New Bugatti V16 Hypercar’s Instrument Panel Leaked?
The Venn diagram of watch guys and car guys is pretty much a circle, so it makes sense that Bugatti has turned to the world of horology for inspiration
- What is claimed to be a photo of the gauge cluster in Bugatti’s next hypercar has leaked online.
- The image shows a central speedometer, a tach to the right, and a trio of smaller gauges on the left-hand side.
- The cluster has been inspired by the world of horology, and the speedometer’s internal workings will be visible through the face.
The only thing extremely wealthy car collectors seem to like more than their automobiles are watches. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that a leaked image purportedly showing the interior of Bugatti’s next hypercar suggests it will feature an instrument cluster inspired by mechanical timepieces.
A photo shared on Instagram shows that the cluster will be made of a central speedometer with a small digital readout at the bottom, a tachometer on the right, and a trio of smaller gauges on the left. The dials are all contained within a metal housing with cutouts that may reduce weight.
Read: Forget Turbos, Bugatti’s New V16 Is A Colossal 3-Foot Long Naturally Aspirated Hybrid
While it’s hard to make out in the blurry image, the gauges will apparently be mechanical and, like some of the most expensive watches these days, will be see-through, reports the Supercar Blog. This means that as the speedometer needle rises, the driver will be able to see the gauge’s internal workings whirring around—a perfect distraction for triple-digit speeds.
That said, the driver may want to pay attention to the road, because the dial goes all the way up to 550, which we presume refers to kilometers per hour, and equates to 342 mph. While that’s no guarantee of a top speed, it is worth noting that it’s 50 km/h (31 mph) higher than the Chiron’s speedometer went to, suggesting that the upcoming hypercar will push the envelope in terms of speed.
Looking right, it also appears that the tachometer runs into the four-digit numbers, which makes sense, since earlier reports indicated that the naturally-aspirated V16 under the hood of the upcoming Bugatti will rev to at least 9,000 RPM.
Speaking of the engine, reports indicate that the newly developed 16-cylinder will displace 8.3 liters and make around 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS). It will then be assisted by a trio of electric motors that help the power unit develop a total of around 1,800 hp (1,342 kW / 1,825 PS).
Last week, Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac disclosed that the engine will also be 16 inches (400 mm) longer than the automaker’s old W16, measuring around 3 feet in length. Based on another leaked photo of a prototype, this will contribute to a longer, sleeker design for the car.
Bugatti is reportedly planning to launch its next hypercar in June, so we won’t have to wait much longer to see the car fully unveiled and find out what it will be called.
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