Bugatti Mistral: The Last W16 Roadster and the World’s Fastest Open-Top Car
Every great engine deserves a proper farewell. For the W16, that farewell is the Bugatti Mistral, an open-top hypercar that closes the chapter on the most extreme road-going engine of its era. It is the last road-going Bugatti powered by the brand’s 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16. Only 99 were built, and all of them were spoken for by the time the car was revealed in August 2022.
Key Specifications at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 |
| Power | 1,578 hp (about 1,600 PS) |
| Torque | 1,180 lb-ft |
| 0–62 mph | 2.4 seconds |
| Top speed (record run) | 282.05 mph / 453.91 km/h |
| Production | 99 units |
| Original price | €5 million |
| Body style | Two-seat roadster |
The power and torque figures match the engine of the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which makes 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. The launch time comes from a 2.4-second sprint to 62 mph. The original sticker price was €5 million, and every car was already sold.
The Story Behind the Name
The name comes from nature. The Mistral is named after the powerful Mediterranean wind that sweeps through southern France. It fits a car whose whole design is about moving air: through the engine, around the cabin and away from the occupants.
Design and Engineering
Built on the Chiron, but not a Chiron
The Mistral is based on the Chiron, but it received a radical new front end and X-shaped taillight elements at the rear. Cutting the roof off a hypercar is never simple, so Bugatti re-engineered and stiffened the monocoque to compensate for the loss of the fixed roof.
Air is everything
Two large intakes sit right behind the occupants’ heads. Together they feed roughly 70,000 litres of air per minute to the engine at full power. The bodywork is shaped to move air toward the engine and cooling system while keeping the car slippery at speed. The result is a cabin that stays calm at extreme speed: test driver Andy Wallace said he was impressed by how little vibration and wind buffeting he felt at the Mistral’s record speeds.
The World Record
The Mistral did not just look fast. It reached 453.91 km/h (282.05 mph), a new top speed for open-top production cars. The run took place at the ATP Automotive Testing facility in Papenburg, Germany, instead of Ehra-Lessien, because Bugatti no longer had access to the old Volkswagen track after the Rimac joint venture. Behind the wheel was Andy Wallace, Bugatti’s official driver and a Le Mans winner.
To put the number in context, the previous open-top benchmark was the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse at 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph). The Mistral beat it by a wide margin. The special record car also wore a different look: Jet Orange highlights inside and out, and a value of €14 million.
Why the Mistral Matters
The Mistral is important for three reasons:
- It is the end of an era. The W16 has been phased out of road-going Bugatti cars and now lives only in the track-only Bolide.
- It proved the roadster format works at extreme speed. Removing the roof did not stop it from setting a record.
- It bridges two generations. The Bugatti Tourbillon, with its new 8.3-litre V16, takes over from the W16.
Collector Value
Exclusivity has kept values strong. A 2025 Mistral with 652 miles was offered at a Broad Arrow auction in August 2026 with an estimate of $8–10 million, well above the original €5 million price. Another car offered by RM Sotheby’s carried an estimate of $7.5–9.5 million. Final results can differ from estimates, so check the latest sale prices before quoting a value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Bugatti Mistrals were built?
Only 99, all sold before the public reveal.
How much horsepower does the Bugatti Mistral have?
It has 1,578 hp from the 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16, about 1,600 PS.
What is the Bugatti Mistral’s top speed?
The record run reached 282.05 mph (453.91 km/h), making it the fastest open-top production car.
Is the Bugatti Mistral the last W16 Bugatti?
Yes, it is the last road-going Bugatti with the W16. The engine continues only in the track-only Bolide.
What replaces the W16?
The Bugatti Tourbillon, with a new V16 engine.