Bugatti W16 Mistral "Fly Bug" Is Inspired by a Dragonfly
When Customization Goes All the Way
Bugatti's Sur Mesure division takes customization to a level that goes far beyond the usual. This is the team behind the Hermès Chiron and the lavender W16 Mistral. If an owner has a specific vision, no matter how detailed or unusual, Sur Mesure is set up to make it happen. Its newest project, however, sticks to that approach but shifts from fashion to something more natural.
Meet the W16 Mistral "Fly Bug" – the fourth in a series of insect-inspired builds, each one reimagining a different creature through Bugatti's design language. It joins the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse "Hellbug," the Chiron "Hellbee," and the Divo "Lady Bug," all commissioned by the same undisclosed, deep-pocketed client.
Inspired by the Dragonfly
The "Fly Bug" isn't just named after a dragonfly. Its design is built around the way a dragonfly looks and moves.
The first thing you notice is the custom "Dragonfly Blue" paint. It shifts from blue to turquoise depending on the light, echoing the look of real insect wings. This isn't just a paint color – it's a layered finish that changes as you move around the car. The wheels are finished to match, which is more complicated than it sounds because of the different materials.
Bugatti also carried over a pattern from earlier cars in the series. An ellipse motif runs along the body, starting out subtle and getting denser toward the back, then fading into the air intakes.
Inside, the theme carries over. The cabin uses a custom mix of leather layered over Alcantara, set in a geometric pattern that matches the outside. The effect is three-dimensional, and the pattern runs across the door panels and armrests.
Bugatti hadn't tried that said technique before because shaping these materials over curves is a real challenge. Plus, look closer at the gear selector, and you'll spot the "Dancing Elephant," a reference to Rembrandt Bugatti's sculptures.
There's also a new technical detail outside. For the first time, Bugatti integrated the Macaron emblem into a painted graphic. Getting the size and placement right while keeping the badge's details sharp required more precision than usual paintwork.
Same Hardcore Hardware Underneath
Underneath all the design work, the Mistral is unchanged. It still runs Bugatti's 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 with 1,600 metric horsepower, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch and all-wheel drive. In standard form, it's already hit 282.05 mph.
Bugatti is building just 99 Mistrals, each starting at about €5 million ($5.8 million) before any custom work. Builds like the "Fly Bug" cost much more, but Bugatti doesn't share final prices for Sur Mesure projects.
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 4:00 AM.