by Bugatti’s Insect Collection: The Fourth Unique Example
An American collector now owns four Bugattis, each themed around different insects. The latest Mistral Fly Bug completes a long-term Sur Mesure project. Each car has a different insect identity—from a beetle to a dragonfly.
The Sur Mesure Program: Limits Only in Imagination
The Sur Mesure program exists for clients who see eight-figure sums as just the start of the conversation. Among the few lucky ones with access, the only true limitation is imagination. One American collector demonstrated this by receiving their fourth insect-themed commission—the W16 Mistral Fly Bug. Yes, four examples.
Collection Composition and Inspiration
This collection already includes the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Hellbug, the Chiron Hellbee, and the newer Divo Lady Bug. For the finale, design teams in Molsheim and Berlin turned to the dragonfly.
More: A father ordered a Bugatti that every collector would have refused him
Unique Design and Colors
The sculptural body of the Mistral received an exclusive color, Dragonfly Blue, which shifts from turquoise to deep blue depending on the light, mimicking the iridescent quality for which the insect is named. The hypercar also features a unique pattern of ellipses that becomes denser toward the rear, similar to the Divo Lady Bug. However, in this case, designers managed to integrate the Bugatti Macaron emblem into the pattern, described as one of the project’s “most complex” technical challenges.
More: The revival of the Veyron by Bugatti with a W16 and a finish you’ll still think about
Interior and Details
The ellipse pattern is also applied to the door panels, where leather on Alcantara creates a 3D effect. The open two-seater cabin features a blue-black theme matching the exterior. Interestingly, the dragonfly is not the only animal reference: the gear selector is adorned with Rembrandt, the famous Bugatti Dancing Elephant.
Technical Side Unchanged
The project did not include any changes under the hood. Like all 99 sold units of the Mistral, the Fly Bug is based on the Chiron chassis. The model is equipped with the familiar quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine, producing 1579 hp (1177 kW / 1600 PS) and 1600 Nm of torque.
More: Bugatti Brouillard W16 brings the Chiron back from the dead
Cost and Project Completion
The brand from Molsheim did not announce the cost of this specific commission, though it can be assumed the owner spent well over an eight-figure sum on their four-car collection. A base Mistral without options starts at around 5 million euros, which is about $5.9 million before taxes. Given the level of customization on the Fly Bug itself, the total cost of all four cars likely exceeds $30 million. According to Bugatti, the Fly Bug is the final chapter in a multi-generational journey through the insect world, ruling out the appearance of an ant-themed Tourbillon in the future.
This project demonstrates how exclusivity and individuality become the main values for the most expensive hypercars. The collector is not just buying cars but creating a thematic series where each example has its own unique story and design. The absence of technical changes underscores that the focus is on visual and conceptual art, rather than performance. The completion of this series may also indicate that Bugatti is preparing for new stages in its history, perhaps focusing on other themes or technologies.
