Rimac Founder Predicts Bugatti’s Return to Speed Records with Electric Fury

Is Bugatti Finished with Speed? Not Even Close

Stephan Winkelmann, former president of Bugatti, once declared that the company was done chasing speed records. But five years later, his successor, Mate Rimac, has a different idea of where the hypercar builder is headed. And now there’s the Bugatti Tourbillon, which packs a mind-blowing hybrid setup – a brand-new 8.3-liter V16 boosted with three electric motors, capable of 1,775 hp.

A New Era of Speed

We met with Rimac during Monterey Car Week to discuss Bugatti’s future plans. When asked if the company was finished with speed, he quipped, "It was. It isn’t." Rimac, known for his tenacity, has always been driven to push boundaries. Starting with his teenage days converting a 1984 BMW 3 Series from ICE to electric, he went on to build his first electric supercar, the Concept One, by the time he was 23. His company, Rimac, caught the attention of heavy hitters like Porsche, and he eventually took the helm at Bugatti.

The Art of Compromise

Rimac’s approach to innovation is all about finding a balance between risk and reward. "Bugatti in the future for me is going to be high speed but not at heavy cost," he says. "It has to [have] better aerodynamics, with a lighter car, with the more emotional engine." This means moving away from the traditional high-performance, high-weight formula that often comes with chasing speed records. Instead, Bugatti will focus on developing cars that are both fast and efficient.

Risk-Taking

Rimac’s favorite part of the new Bugatti Tourbillon is the 3D printed suspension, which is "beautiful but functional." It’s 45 percent lighter than the suspension in the Chiron, using aluminum instead of steel. And if he weren’t the one leading Bugatti, Rimac says, "nobody else would have the balls" to do something like that. Despite Bugatti’s conservative nature, Rimac has shrugged off those voices, calling himself an "absolute risk taker."

The Future is Bright

So, what’s next for Bugatti? Rimac won’t elaborate, but one thing is certain – the company will continue to push the boundaries of innovation and speed. And with Rimac at the helm, the future looks brighter than ever.