Mate Rimac Offers A Fresh Concept For Bugatti

Mate Rimac openly confirmed that he was thinking about a Bugatti that would combine the naturally aspirated V16 engine from the Tourbillon with a real manual transmission. At the same time, he emphasized that he was not thinking of a simulated solution like the one used by Ferrari, but a classic manual transmission with a real clutch.

The last Bugatti with a clutch pedal was the EB110 from the 1990s. Its 3.5-liter quad-turbocharged V12 was mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

After the revival of the brand in the early 2000s, the situation changed completely. Bugatti’s 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 came exclusively with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, first in the Veyron, then the Chiron, and later in numerous limited series and one-off models.

The new Bugatti Tourbillon also does not have a manual gearbox. Its hybrid V16 powertrain is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, but Rimac has now suggested that might not be the only option.

During Monterey Car Week in California, Road & Track reporters asked Bugatti CEO Mata Rimac what he thought about the possibility of installing a manual transmission.

The answer was very clear.

“Yes, definitely. Definitely. I agree one hundred percent. Imagine a V16 with a manual transmission. A real manual transmission,” said Rimac.

His answer suggests that this possibility is not excluded, although it is not yet known in what form such a car could appear.

It could be a one-of-a-kind made through Bugatti’s Solitaire program, a separate limited edition, or even a Tourbillon option. Bugatti has not confirmed any of those scenarios so far.

In doing so, Rimac made it clear that Bugatti would not follow Ferrari’s approach with the 12Cilindri Manuale’s simulated manual gearbox. If Bugatti goes that route, the idea is to apply a traditional solution.

The biggest question is whether a real manual transmission can be successfully mated to the Tourbillon’s complex hybrid drivetrain. The necessary technical changes could be so demanding and expensive that it is questionable whether the result would justify the investment.

One possibility would be to throw out the electrical part of the drive. Even then, the car would not lack power. The Tourbillon’s 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 independently develops 1,000 hp and 900 Nm before engaging the three electric motors.

• See More: Bugatti Isn’t Quitting On The W16 Engine Yet