Bugatti to build super-saloon?

Veyron-based supercar is on the cards

By PH Staff / Wednesday, 31 May 2006 / Loading comments

Bugatti Royale

Bored with your Bugatti Veyron already? Britain's most popular car looks likely to be be succeeded by a four-door version, according to Autocar.

Based on the world-beating, 252mph Veyron, the W16 super-saloon will use the same underpinning and drivetrain -- including the quad-turbo engine mated to a seven-speed gearbox and four-wheel drive.

All that awaits is the official rubber stamp from the top brass at VW, which now owns the marque. There's but one criterion for that to happen and it's simple: it has to make money, according to an unnamed deep throat source within VW's engineering department.

What that means is that the car will have to share as many components as possible with the coupé. But it won't necessarily look like the Veyron: the VW source reckoned that it'll draw inspiration from the Bugatti Royale of the 1930s. The Royale remains the most expensive car in the world, with the last one changing hands in the 1980s at over £6 million.

And the price? If sir has to ask...it'll probably be around the same as the coupé's: £1 million give or take a few thousands.

^{Photo by Jon Honeyball}