Bugatti’s CEO, Mate Rimac, has expressed a strong desire for the hypercar manufacturer to consider producing a V16-powered supercar with a true manual transmission. This sentiment was shared during the Monterey Car Week, where Rimac spoke with automotive media outlet Road & Track.
When questioned about the possibility of a three-pedal car in Bugatti’s future product lineup, Rimac enthusiastically responded, “Yes, absolutely, I agree 100 percent. Imagine a car with a V16 engine and a real manual gearbox.” The interpretation of his statement suggests a craving for a driving experience that involves a physical shifter and a genuine clutch, allowing the driver to directly control the pressure on the flywheel and thus the gear engagement.
This aspiration contrasts with some recent offerings from other luxury manufacturers. For instance, Ferrari’s 12Cilindri Manuale features a gated shifter and clutch pedal, but these are connected to a dual-clutch transmission and send digital signals, operating as a steer-by-wire system. Similarly, the Koenigsegg CC850’s Engage Shift System, while equipped with a clutch pedal and shifter, is underpinned by a multi-clutch automatic transmission offering nine forward gears. While these systems aim to replicate the feel of a manual operation, they are not purely mechanical in their direct control.
Rimac’s vision for a Bugatti manual focuses on a purely mechanical connection, differentiating it from these simulated experiences. The potential V16 manual hypercar would likely be based on the recently unveiled Bugatti Tourbillon. Launched in June 2024, the Tourbillon is the successor to the Chiron and boasts a new 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16 engine, developed in collaboration with Cosworth. This engine is augmented by a hybrid system featuring three electric motors, resulting in a combined output of 1800 horsepower. The Tourbillon accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2 seconds and has a top speed of 445 km/h. Production of the Tourbillon will be limited to 250 units, with deliveries commencing in 2026, and a starting price of approximately £3.2 million.
Bugatti’s last manual transmission offering was the legendary EB110 from the 1990s. The EB110 was powered by a 3.5-liter quad-turbocharged V12 engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox manufactured by Graziano. It produced 560 horsepower. Out of the 139 EB110s ever produced, fewer than a third were equipped with the manual transmission, making them highly sought-after collector’s items today.
The pursuit of a true manual transmission in modern hypercars is a theme being explored across the industry. Aston Martin is reportedly considering a return to manual gearboxes, though integrating them with modern vehicle electronics presents a significant hurdle. The CEO of Porsche North America has stated that the company will continue to offer manual transmission models as long as regulations permit and market demand exists. Lamborghini, however, has indicated no current plans to reintroduce manual transmissions in their future models. Notably, manual versions of the Porsche 911 Carrera S were previously exclusive to the North American market.
Rimac’s explicit desire for a purely mechanical manual transmission for a future Bugatti V16 hypercar signals a potential return to a more engaging, driver-focused era for the iconic brand, catering to enthusiasts who value raw mechanical interaction.
