Bugatti Mistral La Perle Rare Stands Alone as the Final, Most Personal Expression Of The W16 Era

Bugatti recently showcased a one-of-a-kind roadster commissioned under the Sur Mesure program for a super-secretive client. The client first met Jascha Straub, the head of Bugatti’s bespoke designs, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2023.

There are only 99 standard Mistrals, but they pack a punch thanks to the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, which produces 1,578 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. This provides the roadster with plenty of power, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 260 mph. As a side note, one record-breaking model achieved 282 mph in 2024, solidifying its status as the fastest roadster ever made, and the La Perle Rare is no exception.



This automobile is a masterclass in customization, with the exterior sporting a pearlescent two-tone paint job called “Vagues de Lumière” or “Waves of Light,” which simulates the look of light reflecting off one of Bugatti’s hypercars. The car’s upper bodywork is finished in warm gold, while the bottom bodywork is finished in polished warm white. It all began with a silver motif, which was refined and improved to produce these distinct colors with metallic flakes. To achieve perfect symmetry, the flawless transition between the two hues required painstaking hand-taping, masking, and painting. The diamond-cut alloy wheels are the same two colours, which combine quite beautifully.


The legendary Rembrandt Bugatti Dancing Elephant motifs feature on the front fenders, giving homage to the sculpture that once sat on the Type 41 Royale’s hood ornament. Check out the hand-painted script on the central tunnel; “La Perle Rare” is the name of this masterpiece, as inscribed by Jascha Straub. That’s not all; the name is carved on the white and gold engine cover and painted on the rear wing.




Inside, the car is bathed in that same luminous feel. You have white upholstery and warm gold inserts on the doors, which have some exquisite lines curving across the concave surfaces. To carry on the outside pearlescent theme, even the carbon fiber pieces are finished in white. The machined and polished aluminum trim on the steering wheel, center console, and door handles also catches the light perfectly. The ambient lighting is warm and inviting, and the Dancing Elephant even appears inside the gear selector. There aren’t many extra touches, however, to avoid overwhelming the driver’s senses.


This Mistral is significantly more expensive than the standard model, which costs roughly $5 million, though Bugatti has kept the precise value under wraps. Bugatti sees this car as a celebration of workmanship, legacy, and the end of an era, with the W16 engine that changed the game for hypercars. The rest of us can only marvel, but one lucky driver will own the rarest pearl in Bugatti’s final W16 collection.