimate speed and this is where the Mistral blows the competition into the weeds. Most customer models like the one we're driving today are limited to 260mph, but Bugatti was able to hit an astounding 282.03mph with a one-off customer car painted in the iconic carbon and orange livery that goes with all its record-breaking models. Being macabre for a second, I can't help but wonder what would happen if you were to put your hand up into the airstream at 280mph.
Of course there's so much more detail to drink in, such as the exquisite exposed carbon-fibre body or the timeless interior, but our time is limited and we're here to drive it. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Walking towards the Mistral from a distance, you notice just how tightly packaged a modern Bugatti is. Yes, the engine is roughly four times the size of the average ICE engine, and it comes with four times as many turbos, but sitting within the compact two-seater carbon-fibre chassis, the car feels no bigger or more intimidating to drive than an Audi TT.
Those early comparisons from back when the Veyron was new have stuck, it seems, but even after the engine has whumped into life and you're under way, it might even be easier to drive than a TT. That's because it instantly feels approachable. There's a lot of moving parts only centimetres away from you, but the twin-clutch box slurs its gears effortlessly, and there's no gnashing of driveline components or suspension parts despite their need to withstand speeds four times higher than the UK's national speed limit. Advertisement - Article continues below
Yet what keeps it from feeling a little too easy or benign is the incredible noise coming from behind you. A W16 isn't as inherently musical as a V12, but there is a unique combination of deep, guttural sounds that you feel as much as hear. This is overlaid by a symphony of whooshes from the turbochargers, reiterating that steampunk overtone. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
By now we're out on bigger roads, and rain that's threatened all morning is now falling. As any convertible driver knows, driving faster stops you from getting wet, right? So that's what I do. Push the throttle pedal down into its travel and you can sense that there's a whole array of components working in harmony to deliver performance. Given the highly turbocharged nature of the engine, torque swells at low revs, and does so more than quickly enough to require your full concentration, even with four driven wheels to share it.
At around 4,500rpm, though, the quite old-fashioned manner in which the turbochargers spool comes to light, because you can actually hear a solenoid switch the airflow from just feeding two turbochargers into all four. Now, the Mistral is capable of firing you down the road without any care for such things like physics. The feeling is completely different to the 2,000bhp electric hypercars that achieve their performance – impressive though it is – without much in the way of pomp and circumstance. Advertisement - Article continues below
It's totally addictive, and even though I'm ensuring I measure out my inputs because it's now raining torrentially (to the point that streams of water enter the cabin over the top of the windscreen and side windows) it's thrilling to the point of exasperation. No wonder dictators find it so hard to give up access to state-owned militaries; this type of power at the hands of one person is something quite incredible.
When the roads eventually dry out a little, the next discovery is just how wonderfully agile and finely honed the ride and handling package is alongside that incredible engine. Costing over £5.2m, the Mistral was always going to be made up from only the best components, but there's a sophistication and polish to all the driving elements that really takes me by surprise. Whether it be the steering, the ride quality over rough roads, or the oily slickness of the drivetrain itself, the Bugatti reeks of quality like no other car.
Unfortunately time, weather and the local road laws prevent me from digging deeper into extraordinary car's talents, but even with this small level of exposure, it makes perfect sense how and why Bugatti has been able to convince its customers to part with literally millions of pounds for the past 20 years in its modern era.
So while £5.2m is a lot for a car, the Mistral doesn't really feel like just a car. Instead, it's an example of humanity's debonair creativity that can only be unlocked when those sorts of numbers are involved. But as one chapter closes with the Mistral and its iconic W16 engine, so will the door open to another with the new Bugatti Tourbillion – we can't even begin to fathom what it has in store. Model: Bugatti Mistral Price: £5.2million Powertrain: 8.0-litre, W16 turbo petrol Power/torque: 1577bhp/1,600Nm Transmission: 7-speed auto, all-wheel drive 0-62mph: 2.5 seconds Top speed: 260mph Economy/CO2: 13mpg/495g/km Size (L/W/H): 4,544/2,162/1,212mm On sale: Sold out
Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals… Share this on Twitter Share this on Facebook Email New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail
The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail
The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Customisable fleet software key to Renault's bold van plan
Customisable fleet software key to Renault's bold van plan

Auto Car

time23 minutes ago

  • Auto Car

Customisable fleet software key to Renault's bold van plan

Renault aims to shore up its position as one of the UK's three most popular van makers with a new range of software-defined LCVs that promise to meet the exacting individual needs of all fleet operators. Renault was the UK's third most popular van manufacturer in June, with 2584 registrations versus Volkswagen's 3452 and long-time market leader Ford's 9902 - with the Transit one of the country's best-selling vehicles overall, not just the most popular van.

New Maserati flagship could get V6 and MANUAL gearbox!
New Maserati flagship could get V6 and MANUAL gearbox!

Auto Car

timean hour ago

  • Auto Car

New Maserati flagship could get V6 and MANUAL gearbox!

Maserati and Alfa boss reveals plan for two firms to collaborate once again on a limited-run supercar Close News Maserati is considering a new flagship super-GT with V6 power and a manual gearbox as part of a drive to emphasise its sporting heritage and strengthen the brand's luxury credentials. Set to be a limited-run creation, the new top-rung Maserati could be launched as early as next year as the most exclusive and powerful combustion-engined car the firm has produced since the MC12 landed two decades ago. It is tipped to be based on the Granturismo and will be twinned with an equivalent Alfa Romeo model, similar to the way in which the new Alfa 33 Stradale is based on Maserati's MC20. Speaking to Autocar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month, Santo Ficili, who is CEO of both marques, said: 'We have infinite possibilities to customise products for our customers, for the entire range of Maserati. I'm imagining to do something like we did in the past, also considering Alfa Romeo.' Ficili referenced previous collaborations between the two firms, highlighting that the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was based on the previous Maserati Granturismo and built alongside that car at Maserati's plant in Modena, where the later 4C sports coupé was also produced. More recently, Alfa Romeo turned to Maserati to provide the basis for the new 33 Stradale supercar, which shares its basic monocoque chassis and twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with the mid-engined MC20 (now rebadged MCPura). 'We built the 4C and 8C in Modena, so why not?' said Ficili of the prospect of another limited-run supercar tie-up. 'We can imagine a 'few-off' Maserati. It's easy, because you can look at the past of these two brands, and you can find a nice car like the 33 Stradale, and we can invent something like this.' Ficili stopped short of describing in more detail his vision for a new bespoke creation but suggested the aim is to use the new flagship to celebrate Maserati's Nettuno V6 engine, as used in the Granturismo, Grecale and MCPura. 'It's a masterpiece,' he said. It is likely that any V6-powered limited-run special would ramp up the Nettuno's output beyond the 621bhp of the MCPura, in line with a price that would be well in excess of that car's £230,000, but the firm is unlikely to use electrification to achieve that power boost. Maserati engineering boss Davide Danesin said: 'There are still customers looking for pure mechanical cars.' He added that there is a 'bad feeling' about having a battery on board a supercar, due to the heightened complexity and extra weight it brings. The Nettuno's 'super-advanced' pre-chamber combustion technology and twin injection system help to cut emissions and boost performance, he said, and the engine is 'getting to 210hp per litre with very efficient combustion'. That figure is why the MCPura can remain a pure-combustion car and it means Maserati can keep the V6 in production with the same power once Euro 7 regulations are in force. Giving further clues to what a limited-run Maserati supercar could look like, Danesin even dropped a hint that it could reintroduce a manual gearbox to Maserati's ranks for the first time in years. He said: 'A manual gearbox is an opportunity. I don't see that in big series [production], but why not do a special version with a manual gearbox? No reason to say never. It could be the right choice for a limited edition of a car.' He added that a manual gearbox would emphasise the 'pure', analogue ethos of a Maserati supercar. 'By doing a purely mechanical car, it does make sense to have a mechanical gearbox with a shifter,' he said. 'So why not? It fulfils perfectly the brand. It fulfils perfectly our approach and the mindset. So honestly, I think one day we'll do it.' Ficili said he plans to emphasise Maserati's Italian heritage going forward, adding that the company's headquarters in Modena – 'the middle of Motor Valley' – is 'the right place' to build sports cars. The firm will shortly begin production of the Granturismo and Grancabrio at its factory there once again, having built the current generation at Fiat's Mirafiori plant since 2023. Any new V6 special edition will be closely related to those cars. Neither Danesin nor Ficili gave any indication of when this new supercar could break cover, but next year will be the 100th anniversary of the launch of Maserati's first car, the Tipo 26 grand prix racer that won Italy's legendary Targa Florio endurance race on its first competitive outing in 1926. The following year, Alfa Romeo launched the venerable 6C 1500 sports car, which went on to win the Mille Miglia and the Spa 24 Hours. An Alfa Romeo version of Maserati's next limited-run sports car would no doubt celebrate the centenary of that seminal model. Alfa has already confirmed it will reveal a second supercar in 2026 from its new 'Bottega' division for limited-run cars, which launched with the 33 Stradale. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with

New boss hails 'near-perfect race' from rejuvenated Lawson
New boss hails 'near-perfect race' from rejuvenated Lawson

Reuters

time2 hours ago

  • Reuters

New boss hails 'near-perfect race' from rejuvenated Lawson

July 28 (Reuters) - Liam Lawson endured a miserable start to the Formula One season but eighth place at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday meant points for the third time in the last six races for the rejuvenated New Zealander. Brutally dumped by Red Bull and relegated to the Racing Bulls team after only two races, Lawson failed to register on the drivers' championship standings for the first seven rounds of the season. Sunday's race was delayed by 80 minutes due to wet weather but when it finally got underway, Lawson made the switch to dry tyres at just the right time and eased away from Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto to take another four points. Lawson, who had qualified ninth, was fully appreciative of the way the team's strategy worked out and is hungry for more points at Hungaroring next weekend. "I really enjoyed today. Often in those conditions you just want to survive, so I'm very happy for the team and how everything came together," the 23-year-old said. "It's always tricky when you cross over to a dry tyre when it's damp, but the car was fast and in clean air we had great pace. "We need to keep the momentum rolling forward and make sure we enter the summer break on a high." In keeping with what has been a chaotic year for the two Red Bull-owned outfits on the grid, Lawson was working under his third team boss of the season at Spa-Francorchamps. The sacking two weeks ago of Christian Horner, who had handed Lawson the Red Bull seat only to take it away, meant a promotion for Racing Bulls' team principal Laurent Mekies. Racing director Alan Permane, who has stepped into the breach as team principal at the junior team, could not have been happier with the way Lawson performed. "Liam had a near-perfect race, he managed his tyres exceptionally well, both on the intermediates and on the dry tyre," he said. "He was strong and able to comfortably pull away from Bortoleto behind and was very happy with the car overall."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store