Bugatti telah memulakan penghantaran rasmi model W16 Mistral yang dinanti-nantikan, menandakan bab terakhir bagi enjin quad-turbo W16 yang lagenda. Unit pertama kini telah tiba di Amerika Syarikat, setiap satunya mencerminkan ketukangan eksklusif dan kejuruteraan berprestasi tinggi yang sinonim dengan jenama ini.
Ikon Roadster dengan Kelajuan Tertinggi
Diperkenalkan pada Monterey Car Week 2022, W16 Mistral adalah penghormatan kepada warisan permotoran terbuka Bugatti. Inspirasi reka bentuknya datang daripada roadster klasik seperti Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid 1934, menggabungkan keanggunan abadi dengan teknologi moden. Dengan kelajuan tertinggi 453.91 km/j, Mistral kini memegang gelaran roadster terpantas di dunia, mengukuhkan lagi reputasi Bugatti dalam pencapaian automotif luar biasa.
Perjalanan Global Sebelum Penghantaran
Sejurus selepas debutnya, W16 Mistral menjalani jelajah dunia yang merangkumi acara Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille di Perancis, serta destinasi eksklusif di Timur Tengah, Jepun, Singapura, dan Selatan Perancis. Setiap perhentian mempamerkan kecanggihan reka bentuk dan prestasi, meningkatkan lagi keinginan pengumpul serta peminat automotif.
Bugatti has commenced deliveries of the highly anticipated W16 Mistral, marking the final chapter of its legendary quad-turbocharged W16 engine. The first customer units have now arrived in the United States, each representing the pinnacle of bespoke craftsmanship and performance engineering.
First unveiled at Monterey Car Week in 2022, the W16 Mistral pays homage to Bugatti’s rich heritage of open-top motoring. The design draws inspiration from iconic roadsters such as the 1934 Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid, blending timeless elegance with cutting-edge performance. With a record-breaking top speed of 453.91km/h, the Mistral now holds the title of the world’s fastest roadster, reinforcing Bugatti’s legacy of extreme performance.
Following its global debut, the W16 Mistral embarked on an extensive world tour, captivating audiences at Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille in France before making its way to the Middle East, Japan, Singapore, and the winding roads of Southern France. Each stop showcased the roadster’s combination of refined aesthetics and unparalleled engineering, building anticipation among collectors and automotive enthusiasts.
Now, as the first examples reach their owners, the personalisation and craftsmanship of each vehicle highlight Bugatti’s commitment to exclusivity. One of the first models delivered features a striking “Black Carbon” exterior, contrasted by “Bugatti Light Blue Sport” accents. This variant exudes power and refinement, with matte accents on the engine cover paying tribute to the legendary W16 engine. The interior is adorned with “Bugatti Light Blue Sport” leather upholstery, complemented by “Black Carbon” matte finishes and “Beluga Black” stitching.
The Bugatti W16 Mistral marks a significant milestone as the first open-top model from the brand since 2015 and the swan song for the legendary W16 engine. This car is now entering its final evaluation phase, underscoring Bugatti’s relentless pursuit of excellence and performance.
An Engineering Marvel
At the core of the Mistral lies the ultimate iteration of the W16 engine, complemented by meticulously refined aerodynamic features and a completely reengineered monocoque. Achieving a top speed exceeding 420km/h while maintaining unparalleled performance, acoustic excellence, and luxury is a feat of engineering precision.
Bugatti’s dedication to the highest standards of performance, safety, and durability has driven an exhaustive testing program for the Mistral. Every aspect of its design has been rigorously evaluated to create Bugatti’s ultimate roadster.
Stringent Safety and Performance Testing
The Mistral has successfully undergone stringent crash tests, ensuring occupant protection in the event of a collision. These tests, essential for homologation in various markets, comply with international safety standards for North America and Europe.
Following aerodynamic evaluations in October and rigorous dynamometer testing of the W16 engine and transmission, Bugatti is now conducting a series of tests to assess the Mistral’s performance under various driving conditions. These tests cover safety, emissions, endurance, and drivability.
Endurance and Durability
The road tests for the Mistral are comprehensive, with Prototype 2 having already covered 32,000 km. These tests span diverse terrains, from high altitudes to sea level, and heavy traffic conditions. Looking ahead, Bugatti plans to add another 5,000 km on the track, pushing the total distance to 40,000 km – a milestone not often reached by modern Bugatti customer cars.
One of the most challenging aspects of the testing process is verifying the Mistral’s top speed. Finding a suitable track to safely reach over 420 km/h presents a logistical challenge. However, Bugatti remains confident in the Mistral’s ability to break records and exceed expectations.
A New Benchmark
“We are planning to run the final high-speed test on one of the few tracks worldwide that allow us to run the test safely. Once we have access to that track, achieving the top speed will no longer be a problem,” said Emilio Scervo, CTO of Bugatti Rimac.
Bugatti’s commitment throughout the Mistral’s development has been to deliver a car that not only meets but exceeds performance standards. The W16 Mistral sets new benchmarks for safety, reliability, and luxury in a hyper sports roadster. With the Mistral nearing the end of its testing journey, production at the Molsheim Atelier is expected to begin later this year.
The effects of aerodynamics on the car body and influencing how air flows over it have been studied since the 1920s. As designers came to see how certain shapes and features could reduce drag and improve performance in various ways, the styling also evolved… sometimes to extremes as with the teardrop shapes.
The quest to lower wind resistance has never been greater, especially in this age of hybrids and electric cars where every bit of resistance removed means less of the motor’s power is wasted overcoming it.
And while you might think that sportcars, with their high-powered engines, don’t really need the assistance of good aerodynamics, this aspect is even more advanced. Even the Bugatti Bolide, a concept hyper sportscar with a 1,850 ps W16 8-litre engine has many aerodynamic innovations that contribute to its ability to reach a top speed claimed to be well over 500 km/h.
Morphable outer skin
Chief among them is the Dimple Airscoop – a new technology for which a patent application was submitted a few weeks ago by Nils Ballerstein, one of the engineers at Bugatti. Since the beginning of 2020, he has been preparing a doctoral thesis project to develop a special morphable outer skin for the company’s New Technologies department – and this has now been used for the first time in the Bugatti Bolide.
The idea for the invention began in 2019, while Ballerstein was doing his master’s degree thesis. The young engineer was undertaking research for Bugatti, looking at new 3D-printed brake calipers made of titanium which cooled water as it flowed through. In order to improve the heat transfer and dissipate heat more selectively, he used a dimple pattern inside the channels. The rounded dents in the boundary layer produce turbulence – similar a golf ball.
The result was that the fluid mixes better in the channels – and the temperature in the brake caliper drops. “I was positively surprised when I saw the results with the surface patterns. I then wondered whether the same effect couldn’t be achieved with airflow,” recalled Ballerstein.
Same advantages as golf ball design
For non-scientists, the effect of the aerodynamic design is similar that that of golf balls: the dimples on the surface minimise air drag to such an extent that the ball travels about twice as far with the same impact force compared to an identical golf ball without the dimples.
The same principle applies – the dimples create turbulence on the surface of the golf ball so that air adheres better to the surface, thereby reducing the vortex flow in the slipstream of the ball and subsequently also the drag.
Ballerstein simulated test objects with dimple patterns in order to establish a factual basis to underpin his idea. After completing his master’s thesis, he stayed on with Bugatti while also starting his doctorate at the Institute of Aircraft Design and Lightweight Structures at the Technische Universitat (Technical University) Braunschweig in Germany. He sees the Bolide project as a perfect way to advance his idea.
“Everything about the Bolide is exceptional and extreme. The dimples further improve the car’s already excellent aerodynamics, thereby increasing agility and efficiency,” explained Frank Gotzke, Head of New Technologies at Bugatti.
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A world first
The morphable outer skin of the intake scoop on the roof is a world first. It ensures active airflow optimisation. When the hypercar is driven at a slow speed, the surface of the scoop remains smooth; at fast speeds, a field of dimples bulges out. The 60 individual elements extend variably by up to 10 mm depending on the speed – if this benefits the driving state.
From about 80 km/h upwards, air is the dominant resistance factor, and from about 120 km/h upwards, the dimples significantly improve the car’s aerodynamics by reducing this resistance. As with the golf ball, the pattern causes a more turbulent boundary layer, which means that the air flowing around it adheres to the surface for longer and does not detach until later. As a result, the detachment and recirculation areas are reduced and the car’s cd value decreases.
In order to respond swiftly to changes in speed, the dimples extend and retract very quickly, within tenths of a second, in the same way as the active rear wing on the Veyron and the Chiron, for example.
The Bolide is an experimental study to create a track-only hyper sportscar featuring the W16 engine. No plans for production yet so it’s a superfast testbed for developing new technologies.
10% less drag
The overall result is that the dimples reduce the aerodynamic drag of the scoop by 10% and also decrease lift by 17%. Airflow to the rear wing is also optimised; at 320 km/h, the downforce on the rear wing is 1,800 kgs while on the front wing, it is 800 kgs.
Another benefit is that the lower aerodynamic drag also reduces the car’s fuel or energy consumption. “This is why the new technology is so crucial – not just for Bugatti. Optimised airflow can save energy on all vehicles,” explained Ballerstein. “We’re still in the development phase, but tests so far show that dimples improve aerodynamics, thereby reducing drag and increasing efficiency.”
