Luxury automobile manufacturer Bugatti's 2026 supercar boasts a high-end, 3.2 million pound sound system, showcasing cutting-edge technology.
Revolutionary Sound System in Bugatti's Tourbillon Supercar
Bugatti has made a significant leap in automotive audio technology with the introduction of piezoelectric speaker technology in its Tourbillon supercar. This innovative system, which uses piezoelectric transducers embedded directly into the carbon-fiber chassis of the car, transforms the car body itself into a speaker[1][2][3].
Traditional car sound systems rely on separate, bulky magnet-driven speakers and cones that vibrate to move air and create sound waves. In contrast, Bugatti's system replaces these components with tiny piezoelectric crystals. These crystals vibrate when electric signals pass through them, causing the entire carbon-fiber structure of the car to resonate and generate audio[1].
This approach results in a much smaller, lighter sound system that saves weight and space, while also delivering improved sound quality that CEO Mate Rimac describes as "in a different universe" compared to Bugatti’s previous Chiron speakers[1].
The Tourbillon's sound system is unique in that it is integrated into the car's body, making the car itself the sound system. The subwoofer in the Tourbillon supercar's sound system is built into the roof of the car, with the piezo element vibrating the carbon fiber to produce bass[4].
This pioneering innovation in automotive audio marks the first time a car’s structure itself directly produces sound via piezoelectric technology[1][2][3][4].
| Aspect | Traditional Car Speakers | Bugatti Tourbillon Piezoelectric System | |----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Speaker Components | Large magnets + speaker cones | Small piezoelectric crystals embedded in chassis | | Sound Generation | Cone vibrates to push air and create sound waves| Entire carbon-fiber tub vibrates as the diaphragm | | Size and Weight | Larger and heavier | Compact, lightweight system embedded in car structure | | Sound Quality | Normal high-end audio | Superior, immersive sound with better quality and clarity | | Innovation | Conventional audio | First known car system using piezoelectric tech as main speaker |
The Tourbillon's price tag of around £3.2 million before tax makes it unaffordable for many[5]. Despite this, Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti-Rimac, claims that the sound system in the Tourbillon is significantly better than that in the Chiron[2].
The piezoelectric speaker technology used in the Tourbillon is one of several innovations being used in the car and the Rimac Nevera sports car[3].
- BBC Top Gear Magazine via motor1.com
- Mate Rimac expresses the superiority of the Tourbillon's sound system over the Chiron's
- The Tourbillon's piezoelectric speaker technology and its use in the Rimac Nevera
- The Tourbillon's subwoofer and the use of the car's carbon fiber in the sound system
- The Tourbillon's high price tag
- The revolution in automotive audio technology extends beyond Bugatti's Tourbillon supercar, as the same piezoelectric speaker technology is also being utilized in the Rimac Nevera sports car, showcasing the company's commitment to innovation in the automotive industry.
- In the realm of smart-home-devices and gadgets, the advancements in piezoelectric speaker technology could lead to the development of compact, high-quality speaker systems for various applications, potentially reshaping the finance market by creating new business opportunities in technology.
- With the improved sound quality delivered by the piezoelectric speaker system in the Tourbillon supercar, the finance sector might witness an increase in investments for the development and integration of such technology in transportation vehicles, including the automotive industry, as consumers increasingly demand better audio experiences on the go.
