The W16 Mistral Is The Bugatti Chiron Roadster That Wasn’t Supposed To Happen

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When Bugatti introduced the Chiron in 2016, many presumed it was only a matter of time before a convertible version following in the footsteps of the Veyron Grand Sport was launched. However, the French marque never actually intended to sell the Chiron as a convertible and it wasn’t until the idea of the limited-run W16 Mistral came around that it decided to make such a car reality. It did much more than take a Chiron and chop off the roof, however.

The W16 Mistral serves as Bugatti’s first roadster since 2012’s Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and is also its last road-going model to feature the same 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16. To make it a reality, Bugatti had to reengineer the carbon fiber monocoque and alter its shape to allow for the new rounded silhouette while also ensuring the car passes crash regulations.

Convertibles are usually at a dynamic disadvantage to the hardtop models on which they are based but Bugatti didn’t want this to be the case with the W16 Mistral.

As such, engineers have used new ultra-high-performance composite materials in its construction to minimize weight and increase rigidity. This attention to detail extends to the doors that have been designed to absorb the energy created by a significant side impact.

The focus on safety and performance extends to the roof where the new ram induction air intakes behind the headrests don’t only serve to feed the W16 with cool air but are made from carbon fiber that can support the weight of the whole car in the event of a rollover.

Read: Jaw-Dropping Images Of The Bugatti W16 Mistral Will Take You To Hypercar Heaven

Bugatti has also revealed the W16 Mistral has a bespoke sound system catered to open-top driving while also using luscious woven leather on the new door panels.

“The Chiron family was never intended to have a roadster model,” Bugatti chief technology officer Emilio Scervo described. “That is why we had to start afresh when we decided to build the W16 Mistral, the ultimate tribute to our rich roadster history and our legendary W16 engine. A Chiron without a roof might be an amazing car for many others, but it wouldn’t meet the uncompromisingly high standards that Bugatti adheres to. No matter what type of hyper sports car it is, a Bugatti model must be incomparable in every respect to anything else in the automotive world.”