(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – A Bugatti in standard production? That practically does not exist. With the W16 Mistral “Fly Bug,” Bugatti expands its customization series “Sur Mesure” with another unique piece. The vehicle is part of a series of four closely linked projects created in collaboration with a long-time collector.
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The common denominator of these vehicles is inspiration from natural models. The “Fly Bug” forms the latest conclusion of this collection and thematically connects to already realized models such as the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, the Chiron, and the Divo.
At the center of the design concept this time is the dragonfly. This insect serves as a template for a design language that combines lightness, dynamics, and visual complexity. The design development arose from a direct exchange between the collector and Frank Heyl, Bugatti’s design chief.
Subsequently, the Berlin CMF team (Color, Materials, Finish) took over the elaboration of the design details. Specialists from different disciplines worked together to develop a consistent design language that ensures both the vehicle’s individuality and its integration into the existing collection.
A central element of the exterior is a newly developed ellipse pattern that extends over the body. The structure becomes denser towards the rear and flows seamlessly into the dark areas of the air intakes. This graphic solution represents a further development of earlier patterns already used in previous models.
Photo series: Bugatti W16 Mistral “Fly Bug” (2026)
The appearance is complemented by the specially developed paint color “Dragonfly Blue.” Depending on the light incidence and viewing angle, it shows color changes between blue and turquoise tones, thus reflecting the optical properties of dragonfly wings. The rims are also color-coordinated accordingly, despite different material and paint requirements.
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Inside the special Mistral, the design concept continues. A newly developed, multi-layer material system is used, where leather with a geometric pattern is laid over Alcantara. A special finishing creates a three-dimensional effect. The ellipse motif is found on the door panels and has been adapted to the respective component geometries. For the first time, Bugatti integrates such a graphic pattern both on the front side of the door panel and in the area of the armrests, which posed high demands on manufacturing and material processing.
A special technical challenge was the integration of the Bugatti macaron into the side line. The emblem was embedded in a graphic pattern for the first time and required precise adjustments in scaling and positioning to faithfully represent the characteristic details. The gear lever also features the sculpture “Dancing Elephant,” which goes back to Rembrandt Bugatti (Ettore’s brother) and establishes a connection to the brand’s artistic tradition.
The realization of the W16 Mistral “Fly Bug” took several months. The high degree of customization and the complexity of implementation required close coordination between design, development, and production. The result is a unique piece designed both as an independent object and in the context of the four-part collection, demonstrating the possibilities of Bugatti’s special customization.
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