Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bugatti Mistral Roadster Makes Debut In Middle East

The Bugatti Mistral first came to public attention at Pebble Beach earlier this year. The automobile is starting slowly because deliveries won’t start until some time in 2024. Prior to an exclusive preview event scheduled to take place at its new Bugatti Riyadh dealership in Saudi Arabia’s capital, the limited-run hypercar recently made its premiere for the Middle East. However, every model that Bugatti intended to produce has already been sold. (pulpjuiceandsmoothie.com)

In Riyadh, Bugatti brought the svelte design to the King Abdullah Financial District as part of a tour. The company then drove the Mistral to the Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, with its showroom—which Bugatti runs with Saudi Arabian partner SAMACO Automotive—planned as its final stop. The showroom is one of the brand’s newest in the world, opening in 2021.

“For many years, the residents of the Kingdom have admired the incomparable heritage, craftsmanship, and performance of Bugatti, and we’re honored to be able to bring our ultimate roadster to the Kingdom for a rare glimpse at this incomparable car,” said Kostas Psarris, Regional Director Middle East and Asia at Bugatti.

The Mistral has the same quad-turbocharged, 8.0-liter W16 engine that powers the Chiron Super Sport 300+. It makes the same 1,577 horsepower (1,159 kilowatts), too, but the Mistral can’t reach the Super Sport’s outlandish 304.774-mph (490.484-kph) top speed. Earlier in November, Bugatti revealed that the roadster would have a top speed of at least 261 mph (420 kph).

Due to customer demand, Bugatti decided to build the Mistral roadster – a roofless Chiron. According to Bugatti Deputy Design Director Franks Heyl, collectors pressed the automaker for a convertible. Bugatti didn’t envision the Chiron model spawning a roadster variant, but the company found a way to do it.

The W16-powered Mistral is a bit of a goodbye letter to the brand’s iconic engine. Bugatti and Rimac are now partnered and collectively working to chart a course for both brands, which we should see beginning to bear fruit in 2024, the same year Mistral and Bolide deliveries begin. It’ll be interesting to see what Bugatti’s future looks like in a rapidly electrifying world, but Mistral motifs like the X-shaped taillights hint at what’s to come with the design.

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