Ever since Bugatti dropped that wild V16 hybrid engine teaser back in February 2024, car nuts have been desperate for details on what’s replacing the legendary W16.

With the full car reveal slated for June, Bugatti released another video on the new engine, which starts to paint a clearer picture of this new “automotive pinnacle,” confirming some early guesses and shooting down others.

When Bugatti first announced in 2022 that its iconic 8.0-liter W16 engine was at the end of its road, many assumed the hypercar maker would follow the industry trend and downsize. The February 2024 video snippet, however, threw a curveball with the unmistakable sights and sounds of a V16. Public speculation immediately ignited.

What We Got Right

One of the strongest early rumors that the new V16 would be naturally aspirated and part of a hybrid system appears to be spot on. The Bugatti insider video heavily features a discussion about this. A key figure in Bugatti’s powertrain development confirmed that the V16 is indeed naturally aspirated.

They explained that the choice for a V16 focuses on delivering emotions and feelings from the customer, the drivability of a V16, and the engine sound. Electric motors providing the instant torque and power fill the gaps typically handled by turbochargers.

This aligns with one prominent rumor noted in our previous article, which suggested an 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16, possibly from Cosworth.

In the Bugatti video, it was revealed that the V16 engine block itself measures approximately one meter long. In a truly unique packaging solution, the video detailed that a longitudinal transmission will sit directly on top of this massive engine.

This combination creates an overall powertrain length and configuration that has essentially never been done in the automotive industry. Our previous article’s suggestion that this sort of automotive sorcery has never been done before certainly seems to apply here.

Furthermore, Bugatti’s commitment to exquisite design, even for functional components, holds true. The video highlighted numerous design iterations for the V16’s prominent intake manifold and plenum.

It was emphasized that these parts are critical for a naturally aspirated engine’s performance and will be completely exposed.  This dedication to making engineering beautiful perfectly reflects Bugatti’s core philosophy.

Bruce Wood, managing director at Cosworth, described it as, “This is going to be the only car in the world with a V16. It’s all about elegance and bravery; doing something that’s never been done before and doing it in a beautiful fashion.”

What We Got Wrong

While the naturally aspirated V16 hybrid heart is now clearer, many of the ultra-specific details that circulated after the initial tease were either off-base or remain unconfirmed by Bugatti personnel.

For instance, we mentioned a popular rumor of an 8.3-liter Cosworth creation with three 250kW electric motors. The Bugatti video, however, makes no mention of Cosworth as the primary builder of the V16 engine, nor does it confirm the 8.3-liter displacement or the exact number and output of the electric motors.

Bugatti’s latest reveal simply referred to “electrical contribution.” While Cosworth might be a supplier for components, CEO Mate Rimac has stated (as reported in our previous article) that the engine was developed “from scratch within Bugatti Rimac.”

Another common assumption, also noted in the article, was that the new V16 might be boosted like the old W16 engine. The internal Bugatti video directly contradicts this for the combustion engine component.

The development team clearly focused on natural aspiration, using the hybrid system to achieve the desired responsiveness and power characteristics without turbochargers. So, those expecting another quad-turbo V16 from Bugatti will find a different approach here.

Mate Rimac’s statements in the article further clarified that the engine is “completely independent from VW/Porsche.” This dispels any rumors that the new V16 might be a heavily modified derivative of existing Volkswagen Auto Group powertrains. The Bugatti video reinforces this independent spirit, showcasing the unique design challenges of their V16 and its on-top transmission.

The V16 Hybrid: A Clearer Picture Emerges

With the full vehicle reveal scheduled for June, the details emerging from Bugatti itself paint a picture of an extraordinary engineering achievement.

While some early public speculation about specific displacements or development partners might have missed the mark, the core concept of a unique, naturally aspirated V16 hybrid powerhouse appears to be the thrilling reality.