From Road & Track · Emmet White · · 50s
Mate Rimac's Cold Thruster Ideas
Bugatti CEO says he explored Tesla-style thrusters years ago for hypercar flight.
In brief
Bugatti CEO says he explored Tesla-style thrusters years ago for hypercar flight. Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac revealed he considered adding cold thrusters to his hypercar for 0-60 mph in under one second and flight capability years ago. Originally reported by Road & Track.
Rimac's thruster idea
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac said he considered Tesla Roadster-style thrusters years ago for hypercar flight.
“Flying cars, cold thrusters, finally, huh? Lots of people ask us if we ever considered something like that, and you would be surprised. The answer is actually yes”
2019 email project
Rimac shared an email from 2019 exploring a fan-based downforce system inspired by Brabham F1 car.
“static downforce”
2020 thruster plan
Rimac planned to add cold thrusters to the Nevera's successor for 0-60 mph under one second and flight.
“The second part of it is the cold thruster, and here we did a whole project in 2020 to add the cold thrusters to the Nevera”
Project paused
Rimac put both projects on back burner after starting V-16 engine work for Bugatti Tourbillon.
“Rimac said both projects were put on the back burner when he started working on the Bugatti Tourbillon’s V-16 engine”
Rimac's gratitude
Rimac expressed gratitude for Tesla, McMurtry, and Bugatti's different approaches to hypercar innovation.
“I’m happy that Elon did it, that Tesla did it, that McMurtry did it. It’s more exciting; it makes the future even more exciting”
The takeaway
Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac revealed he considered adding cold thrusters to his hypercar for 0-60 mph in under one second and flight capability years ago.
