When Bugatti revealed the V16-powered Tourbillon hybrid over the summer season, we gawked at its attractive design, timeless inside and mind-bending efficiency numbers, however we hadn’t seen a lot about what it appeared like underneath the pores and skin. Now, due to Harry Metcalfe of the Harry’s Storage YouTube channel, we’re getting a more in-depth have a look at a few of the engineering that’s going into Bugatti’s newest hypercar.
Metcalfe obtained a personal tour of the 1,800-horsepower Tourbillon at Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim, France. He took a have a look at each the inoperable show automobile and the rolling chassis, which actually lets us get a deeper understanding of what kind of engineering goes into this automobile.
Wanting on the rolling chassis, Metcalfe highlights the aero and weight-savings which are going into the automobile. Regardless that the Tourbillon has a 24.8-kWh battery and three electrical motors, it’s lighter than the Chiron it replaces, thanks principally to extra carbon fiber.
Metcalfe then takes us by the Cosworth-built mammoth of an 8.3-liter V16 engine that revs to 9,000 RPM and the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that lives behind it. The unit is really a piece of engineering artwork. Apparently, there have been a number of different engine choices that had been thought-about, together with a naturally aspirated model of the W16 earlier Bugattis employed in addition to varied eight, 10 and 12-cylinder engines, however engineers determined this automobile wanted 16 cylinders. We thank them for it.
He additionally identified that the engine isn’t mounted flat within the automobile. It’s truly tilted 11 levels ahead (probably the most you are able to do earlier than it stalls) to make room for the huge diffuser out again and the exhaust system that might be thought-about a sculpture itself. Whereas trying on the rolling chassis, he additionally identified that the Tourbillon’s dihedral doorways are literally electrically powered fairly than hydraulically as a result of the velocity of their opening comes up extra uniform relying on the local weather they’re in. That’s the form of element that units Bugatti aside. He additionally talked about that the seat is definitely fastened in place, that means the pedal field and steering wheel transfer to suit the driving force.
From contained in the rolling chassis, we get a have a look at the Tourbillon’s T-shaped battery construction. Engineers went with that fairly than a skateboard-style battery format to maintain weight distribution the place they wished it. Maserati did the identical factor with the GranTurismo Folgore. Anyway, Metcalfe famous that the Tourbillon is definitely about 1.2 inches decrease than the Chiron, which is kind of a fete.
Shifting up entrance, Metcalfe confirmed us the Tourbillon’s entrance wishbone, which is an actual murals for those who ask me. Bugatti labored with Czinger’s mum or dad firm Divergent to make use of AI that “have a look at what a wishbone must do after which design it in a means that it has absolutely the minimal mass to take the forces which are concerned for a standard wishbone to carry out because it ought to.” The tip result’s wild. Oh, and don’t fear Bugatti Tourbillon consumers, there’s nonetheless going to be a frunk greater than what the Chiron had.
Now turning to the present automobile, Metcalfe takes viewers by how engineers had been capable of shrink the passenger compartment by shifting the transmission from the entrance of the engine to the rear. He additionally identified all the loopy aero occurring that retains this automobile steady at over 250 mph.
