Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, said high-end sports cars will continue to use combustion engines for a long time [1].
This perspective comes as the global automotive industry shifts toward electrification. For the ultra-luxury segment, the persistence of internal combustion engines suggests that emotional appeal and mechanical tradition may outweigh the efficiency gains of electric powertrains.
During an interview with CNBC Wealth Editor Robert Frank, Rimac discussed the current state of the supercar market and how Bugatti is positioning itself amid the rise of electric vehicles [1, 2]. While many manufacturers are pivoting toward fully electric lineups, Rimac said that the top tier of the market operates under different drivers than mass-market transportation [2].
Rimac highlighted the specific appeal of traditional engineering in the hypercar space. He suggested a return to more tactile driving experiences, specifically mentioning the possibility of high-cylinder engines paired with traditional transmissions [3].
"Imagine a V-16 with a manual, a real manual," Rimac said [3].
This focus on "old-school" combustion engines reflects a strategy to maintain the exclusivity and sensory experience that collectors expect from the Bugatti brand [2]. The CEO said that the transition to electric power does not necessarily mean the end of the combustion engine for enthusiasts [1].
"High-end sports cars will continue to have combustion engines for a very long time," Rimac said [1].
The discussion underscores a divide in the automotive world. While regulatory pressures and consumer trends push the general market toward zero-emission vehicles, the hypercar sector remains a stronghold for internal combustion due to its status as a luxury collectible rather than a primary mode of transport [1, 2].
“"High-end sports cars will continue to have combustion engines for a very long time."”
The comments from Mate Rimac signal that the ultra-luxury automotive market is decoupling from the broader industry's rush to electrify. By prioritizing combustion engines and manual transmissions, Bugatti is treating the supercar not as a piece of transportation technology, but as a mechanical art piece. This suggests that the 'collector' value of a vehicle is increasingly tied to the sensory experience of combustion, which may insulate the highest end of the market from the regulatory and technological shifts affecting standard consumer vehicles.
