A prototype of the new Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar underwent winter testing in Croatia, where it was repeatedly spotted covered in snow. In one photo, it appeared the car was stuck, though it may have simply been parked.
Testing in Harsh Conditions
Bugatti unveiled the Tourbillon in the summer of 2024, but customer deliveries will only begin in 2026. Despite this deadline being relatively soon, the company is actively testing prototypes to ensure the perfection of the €3.8 million hypercar.
The testing, it seems, did not go entirely smoothly. Observers from Car Spotting Croatia spotted the prototype, which was reportedly stuck in the snow. While details are scarce, the photo shows a black Tourbillon by the roadside, surrounded by snow and slush.
Someone appears to be digging the car out with a shovel, though it’s unclear if it was simply parked or veered off the road. However, the former seems more likely, considering a second image that seems to show the same “VP1” prototype in the same location.
A Night Under the Snow
In another shot, the car is buried in snow up to about half the wheel height. The entire body was also covered in a layer of snow, hinting that the car was left overnight and could have been buried by a snowplow.
It’s an unusual sight—to see a multi-million-euro hypercar buried in snow. However, this is not the first time prototypes have found themselves in similar situations, like the test X5 that left the track and got stuck in deep snow.
Powerful Technical Core
To recap, the Tourbillon is equipped with a naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 engine, three electric motors, and a 25 kWh battery pack. This system provides a combined output of 1775 horsepower and an electric-only range of over 60 kilometers. Despite the additional components and complexity, the car weighs less than the previous Chiron model.
Update: Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac published a new video showing one of the prototypes driving through heavy snow, though it’s unclear if this is part of the same testing.
Winter tests are a critically important part of developing any car, especially one as innovative and powerful as this. They allow for checking the reliability of all systems, from the hybrid powertrain to the electronics, under extreme conditions. The fact that Bugatti conducts such tests with a multi-million-euro prototype speaks to the brand’s pursuit of perfection and its readiness to test the car’s durability in real, far-from-ideal situations. It also serves as a reminder that even the world’s fastest and most technologically advanced cars are not immune to the whims of nature.