A collector’s collaboration with Bugatti Sur Mesure has produced four hypercars united by natural world inspiration.
The W16 Mistral ‘Fly Bug’ represents the latest creation, joining the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Hellbug’, Chiron ‘Hellbee’, and Divo ‘Lady Bug’. Each car drew character from fauna—small creatures of incredible intricacy.
The W16 Mistral ‘Fly Bug’ finds inspiration in the dragonfly, a creature of iridescent wings and effortless speed embodying timeless elegance.
The project originated through personal exchange between the collector and Frank Heyl, Bugatti’s Head of Design. Creative development transferred to the Color, Materials, Finish team in Bugatti’s Berlin Design Studio, where specialists distilled the customer’s vision into distinct design direction ensuring the fourth car functions as both unique creation and cohesive collection piece.
Evolving Visual Motif Guides Design
Creative direction followed the collector’s established preference for a signature motif evolving across sequential commissions.
This vision previously manifested from the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse ‘Hellbug’ through the Divo ‘Lady Bug’s’ geometric diamond pattern—composed of approximately 1,600 precisely arranged shapes—and the Chiron ‘Hellbee’s’ graphic interpretation.
For the Mistral ‘Fly Bug’, the team developed an ellipse pattern spreading across the exterior, increasing density toward the rear while fading into air intake darkness.
Bespoke Color System Mimics Iridescent Properties
The W16 Mistral ‘Fly Bug’ features custom paint developed specifically for this commission. Named ‘Dragonfly Blue’, the finish shifts between blue and turquoise depending on light conditions and viewing angle. The same color extends to wheel rims, matched as closely as possible despite different materials and paint systems involved.
Interior Material Application Represents Technical First
Exclusive multi-layered material construction features leather laid over Alcantara in geometric pattern, color-matched to ‘Dragonfly Blue’ and given three-dimensional quality through specialist finishing technique. The ellipse pattern transposes across door panels, adapted to suit component geometry.
This represents the first instance of Bugatti applying graphic pattern across both door panel face and armrest area—a process requiring engineering team collaboration ensuring material sat perfectly across curved surfaces.
Macaron Integration Posed Unprecedented Challenge
Integrating the Bugatti Macaron into the ellipse pattern constituted one of the project’s most demanding technical tasks. The iconic oval emblem was woven into the ellipse graphic on the car’s flank at customer request—for the first time in brand history.
Achievement required careful work determining appropriate scale and position so every detail could be reproduced faithfully. The gear selector incorporates the ‘Dancing Elephant’ reference to Rembrandt Bugatti’s animal sculptures.
From final design approval to finished car, Bugatti teams required months bringing the W16 Mistral ‘Fly Bug’ to completion. Frank Heyl, Head of Design, characterized the completion as genuinely rare: a collection connected by single creative vision.
He noted each commission pushed the design team further, with this project introducing bespoke color developed from scratch, first-ever Macaron integration into painted graphics, and unprecedented interior material application.