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Bugatti is keeping the W16 engine alive for one more bespoke creation. On March 13, 2025, the Molsheim brand released a teaser featuring a polished plaque engraved with “W16” — the first official confirmation that its third Programme Solitaire project will be powered by the iconic 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged engine. This one-off follows the Brouillard and the F.K.P. Hommage, both of which delivered 1,600 hp from the same powertrain.
The new car won’t be a production revival or a series extension. Programme Solitaire, Bugatti’s ultra-exclusive coachbuilding program, builds no more than two examples per year, reusing existing chassis and powertrains while crafting a completely unique body and interior for each client. The third one-off is expected to debut at The Quail, a gathering during Monterey Car Week in August 2025, according to sources close to the project. The Supercar Blog first reported the venue, and while Bugatti has not officially confirmed the location, the timing aligns with the brand’s tradition of unveiling collectibles at the California event.
Although the teaser keeps the car’s name, specs, and design under wraps, insider hints suggest the styling will merge elements of the hybrid Tourbillon with the track-only Bolide. That would make the third Solitaire a visual bridge between Bugatti’s combustion past and its electrified future. The car is likely to retain the same 1,600 hp W16 tune as its predecessors, given that the powertrain is already homologated and proven in the Chiron Super Sport and Mistral.
”The W16 isn’t done yet,” a Bugatti spokesperson told Car and Driver in a recent interview. “Programme Solitaire allows us to extend the life of this engine in a way that respects its legacy — each car is a unique piece of engineering art.” The statement reinforces that the one-off does not signal a return to mass production of the W16, but rather a final, curated chapter for the powertrain that defined the Volkswagen-era Bugatti.
Production of the W16 Mistral roadster wrapped up earlier this year, and the Chiron line has been retired. Yet Bugatti is not ready to mothball the engine entirely. The third Solitaire will likely be the last opportunity for collectors to own a new Bugatti with the 8.0-liter quad-turbo unit. Meanwhile, the brand’s future is firmly hybrid: the Tourbillon, announced in 2024, pairs a naturally aspirated V16 with three electric motors for a combined 1,800 hp. Deliveries of the 250-unit Tourbillon, priced at €3.8 million before taxes, are scheduled to begin in 2026.
The new Solitaire is not intended to compete with the Tourbillon. Rather, it serves as a collectible coda to the Bugatti W16 era — a final, tailor-made farewell for the most devoted enthusiasts. Each Solitaire is a rolling sculpture, and the third one is expected to command a price well into the seven-figure range, though Bugatti has not disclosed pricing.
While the W16 one-off captures headlines, another development extends the life of the engine in a different direction. British firm Lanzante, known for converting track-only hypercars into road-legal machines, has announced plans to homologate the Bugatti Bolide for public roads. The Bolide was originally built as a track-only weapon — 40 units, no compromises, no license plates, and the most extreme form of the last W16. Lanzante’s conversion involves adding lights, mirrors, bumpers, and emissions equipment, a process that Bugatti itself declined to undertake.
“The Bolide was never meant to be street-legal, but we’ve done it before with the McLaren F1 GTR and the Porsche 911 GT1,” said Lanzante’s managing director in a statement. “The W16 is a masterpiece, and making it usable on the road is a way to share that masterpiece with a wider audience.” The first Lanzante-converted Bolide is expected to be shown at the same Monterey Car Week, potentially alongside the third Solitaire — creating a dual W16 send-off.
The third Programme Solitaire one-off is more than a teaser; it’s a confirmation that Bugatti’s W16 engine still has a voice, even as the brand pivots to hybrid power. With a likely debut at The Quail in August 2025, the car will be the most exclusive rollable sculpture from Molsheim this year. For collectors, it represents a final chance to own a new Bugatti built around the engine that shattered speed records for a decade. And for the rest of us, it’s a reminder that the internal combustion engine can still inspire art, even in its twilight.
