Bugatti is unlikely to discontinue W16 engine soon

French luxury automobile manufacturer Bugatti is unlikely to discontinue its W16 engine soon. The venerated quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 motor is probably the last engine of its kind at a time when most manufacturers are downsizing their powertrains.

Bugatti Automobiles president Stepan Winkelmann recently said that while the company may source other engines from within the Volkswagen Group, it will retain the W16 as he believes the motor can still offer the desired service. Bugatti’s mission is different, compared to other car brands in the Volkswagen family, he added. 

Speaking about Bugatti hypercars, Winkelmann said that going into the future, the W16 will continue to provide enough opportunity. He claimed that Volkswagen Group chairman Herbert Diess is aware of the value offered by the W16 motor. Winkelmann said, if the W16 carries on for another decade it will be the last such engine in service, which will also make the motor a collectible. 

According to Winkelmann, internal combustion engines (ICEs) will grow in value because they will be produced less in the coming years. In the case of a hybrid, the ICE won’t be an original unit, since the battery will be added to the powertrain. People buy Bugatti vehicles not only because of their performance but also for investment, he said. The Bugatti mid-engine EB110 sports car is skyrocketing and demand for the Veyron is going up. The same is expected to happen for the Chiron mid-engine sports car. Hyper-sports cars, he said, are likely to carry over the trend to the next decade.

The Super Sport+ trim of the 16-cylinder, 8.0-liter Bugatti Chiron produces 1,500 PS maximum power and 1,180 lb-ft peak torque. The engine is mated to a dual-clutch, 7-speed transmission system with all-wheel-drive available as standard. The car offers a top speed of 261mph and reaches 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds. The Chiron Super Sport+ commands a price of around $3,900,000. The entry-level Chiron standard is pegged at around $2,990,000.

Also read: Bugatti posts mysterious hypercar picture on Instagram