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Bugatti Tourbillon Ushers In New Era With US Debut At Monterey Car Week
At The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday 16th, the Bugatti Tourbillon was showcased in the United States for the first time. This event allowed many visitors to experience a new era of Bugatti up close. Designed with eternity in mind, the Tourbillon aims to be timeless, featuring a naturally aspirated V16 engine paired with three electric motors.
Bugatti's leadership team, including President Christophe Piochon, CTO Emilio Scervo, and Managing Director Hendrik Malinowski, shared their vision for the brand's future. During their stay in Monterey, Bugatti customers visited Le Domaine Bugatti at The Lodge at Pebble Beach. Here, they explored the Tourbillon’s bare carbon monocoque and chassis alongside other Bugatti models and lifestyle products.
The Tourbillon boasts a fully mechanical driver instrument cluster crafted with Swiss watchmakers' expertise. It has no visible digital screens and features an ageless design focused on aerodynamics. This design philosophy ensures it remains appealing like vintage Bugatti cars such as the Type 57 and EB110 displayed at The Quail.
CEO Mate Rimac and Design Director Frank Heyl presented the vision behind the Tourbillon to an audience of car collectors and enthusiasts. They highlighted Ettore Bugatti's principles: "nothing is too beautiful" and "if comparable it is no longer Bugatti." These values were evident in both the Tourbillon and its rolling chassis.
The Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach began early Sunday morning with the ‘Dawn Patrol’. Hundreds of visitors gathered on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links as the sun rose. Among them were rare Bugatti models displayed alongside perfectly preserved vintage cars ready for expert judging.
A 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports won the Best of Show award at Pebble Beach. This car had notable victories in its history, including winning the Belgian Grand Prix in 1934. It was later transformed into a sports car by Ettore Bugatti himself and eventually acquired by King Leopold I of Belgium.
Showcasing Craftsmanship
At Le Domaine Bugatti, Champagne Carbon introduced its Tourbillon 15-liter bottle inspired by the car’s elegant blue shade. Hedley Studios presented the Baby Bugatti II, while Jacob & Co showcased hand-crafted timepieces like the newly unveiled Tourbillon watch. This watch features a mechanism reflecting Bugatti’s V16 engine.
The private Domaine also displayed Asprey’s famous Bugatti sculptures and precious metal objet eggs. Additionally, visitors could see models of the first luxury living development in Dubai – Bugatti Residences by Binghatti – and ‘La Bouteille Sur Mesure’ showcase.
Historic Wins for Bugatti
Apart from winning Best of Show, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Corsica Roadster claimed the French Cup for being a significant French-origin car. Another notable win was by a 1933 Type 55 Roadster in J-3: European Classic Sport category, highlighting its dual nature as both a road car and racer.
The L-1: Prewar Preservation award went to a 1934 Type 59 Sports from The Pearl Collection in Switzerland. This award celebrates unrestored classics that have been well-preserved over time. These wins further validate Bugatti's dedication to craftsmanship and innovation.
Modern Meets Vintage
The final Chiron model produced, ‘L’Ultime’, was showcased alongside Bolide² and Type 35 at Le Domaine. These cars had appeared together earlier at Laguna Seca circuit to honour Type 35’s centenary. The Chiron’s bodywork featured hand-written places and events that contributed to its legend.
Bugatti vehicles excelled in multiple categories at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, underscoring their legacy of excellence. Notable second-place finishes included a 1938 Type 57C Gangloff Aravis in J-2: European Classic Touring Late category and a 1995 EB110 Sport Competizione in R: 1990s BPR & FIA GT Race Cars class.
A Vision for Future Icons
The Tourbillon stood out on display at Pebble Beach as a beacon of modern Bugatti design and engineering. Despite being separated by nearly a century from vintage models like Type 35, it shares DNA that connects different eras of Bugatti’s history.
"Monterey Car Week is special," said Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti. "It draws together our glorious heritage with our exciting present and future." He added that celebrating events like these inspires them to create future icons while honouring past achievements like those of Ettore and Jean Bugatti.
Following Monterey Car Week, the Tourbillon will continue its US tour before returning to Europe for display at Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille from September 12-15.
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