The Bugatti Tourbillon's Interior Might Be as Awesome as Driving It
The cabin of the Chiron’s successor is an intricate work of art.
When it comes to Bugatti’s upcoming Tourbillon supercar, there is much to get excited about: V-16 engine, drool-inducing styling, 276-mph top speed, $4.3-million price tag. But the cabin is where a lucky few will interact with this amazing machine, and believe you us, it’s worth its own individual flip-out. It’s nicer, even, than the cabin of the Chiron it replaces. Why don’t you open the scissor door, slip behind the wheel, and soak it all in?
0:00 / 0:00
Clockwork Tourbillon
As you settle behind the wheel, you’ll find yourself surrounded by fine leather (doesn’t it smell wonderful?), carbon fiber, metal, and a hundred elaborate details to catch your eye. Simple though the cabin is, at first glance, it’s a bit overwhelming. “Tourbillon” is a type of intricate wristwatch mechanism, and that’s the theme: intricate details and clockwork precision.
That’s wristwatch, not smartwatch, and do you notice what you don't see? Yep, no screen. There is one, but it’s hidden away in the center stack, only to be deployed when needed. “Screens date an interior,” Bugatti design director Frank Heyl said, and he’s right. After all, which would you rather have, an antique wristwatch or an antique laptop?
Everything Comes to You
You’re looking for the seat adjustment controls, aren’t you? Sorry, Charlie, there aren’t any. The seat is fixed to the floor; it’s the pedals and steering column that move. This isn’t some cheap-ass half-million-dollar Rolls-Royce, my friend; for $4 million, the mountain comes to you.
As you adjust the steering wheel, give it a twitch, and you’ll see one of the Tourbillon’s coolest details: The wheel rotates around the steering column. Ettore Bugatti’s magic initials on the hub always stay right-side up. What’s that? Why yes, that’s right, the 1958 Edsel did have the same feature, but that’s not something we talk about in polite (or Bugatti’s) company.
Instead, have a look at the gauge pod attached to the top of the column. All those little gear wheels aren’t just there for show; they move as the gauges rotate, and they’re milled to a precision that ensures instant response, which is no mean feat given the rev-happy V-16 behind you and how fast it’ll twist that speedometer. Of course, at the speeds this baby can generate, you won’t want to stare at the gauges any more than you have to. Nor will you want to take your hands off the wheel, which is why the drive-mode and hybrid control dials are on the column, as well.
Instant Familiarization
But for now, while we’re still stationary, take in that see-through center stack, detailed with sapphire glass. Here you are, with all of two minutes’ time behind the Tourbillon’s wheel, and you can figure out all the controls, can’t you? Top dial for stereo, climate control below that, chassis and door controls, and the parking brake. Who says modern high-end cars need to be complex? The Tourbillon is as straightforward as that analog watch on your wrist.
Look at the pedal box. Accelerator, brake, footrest; small, simple, elegant, and beautiful. That’s what this kind of money gets you—attention to detail in the most unlikely places.
Not that the Tourbillon’s cabin is a throwback; not at all. Look over your shoulder at that lovely light bar that divides the interior. It’s a modern-day homage to the dorsal fin of the classic Type 57S Atlantic. It’s also a subtle reminder that there are drivers and there are passengers, and there is a divide. You’re the driver, and this is your domain.
Enjoy It While You Can
Take it all in now, because once you press that starter button, the gods will start screaming in your ear, and sound and speed will be all you know. All your concentration will be on guiding this beautiful bullet down the road.
Cars are, of course, meant to be driven, but Bugattis have always been more than just cars. They are rolling sculptures and a treat for the senses. If you’re one of the 250 or so people fortunate enough to own a Tourbillon, of course you’ll want to drive it. But if you spend just as much time here, sitting quietly behind the wheel and basking in the beauty of this exquisite cabin, we won’t blame you at all.
After a two-decade career as a freelance writer, Aaron Gold joined MotorTrend’s sister publication Automobile in 2018 before moving to the MT staff in 2021. Aaron is a native New Yorker who now lives in Los Angeles with his spouse, too many pets, and a cantankerous 1983 GMC Suburban.
Read More
