Bugatti Mistral prototype spotted for the first time!

The Bugatti Mistral broke cover at Pebble Beach last year. Named after the strong, cold, northwesterly wind that blows over Southern France, the Mistral is Bugatti’s final hypercar based on the Chiron platform.

Now, more than a year following its unveiling, the first pre-production prototype has been caught in the wild. The Mistral test mule was spotted somewhere in southern Italy. You can clearly see the Mistral’s signature X-shaped tail lamp graphic. The test car also has its rear wing extended.

The Bugatti Mistral is the only open-top model based on the current generation. It is also the last Bugatti to use the legendary 8.0-liter W16 engine. In its ‘Thor’ spec, this monstrous powerplant produces 1600 hp, which drives all four wheels via an all-wheel drive system.

This year at Pebble Beach, Bugatti unveiled a gold Mistral to showcase the vast possibilities of its ‘Sur Mesure’ program. It shared the stage with the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’.

Image credit: Lavocedimanduria