Bugatti Is 100% Interested in a Manual Supercar, Says CEO Mate Rimac
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has made it clear that he likes the idea of a real manual Bugatti, even suggesting that a future V16 model with three pedals would be something special.
Bugatti Could Bring Back the Manual Gearbox
Manual transmissions have almost disappeared from the world of high-performance cars, but interest in them has started to return.
Some supercar and hypercar manufacturers are bringing back the traditional clutch pedal and manual gear lever because collectors increasingly want a more emotional and engaging driving experience.
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has now shown strong support for the idea of creating a modern Bugatti with a genuine manual transmission.
Mate Rimac: “Imagine a V16 With a Manual”
“Yes, definitely. Definitely. I agree 100 percent. Imagine a V16 with a manual. Real manual.”
— Mate RimacRimac made the comments during Monterey Car Week when he was asked whether there is room in the Bugatti range for a manual car.
His answer was very direct. He did not simply dismiss the idea as something from the past. Instead, he showed clear enthusiasm for the possibility.
Could the Bugatti Tourbillon Get a Manual?
The obvious question is whether a manual Bugatti could be based on the new Bugatti Tourbillon.
The Tourbillon uses a naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 engine combined with three electric motors. Its current transmission is an eight-speed dual-clutch unit.
Why the Tourbillon Makes the Idea Interesting
8.3-Liter V16
The Tourbillon uses a naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 engine instead of the previous generation’s quad-turbo W16.
Hybrid Power
Three electric motors work with the V16 engine to create an extremely powerful hybrid powertrain.
Eight-Speed Gearbox
The current Tourbillon uses an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Manual Possibility
Mate Rimac has publicly expressed strong interest in a genuine manual Bugatti.
Bugatti Wants a Real Manual — Not a Simulation
One of the most interesting parts of Rimac’s comments is the emphasis on a real manual transmission.
Some modern performance cars can imitate the feeling of a manual gearbox while using an automated transmission underneath.
Rimac’s comments suggest that if Bugatti does build a manual car, the company would want a genuine driver-focused experience.
That is what makes the idea of a manual Bugatti so exciting.
Why Are Manual Supercars Coming Back?
For many years, manufacturers concentrated on making automatic transmissions faster and more efficient.
Dual-clutch transmissions can change gears extremely quickly, often faster than a human driver can.
But outright speed is no longer the only thing that matters to supercar buyers.
As electric vehicles become incredibly fast, the physical experience of driving is becoming more important to enthusiasts.
The Manual Supercar Is Making a Comeback
Pagani Utopia
The Pagani Utopia is available with a seven-speed manual transmission for customers who want maximum driver involvement.
Koenigsegg CC850
The CC850 uses an unusual transmission system that can provide a manual-style experience with a clutch and gear lever.
Driver-Focused Cars
Several specialist manufacturers are focusing more strongly on lightweight construction and driver involvement.
Collector Demand
Extremely wealthy collectors are increasingly interested in cars that offer experiences unavailable from ordinary vehicles.
Bugatti Has Built a Manual Before
A manual Bugatti would not actually be completely new for the brand.
The Bugatti EB110 from the 1990s used a six-speed manual transmission with a quad-turbocharged 3.5-liter V12 engine.
Since Bugatti’s modern revival, however, the Veyron and Chiron families have relied on automated transmissions.
The Biggest Engineering Challenge
Building a manual Bugatti sounds simple until the Tourbillon’s hybrid system is considered.
The Tourbillon combines a large naturally aspirated V16 engine with three electric motors. A manual gearbox would have to be integrated into this sophisticated system.
Engineers would also need to carefully manage the relationship between the engine, clutch, gearbox and electric motors.
Hybrid Integration
The gearbox would need to communicate correctly with the combustion engine and electric motors.
Packaging
A manual transmission would require careful engineering inside an already complex hypercar platform.
Driver Experience
Bugatti would need to make the manual feel natural rather than simply adding a clutch pedal for marketing purposes.
Limited Production
A manual Bugatti could make the most sense as an extremely limited or bespoke project.
What Could a Manual Bugatti Look Like?
Bugatti has not announced a production manual model. Rimac’s comments should therefore be viewed as strong interest rather than confirmation that a manual car is already approved for production.
If the idea eventually moves forward, there are several possibilities.
One-Off Hypercar
Bugatti could create a single bespoke manual car for an extremely important collector.
Limited Series
A very small production run could appeal to collectors who specifically want a three-pedal Bugatti.
Special Tourbillon
A future special version of the Tourbillon could potentially become the basis for such a project.
Completely New Model
Bugatti could eventually design a dedicated model around the manual driving experience from the beginning.
The Supercar Industry Is Changing
The return of manual transmissions is part of a wider change in the performance-car industry.
For years, manufacturers competed primarily on horsepower, acceleration and top speed.
Modern technology has made extreme performance easier to achieve, so manufacturers are now looking for other ways to make their cars feel special.
Mechanical controls, naturally aspirated engines, lightweight construction and driver involvement are becoming increasingly valuable to enthusiasts.
What We Know Right Now
| Question | Current Situation |
|---|---|
| Does Bugatti want a manual? | Mate Rimac says he is 100% interested in the idea. |
| Has a manual Bugatti been confirmed? | No production manual model has been officially announced. |
| Could it use a V16? | Rimac specifically imagined a V16 with a real manual. |
| Does the Tourbillon currently use a manual? | No. It currently uses an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. |
| Has Bugatti built manual cars before? | Yes. The EB110 used a six-speed manual transmission. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bugatti want to build a manual supercar?
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has said he is 100% interested in the idea of a real manual Bugatti.
Could a Bugatti Tourbillon have a manual gearbox?
It is possible to imagine, but Bugatti has not announced a manual Tourbillon. The hybrid V16 powertrain would make the engineering very complex.
Does the Bugatti Tourbillon currently have a manual?
No. The current Tourbillon uses an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Has Bugatti ever made a manual car?
Yes. The 1990s Bugatti EB110 used a six-speed manual gearbox.
Why do collectors want manual supercars?
A manual gearbox gives drivers more physical involvement and creates a more traditional mechanical driving experience.
Imagine a Bugatti V16 With Three Pedals
The idea of a manual Bugatti sounds almost impossible in today’s high-tech hypercar world, which is exactly what makes Mate Rimac’s comments so interesting.
A naturally aspirated V16 combined with a real clutch pedal and traditional gear lever could create one of the most emotional driving experiences of the modern hypercar era.
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but Bugatti’s CEO has clearly shown that the idea is not being dismissed.
If Bugatti really does build one, it could become one of the most desirable modern driver’s cars in the world.
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