Bugatti Just Unveiled the One-Off Mistral ‘Blanc Éternel’ Hypercar

Today’s digital techniques and yesterday’s traditional methods rarely find common ground in creative expression, yet when they do, the result can be remarkable. Enter the new W16 Mistral “Blanc Éternel” hypercar: The 1,578 hp roadster is the latest one-off calling card from the French marque’s Sur Mesure division, which specializes in customization. In this case, it also shows off Bugatti’s encore collaboration with Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM), an atelier that has produced porcelain masterworks since 1763.

Mesmerizing to look at, this singular Mistral stands out in a line already limited to only 99 examples and claimed to be the finale of street-legal models powered by the W16 mill. To that end, the “Blanc Éternel” carries the same power-train configuration as the others—Bugatti’s 8.0-liter, quad-turbo 16-cylinder heart paired with a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. And the performance specs still equate to a zero-to-62 mph time of 2.4 seconds and a top speed of 273 mph.

Those standout stats now compete with an added aesthetic that further amplifies the Mistral’s already striking design. It’s an approach first explored by Bugatti and KPM in what was dubbed the “L’Or Blanc”—a one-of-one Veyron Grand Sport unveiled exactly 15 years ago to the day. That initial partnership between the two legacy manufacturers was, in itself, innovative.

“At first, it seems to be an unusual idea to use porcelain in a car, especially in the world’s fastest convertible,” Stefan Brungs, Bugatti’s director of sales and marketing said at the time, per the 2011 press release concerning the “L’Or Blanc” Veyron. “But this is what Bugatti stands for: the realization of exceptional ideas whilst striving for the utmost in quality and aesthetics. This allows us to continue Ettore Bugatti’s heritage, who himself loved to experiment with new materials.”

While the “L’Or Blanc” Veyron owed its appearance to the decorative cues found on a KPM vase envisioned by designer Enzo Mari, translated as streaks of blue mixing with a white backdrop, the “Blanc Éternel” Mistral takes a more black-and-white approach, literally, and presents greater linearity. It also illuminates the digital design of the Mistral.

Bugatti’s design director Frank Heyl and his team eschewed the use of clay models when it came to conceiving the Mistral’s styling, opting instead for a digital solution that, according to the press release, relies on manipulating “a network of precisely controlled surfaces” to bring together what is a “normally invisible patch layout.” The idea for the exterior dressing of this specific car was to bring the intersection of those  surfaces to the fore with the juxtaposition of black lines—first taped off by hand—to provide the abstract zebra-like pattern. The motif continues in the cockpit, where taping and painting of the leather upholstery was also required.  

As for the integration of porcelain, KPM has bestowed it upon its own logo, the EB logo, the gas and oil caps, and accents on the engine cover. The material also embellishes the interior, where the center armrest, speaker covers, window buttons, and gear shift are among the areas of application. The press release notes that what makes porcelain difficult to use is the fact that its size reduces by 17 percent after its time in the furnace and curing. That variance needs to be accounted for, which, it seems, KPM has been doing to since Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, founded the operation in the 18th century. Obviously, the legacy has since grown from royal tableware to hypercar accoutrements.

“Refining such a sensitive material for use in a vehicle of this performance class represents a remarkable achievement in craftsmanship,” stated Thomas Wenzel, creative director at KPM, in the aforementioned release. Less remarkable but still highlighting porcelain’s functionality is the 1,000-piece line of cups commemorating KPM’s latest creative ride with Bugatti.

As for the automaker’s lineage, it began with founder Ettore Bugatti’s penchant for advancing both form and function, a seemingly familial trait shared by his father, a furniture maker, his brother Rembrandt, an accomplished sculptor, and his son Jean, an acclaimed automotive designer. With that pedigree behind its name, the Bugatti Mistral “Blanc Éternel” could exist nowhere else but the crossroads of both boundary breaking engineering and artisanship.

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Click here for more photos of the Bugatti Mistral “Blanc Éternel” hypercar.