Bugatti's Most Personal W16 Mistral Ever
Bugatti W16 Mistral 'La Perle Rare'
The W16 Mistral represents the final chapter of Bugatti's legendary W16 era, and no example illustrates the potential of the marque's Sur Mesure personalization program quite like 'La Perle Rare.' This one-of-a-kind roadster was conceived through a close collaboration between client and Bugatti, resulting in a hypercar that is as deeply personal as it is technical.
The Commission
The project began at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where Jascha Straub, Bugatti's Manager of Sur Mesure and Individualization, first met the client who would commission this singular build. From the start, the creative direction centered on a sculptural, flowing aesthetic and the way the W16 Mistral captures and reflects light.
Exterior Design
Drawing from Bugatti's hand-painted 'Vagues de Lumiere' design language, Straub developed a two-tone composition that visually separates the upper and lower body.
Two entirely new colors were created for the commission: a warm gold-infused tone across the upper surfaces and a refined warm white along the lower body.
The dividing lines between the two were achieved through a painstaking process of hand-applied masking, followed by weeks of supervised paintwork.
Diamond-cut wheels received a custom paint blend to mirror the same gold-and-white interplay found on the body.
Interior and Personalization
Inside, all carbon components were finished in white to establish a focused, jewel-like cockpit. Door panels feature alternating white and gold linework following sculpted concave surfaces, while machined aluminum trim elements throughout the cabin capture light with the same precision as the exterior. Warm ambient lighting further reinforces the pearl-inspired aesthetic.
Personal touches run throughout the car. Rembrandt Bugatti's iconic Dancing Elephant sculpture appears on both the gear selector casing and the exterior body panels. The name 'La Perle Rare,' rendered in Straub's own handwriting, is embroidered along the central tunnel, engraved on the engine cover, and painted beneath the rear wing. The result is a vehicle that honors Bugatti's heritage while serving as a singular expression of one client's vision.
Very Driver
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