Cosworth’s most powerful naturally aspirated hypercar engine unleashed (2024)

Cosworth, the global leader in automotive powertrain technologies, is celebrating the launch of its most powerful hypercar engine to date following the grand unveiling of the Bugatti Tourbillon on June 20.

The Bugatti’s new generation hyper sports car joins an incredibly exclusive set of Cosworth-powered high-performance masterpieces, which includes the Aston Martin Valkyrie, the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 and the Bizzarrini Giotto.

Experts in clean-sheet design, Cosworth was approached in 2021 by Bugatti to design and manufacture a new engine for its newest hyper sports car, the Chiron successor. However, the engineers were not expecting to be tasked with such a mammoth request: a high capacity, high revving V16 capable of producing 1000hp. It is an engine configuration that hasn’t been mass produced in the automotive industry since the 1930s, with only a handful created as prototypes for niche vehicles in recent years.

Bugatti Tourbillon’s naturally-aspirated V16 was first teased in February 2024, however details of its engine were kept carefully under wraps. Cosworth can now reveal more technical insight into the hypercar’s hybrid engine.

It took the company 13 months to transform its first detailed designs into the first V16 engine running on a dyno at Cosworth’s Northampton headquarters – a particularly impressive turnaround given the scale of the ambition in the project.

The resulting product of this ambitious project is a 8.35-litre engine that can rev to 9000rpm. Cosworth elected for a cross-plane crank design with 90-degree bank angles and dry sump. Weighing just 252kg in total – lighter than the naturally aspirated Aston Martin 6.0-litre V12 – steps were made to optimise weight throughout the engine, including titanium connecting rods and a carbon fibre inlet plenum. The overall length of the crankshaft is 900mm, made from a single billet, with a total engine length just shy of 1m – demonstrating the scale required to power this incredible car.

Cosworth’s Managing Director of Powertrain, Bruce Wood said: “I think we all got goosebumps the first time we heard the roar of the Bugatti’s incredible V16 engine; it is a truly unique piece of machinery. Producing a V16, especially one as large as this 8.35 litre, is no easy feat. With the crank and camshafts measuring almost a metre long, we had to employ innovative design technology to overcome the torsional loads.

“The first thing that hits you when you see it is the sheer size of the engine – there is no escaping it. Yet we were able to use our experience to develop high tolerances within the design, thus reducing the mass and weight of the final product. When we heard it fire up on the dyno and reach maximum revs, we were astounded at the sound. The performance figures speak for themselves, and coupled with the hybrid powertrain, the experience of the Bugatti Tourbillon will be truly one of a kind.”

Cosworth's CEO, Dr. Florian Kamelger, said: "Cosworth has emerged as the undisputed leader in hypercar engine design. We use 66 years of heritage and experience to develop powertrains that push the boundaries of performance, while also adhering to ever-stricter global emissions regulations. This latest partnership with Bugatti, one of the most revered names in automotive performance, is a reflection of the world-class talent we have within Cosworth. Together, we have delivered something totally unique, within a tight timeframe, that will form part of one of the greatest hypercar powertrains ever created."

About Cosworth
Cosworth is a global technology business with six decades of engineering experience that delivers propulsion, electronics and software solutions for customers in the automotive, aerospace and marine sectors. Whether through hybrid or EV propulsion, data connectivity or automation technology, Cosworth is ready to solve new challenges with mobility solutions of the future. No matter the complexity of the project, Cosworth has the ability to, design, develop and manufacture clean sheet solutions from its state-of-the-art facilities.

About Bugatti

Bugatti has been at the pinnacle of the automotive industry for 115 years, creating the world’s most groundbreaking automobiles from its home in Molsheim, France. Every vehicle created since the company was founded by Ettore Bugatti in 1909 is praised for its comfort, drivability, design and technology desired by automotive collectors from around the world. A Bugatti is more than a car, it is a timeless piece of automotive art.

With a reputation built in motorsport, and a history of the most innovative, beautiful and luxurious cars ever created, Bugatti continues to follow the vision of its founder: ‘If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti.’
Today, Bugatti is part of the Bugatti Rimac Group, led by CEO Mate Rimac, who is renowned for excellence in high-performance automotive electrification. With the same visionary genius as Ettore Bugatti, Rimac and the Bugatti team are developing the next generation of incomparable hyper sports cars, true to the founder’s vision, while simultaneously expanding Bugatti’s excellence beyond the automotive industry with luxury lifestyle collaborations and products.

Cosworth’s most powerful naturally aspirated hypercar engine unleashed (2024)

FAQs

Cosworth’s most powerful naturally aspirated hypercar engine unleashed? ›

British automotive engineering company Cosworth has launched what it calls its most powerful hypercar engine to date, following the unveiling of the Bugatti Tourbillon on June 20.

Does Cosworth still exist? ›

For the last 65 years Cosworth has continued to deliver firsts on the racetrack and the road, as they have since 1958, when Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth formed their new company to “make a living messing around with racing engines.”

What is the Cosworth engine in f1? ›

The name "Cosworth" comes from the founders, Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth. In a partnership with Ford, they started supplying engines in Formula One in 1963, but the first win was not achieved until 1967, with Jim Clark winning the Dutch Grand Prix for Lotus.

How much is a Ford Cosworth worth? ›

Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 sells for nearly £600,000. A low-mileage Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 that had been fastidiously maintained by its owner has been sold at auction for more than three times top estimate and over five times the 'concours' Hagerty Price Guide value of £115,000.

How much horsepower does a Cosworth engine have? ›

It reliably produced over 400 bhp, specifically reaching 408 bhp at 9,000 rpm, and 270 ft⋅lbf (370 N⋅m) of torque at 7,000 rpm. By the end of its Formula 1 career, it achieved over 500 bhp, with a peak of 510 bhp at 11,200 rpm.

What was the most powerful engine in F1? ›

⭐ The power output of an F1 engine is estimated to be over 1000 horsepower (hp), which is equivalent to about 750 kilowatts (kW). The most powerful engine — The BMW M12/13 Turbo, produced in excess of 1,400 horsepower.

How fast was the Cosworth Vega? ›

The magazine's History of 0-60 article said a 1974 pre-production Cosworth Vega's time of 7.7 seconds was the fastest that year. Testing a 1975 model, the magazine said: "The outstanding feature of the Cosworth Vega is its excellent balance.

What is the rarest Cosworth? ›

The RS500 is peak Cosworth; it was unveiled in July 1987 with power boosted to 224bhp and extra winglets for its outrageous spoiler. Just 500 examples were hand-assembled by Aston Martin Tickford, underlining its appeal as the ultimate fast Ford.

Is Cosworth coming back to F1? ›

The reigning constructors' world champions will use their in-house power units from 2026 onwards, a project that will see them partner with the automotive giant, Ford. 2026 will also see Audi join forces with Sauber. But you will not see Cosworth or BMW re-join Formula One anytime soon.

What was the last Ford Cosworth? ›

Like its Sierra predecessor, they are commonly nicknamed "Cossies" by enthusiasts. In total 7,145 vehicles were produced from the start of production on 19 February 1992 until the last car rolled out of the factory on 12 January 1996.

How much did the Cosworth sell for? ›

At the weekend auctioneers reckoned the unmarked 5,192-mile example would fetch a mind-boggling £180,000. But today we know the truth and it wasn't mind-boggling at all. It was utterly gob-smacking. It sold for almost £600,000.

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