Here’s the delicious irony nobody saw coming: while Tesla grabbed headlines with cold gas thrusters for the next-generation Roadster, Bugatti Tesla Tech was already exploring the same sci-fi acceleration aids years earlier. According to a recent social media revelation by CARBUZZ.COM, Mate Rimac and his engineering team at Bugatti had thruster concepts locked down by 2020. The kicker? They deliberately chose not to pursue it.
The Thruster Files: What Rimac Actually Built
In a candid video captured by the Entrelligence channel, Rimac walked through actual engineering documents showing Bugatti Tesla Tech development timelines. The evidence was damning in its specificity: 3D renderings of thruster tank placement within a Nevera successor, complete with performance targets. The goal was identical to Tesla’s current ambition: cracking the sub-1-second 0-60 barrier without relying on tire grip.
Even more intriguing, Bugatti’s engineers were simultaneously evaluating fan-driven downforce technology. That’s the same aerodynamic wizardry McMurtry deployed in the Speirling, which famously drove upside down a year ago. Rimac’s team had email documentation dating back to 2019, two years before McMurtry even revealed its hill-climb monster at Goodwood.
Why The V16 Won The Battle
So why isn’t there a thruster-equipped Bugatti sitting in showrooms right now? Timing. Rimac was simultaneously acquiring Bugatti and running both companies when these concepts were being evaluated. The Chiron was aging out, and the Tourbillon demanded everything: engineering resources, development capital, and creative bandwidth.
Rimac made a calculated choice. Instead of diluting focus across thrusters, fans, and a next-generation hypercar, he committed fully to the Tourbillon’s naturally-aspirated V16. That screaming mechanical symphony became the priority. It’s a decision that speaks volumes about Rimac’s philosophy: sometimes purity beats innovation theater.
The Credibility Shift
What’s fascinating is how Rimac’s revelation actually validates thruster technology for road cars. Bugatti doesn’t chase gimmicks. If Rimac’s team spent engineering cycles on cold gas acceleration, it wasn’t theoretical posturing. Still, he’s genuinely excited watching Tesla and others pursue what Bugatti shelved. No bitterness. Just pragmatism.
The Nevera already posts sub-2-second 0-60 times without any thruster assistance. That’s the real flex. Meanwhile, the Bugatti Spartacus SUV rumors suggest future projects might revisit these shelved concepts once the Tourbillon reaches customers. Rimac never said the thruster plans were cancelled permanently, just postponed.
In reality, Tesla’s track record with production deadlines makes this even more interesting. The 2028 Roadster target is already looking optimistic. Bugatti could theoretically deploy thruster tech on a production model before Elon’s team does. That’s the kind of plot twist that keeps the hypercar wars genuinely unpredictable.
Marcus Vance
Senior Track & Performance Editor at Auto News Magazine. Veteran automotive journalist specializing in chassis dynamics, apex telemetry, track-day specials, and high-revving mechanical purity.
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