For those who are tired of cockpits full of screens, the new Bugatti Tourbillon offers a breath of fresh air thanks to the number of physical buttons on the dashboard.
Contrary to the trend of many luxury car brands, the Bugatti has maintained an analogue approach in the new one Tourbillon. The instrument panel was developed in collaboration with the Swiss company Concepta specialist in highly complex mechanical watch movements.
The car’s name further reinforces this concept. In French, “tourbillon” indicates a watch mechanism patented in 1801 to neutralize time deviations caused by gravity. The choice was therefore clear: no screens. In their place, a mechanical display designed to last for decades.
The instrument panel consists of over 650 individual components and was assembled by hand by Concept using traditional fine watchmaking techniques. This process was detailed in an episode of the documentary series Bugatti A New Era.
Construction included complex finishing methods, precision machined components, and careful hand assembly. Perhaps the greatest technical challenge of the Tourbillon was to integrate mechanical assemblies with electronic components.
Printed circuit boards, sensors and LED elements had to be integrated into an architecture originally based on fully mechanical watches. Standard watchmaker tools proved inadequate due to the size of the components, requiring the creation of specialized manufacturing processes.
For visible surfaces, customers can choose from decorative techniques such as Nails of Parisguilloche patterns and tapestry textures, classic elements of traditional watch design. Materials include aventurine and various metallic finishes.
Customization is done using physical samples of the components, rather than relying solely on digital renderings, allowing customers to evaluate the visual effect and tactile quality of the materials firsthand.
Despite the mechanical focus, the system meets the requirements of a modern high-performance vehicle. It combines analog dials with electronic data acquisition and processing, creating a solution that combines tradition and technological innovation.
Photo: Bugatti. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
