Bugatti Destrier resurrects the W16 engine in a unique one-off

For almost two decades, Bugatti’s W16 engine served as the brand’s beating heart. It powered everything from the Veyron to the Chiron, and also models such as the Divo, Centodieci, Bolide and, most recently, the W16 Mistral. With that last car, the French marque appeared to be marking the W16’s final bow in its road-going line-up.

That, however, is no longer the full story. Bugatti has now caught enthusiasts off guard with the Destrier, a new model that brings the legendary 16-cylinder unit back. Unlike the company’s other projects, this is not a limited run of a few dozen cars.

Instead, it is a single, one-of-one creation. It becomes the third one-off produced under the ultra-exclusive Solitaire programme, following the Brouillard and the F.K.P Hommage.

A new take on the Bolide

Built around the same carbon-fibre monocoque as the Bolide, the Destrier was shaped to stir emotion rather than chase lap records. It keeps the structural core and the W16 engine, but everything else has been reimagined to create a true collector’s piece.

Rather than the huge wings, aero add-ons and extreme track-hypercar solutions you would expect, Bugatti has gone for a far more refined, sculptural approach.

“The Destrier is not a car you understand, it is a car you feel with your heart.”

Frank Heyl, Bugatti Head of Design

Standing one metre tall and sitting on 20" front wheels and 21" rear wheels, the Destrier adopts a distinctly muscular stance. In profile, a fresh interpretation of Bugatti’s traditional “C” line runs along the bodywork until it meets the signature horseshoe grille.

At the rear, the Bolide’s fixed wing has been replaced by something much more understated, taking cues from the rare Chiron Profilée. Most striking of all is the side view: the cabin appears nestled between the front wings, while the body narrows behind the doors before flaring again over the rear axle.

Homage to the Type 57

According to the French manufacturer, the Bugatti Destrier draws inspiration from the celebrated Type 57-the model that spawned the Type 57G Tank, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the iconic Type 57SC Atlantic.

Its exterior also blends polished aluminium details with darker carbon-fibre components.

Inside, the mood is closer to haute couture than to a competition car. The exposed carbon of the Bolide makes way for a mix of brown leather, Alcantara and a three-dimensional fabric developed specifically for this project, woven with copper threads in a circular pattern.

Door handles, air vents, sill plates and the centre of the steering wheel are finished in hand-hammered aluminium, referencing the medieval knights’ armour that inspired the Destrier name.

A definitive farewell to the W16?

Despite the extensive visual overhaul, the Destrier still houses exactly the same engine as the Bolide: the iconic 8.0-litre W16, with four turbochargers and 1600 hp.

Yet unlike the track-focused hypercar it is based on, this car’s mission is not to set records. The Destrier was created as a unique commission-designed to honour the W16’s legacy and the French marque’s artisanal savoir-faire.

The new Bugatti Destrier will be unveiled to the public during Monterey Car Week in the United States.