Lately, the W16 Mistral has been making the news. First, we had Fly Bug in May, the creative Blanc Eternal a few weeks back, and now, out of the Atelier in Molsheim, comes the final example of the model.
The rollout closes the road-going story of the W16 engine, a powertrain that defined Bugatti across the Veyron, Chiron, and the Mistral.
Finished in a pairing of “Pearl” and “Sparkle,” the car carries a phrase that has followed the model since its unveiling: “The last of its kind.” It is a statement of identity (even if a little dramatic) and a fitting epitaph for one of the most distinctive chapters in modern automotive engineering.
Only days before the final Mistral left the Atelier, the marque inaugurated La Manufacture, its future production facility in Molsheim, where the much-anticipated Tourbillon will be produced.
An Open-Top Farewell to the W16
Introduced at Monterey Car Week in 2022, the W16 Mistral was conceived as the ultimate open-air expression of Bugatti’s celebrated engine. Its global presentation took it from top cities in Asia to luxury epicenters in the Middle East, aiming to build anticipation among the company’s biggest fans.
Its defining performance moment came in November 2024, when Bugatti Pilote Officiel Andy Wallace drove the one-of-one W16 Mistral World Record Car to 282 mph (453.91 km/h) at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg. The feat made the Mistral the fastest open-top production car in the world.
However, the car's character was never just about speed or other performance metrics. Its exclusivity and craftsmanship made the model arguably one of Bugatti’s best offerings.
A Final Commission of Quiet Distinction
Only 99 examples of the W16 Mistral were produced. Each was shaped through Bugatti’s Sur Mesure program, with specialists in Molsheim and Berlin working closely with owners to build cars that exuded their individual preferences.
The final commission brings this philosophy into particularly focus. Its pale “Pearl” and “Sparkle” exterior is accompanied by an interior finished in “Magnolia” and 'Grey Carbon Matt.'
The Mistral’s reference design drew inspiration from the Type 57 Roadster Grand Raid. The last car extends this reference further, attempting to blend Bugatti’s founding years with its modern era. Inside the cabin, a silver plate displays the words “The last of its kind” beside the silhouette of the Mistral.
One of the final Mistral's most personal details appears atop the gear selector. Working with Jascha Straub, Bugatti’s Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualization, and Bugatti Riyadh, the owner chose to replace the marque’s customary elephant sculpture with the head of a falcon.
Its presence is complemented by a falcon sketch embroidered in “Anthracite” across the door panels, extending the motif through the cabin. The result is a commission that carries a distinct cultural and personal identity.
The End of the W16 Road
With the completion of the 99th example, production of the W16 Mistral has officially ended (well, at least up until the next ‘final one’). The occasion concludes a two-decade philosophy built around the W16 engine. The 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged engine's legacy will remain cemented in history as the engine behind the category-defining Veyron.
