For Bugatti, creating designs that endure is more than philosophy, it’s a responsibility carried across 116 years of automotive history. Every model must feel unmistakably Bugatti, balancing heritage with innovation. In the brand’s newest chapter, that challenge is embodied in the cabin of the Bugatti Tourbillon, where tradition, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge engineering converge.
Leading the effort is Bugatti’s interior design team, tasked with translating the marque’s DNA into a space that feels both timeless and forward-looking.
“The role of an interior designer is to design the full vehicle cabin from the first sketches all the way to production,” explains Ignacio Martinez, Chief Interior Designer at Bugatti. “But beyond aesthetics, we need to honor Bugatti’s DNA, develop a clear theme, and create a user sequence that feels intuitive.”
Step inside the Tourbillon and the connection to Bugatti’s past is immediately apparent. The cabin immerses occupants in a world of luxury shaped by iconic design cues that have defined the marque since its earliest masterpieces. Material quality plays a central role in creating this atmosphere, reinforcing the sense of occasion that has always surrounded a Bugatti.
One of the most distinctive elements is the reinterpretation of the brand’s signature center line and C-line, which now flow into the interior. This creates two subtly separated environments, one for the driver and one for the passenger, while visually linking the cabin to the car’s exterior. A horizontal color split further enhances the sense of balance and symmetry.
Bugatti has also expanded its material palette, introducing newly developed, tailor-made fabrics for the seats and door panels. These sit alongside supple leather, engaging both sight and touch. The brand calls this approach “car couture”, a philosophy that brings the refinement of Haute Couture into the automotive world.
Despite the artistry, the Tourbillon’s interior is not purely about aesthetics. The design team had to integrate complex engineering and safety requirements without compromising the original vision.
“We needed to ensure critical requirements like airbags, seatbelt positioning, and crash behavior were fully integrated,” Martinez notes. “This is a road car, so we had to meet strict constraints to bring it into production.”
Every element of the cabin reflects this balance between beauty and function, guided by close collaboration between designers and engineers.
Named after a landmark watchmaking invention from the early 19th century, the Tourbillon’s design philosophy mirrors its horological inspiration. At its core is the idea of timelessness.
“Just like a precious timepiece, a Bugatti needs to be timeless, an object that can be passed from generation to generation,” says Frank Heyl, Design Director at Bugatti. “That’s why, in this digital age, we chose an analogue approach, where the art of watchmaking meets digital detox.”
In a bold move, Bugatti has minimized digital interfaces. Physical controls take precedence, engineered for exceptional haptic feedback, resistance, and precision. The central display remains hidden within the dashboard, only emerging when required.
The analogue philosophy reaches its peak at the heart of the driving experience: the steering wheel and instrument cluster. The fixed-hub steering wheel allows the rim to rotate around a stationary center housing the airbag, an impressive mechanical solution that integrates controls and paddle shifters seamlessly.
Behind it sits a fully analogue instrument cluster, developed in collaboration with master Swiss watchmakers. Each gear and mechanism is meticulously crafted, housed within a milled aluminum casing and protected by crystal glass. The skeletonized design showcases the beauty of the mechanical, evoking the elegance of early 20th-century Bugatti models.
“Everything in the interior of the Tourbillon is semantically connected to the art of watchmaking,” Martinez concludes. “By keeping this philosophy alive, we ensure the experience of driving the Tourbillon will remain timeless for years to come.”
In an era dominated by screens and software, the Bugatti Tourbillon stands as a rare statement, one that celebrates mechanical purity, craftsmanship, and a vision of luxury designed to outlast trends.
