Bugatti’s CEO Thinks the Rich Will Keep Buying Gas Cars And the $4.5M Tourbillon Proves His Point

Electric cars have made huge power figures almost routine, but Bugatti thinks the most expensive cars will follow a different path. Mate Rimac, the 38-year-old CEO of Bugatti, says wealthy buyers still want engines, noise, and mechanical character. His view carries some weight given his own history with electric cars.

Rimac compares the supercar market with Swiss mechanical watches. An electric car can deliver instant acceleration and plenty of technology, but buyers at the top end often pay for craftsmanship and the experience itself. Bugatti follows that thinking with the Tourbillon. Instead of going fully electric, the new hypercar combines an 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 producing 1,000 hp with electric motors for a total of 1,800 hp.

The market response gives Bugatti plenty of reason to stick with the formula. The company plans just 250 Tourbillons, with prices starting around $4.5 million, and buyers took the entire allocation immediately. Customization adds another $600,000 to $700,000 on average. Bugatti Rimac also reported €200 million ($233 million) in earnings last year while keeping production in the low hundreds.

Rimac still has plenty of skin in the EV game. His company builds the electric Nevera, works on autonomous robotaxis, and supplies high-voltage technology to BMW. For Bugatti, though, the customer wants something different. The sound of a V16, the feel of a mechanical machine, and the ability to own something extremely rare carry their own value. So, could the combustion engine become a luxury feature while electric power takes over the rest of the market?