French-Croatian luxury car manufacturer Bugatti has revealed its latest unique project, the W16 Mistral “La Perle Rare” (translated as “the rare pearl”). This car represents the pinnacle of Bugatti’s “Sur Mesure” program, aimed at the most demanding clients who seek complete personalization and the creation of every detail “to order”.
The project was conceived after a meeting with Bugatti’s head of that department Jasche Strauba with the client at Pebble Beach in 2023, and the result is a vehicle that is not only a technological marvel, but also a personalized work of art inspired by the pearl theme. The exterior design is based on the signature Bugatti style “Vagues de Lumière” (Waves of Light), which simulates the reflections of light on the body.
Completely new color shades have been developed for this specific model – a mixture of warm white and a special golden color infused with real gold. The painting process took hundreds of hours and involved extremely precise manual application of protective strips to achieve perfect transitions between colors. In the end, a completely unique look was obtained that resembles a pearl, and we would say that it looks a bit like – “extended with milk”.
Symbioza zlata i carbona
The interior of the vehicle follows the exterior aesthetics, creating an uninterrupted dialogue between exterior and interior. The cabin is dominated by carbon fiber elements painted in white, while details such as seams, emblems and special engravings are done in gold tones. Special attention has been paid to details such as ambient lighting and polished aluminum, which further emphasize the luxurious character of this one roadstera.
As a tribute to the brand’s history, the interior features a “Dancing Elephant” motif, a work by Rembrandt Bugatti, the brother of company founder Ettore. This symbol, traditionally associated with the most exclusive models such as the Type 41 Royale, is here integrated into the gear lever. Additional exclusivity is confirmed by the handwritten signature of designer Jasche Straub, which appears in several places on the vehicle, including the engine compartment and the rear wing.
Design, but also performance
Under the unique shell is the famous 8.0-liter W16 engine with four turbochargers, which develops as much as 1,600 horsepower. Power is sent to all wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.4 seconds. Although it is technically capable of reaching a speed of more than 450 km/h, roadster is electronically limited to 380 km/h for road use.
This model also marks the last chapter for the W16 engine in the open body version. Each of the 99 planned examples of the Mistral has a starting price of five million euros, but due to extensive personalization and the use of precious materials, the value of the “La Perle Rare” example is likely to significantly exceed that amount.