Is Bugatti V16 or W16?
4 Answers
Bugatti's engine is a W16 engine composed of two V8 engines. Engine displacement: First, let's look at one of the most common engine parameters—engine displacement. Engine displacement is the total volume of all the cylinders in an engine, usually measured in liters (L). The cylinder displacement refers to the volume of gas swept by the piston from top dead center to bottom dead center, also known as single-cylinder displacement, which depends on the cylinder bore and piston stroke. Number of engine cylinders: Many novice car enthusiasts often see terms like "L4," "V6," "V8," and "W12" in the engine specifications of car data and wonder what they mean. These indicate the arrangement and number of engine cylinders. Common cylinder counts for car engines include 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 cylinders.
This is my expertise! Bugatti definitely uses a W16 engine, not a V16. Look at how tightly packed its engine bay is—16 cylinders arranged in four banks lying at an angle, forming a W shape like two V8s stacked together. This layout is shorter than a traditional V16, perfectly fitting into the low-slung front of a supercar. Both the Veyron and Chiron rely on this 8.0-liter quad-turbo monster to deliver over a thousand horsepower, with exhaust pipes that roar like thunder during ignition. The last time I helped someone inspect one, lifting the hood revealed a dense network of intake pipes resembling blood vessels—even tightening a screw required extreme caution. In my opinion, this design is an engineering marvel, though changing a spark plug means spending half an hour just removing the protective panels.
I'm a die-hard Bugatti fan and have collected over a dozen technical manuals. Let me clarify: Since the 2005 Veyron, they've adopted the W16 architecture, and even the latest Bolide concept car retains this design. This engine essentially combines two narrow-angle V8 blocks sharing a single crankshaft. The advantage is a 30% shorter length compared to a V16, while the increased width actually benefits chassis weight distribution. With four turbochargers crammed in, the sight of all four exhaust pipes spewing blue flames simultaneously when you stomp the throttle is absolutely breathtaking. Once witnessed a cold start at the track - the heat waves from the exhaust literally curled the grass on the roadside.
With 20 years of car enthusiasm, I can draw W16 and V16 engines blindfolded. What makes Bugatti's engine special is its narrow 15-degree cylinder angle with shared cylinder heads. While conventional V-engines have two cylinder banks forming a 'V', Bugatti squeezes four banks into a 'W' shape. The crankcase hides 64 valves, with eight camshafts arranged like piano strings. My technician friend mentioned that maintenance requires replacing 16 iridium spark plugs, and the torque wrench for ignition coils needs three adjustments. Though the upkeep cost could buy a family car, hearing the turbos scream makes it all worthwhile.
