Monday 18th November 2019

Bugatti plots four-seat EV sibling for Chiron

Enough with the boundary pushing, says CEO, as an electric SUV is mooted for range expansion

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It says a lot about the current automotive climate when even Bugatti is having to conform to prevailing trends and justify output - but that's exactly what the latest product rumours are suggesting. If Bloomberg is to be believed - and following a recent interview with the man in charge, there's no reason why it shouldn't be - the manufacturer is in the process of developing a four-seat car, priced between €500,000 and €1,000,000, powered solely by electricity.

It would mark a huge step change for the Molsheim-based company, given that all previous cars since the Veyron resurrected Bugatti for the 2000s having been powered by an 8.0-litre, W16 leviathan. Both Veyron and Chiron have claimed the title of fastest car ever made; both have been super exclusive and terrifyingly expensive - and that's before considering the limited editions, too. An EV, believed at the moment to be either a GT or SUV, would change all that: from 100 cars a year production would rise to 600, and it obviously wouldn't have the 250mph+ cachet of the hypercars.

So why do it? Put simply, even Bugatti isn't immune from the realities of running a business - not when its parent company has been forced into a rigorous consideration of the books in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal. Don't forget that Bugatti exists alongside both Bentley and Lamborghini in the empire, covering off luxury and performance pretty well for VW. It must earn its keep, too - as former Lamborghini boss Stephen Winkelmann knows only too well - and produce a viable line up to ensure both profitability and its own relevance inside the world's second largest car maker.

The Bloomberg interview has Winkelmann stating that the brand is "earning decent money"; should be simple enough selling hypercars, but remember how the Veyron haemorrhaged money in development and cost Bugatti a lot of money. Apparently funding for such niche projects is now a "tough fight", unsurprising given the current belt-tightening alongside and renewed focus on electrification and autonomy. Notably, Winkelmann believes that Bugatti has completed its phase of pursuing performance milestones and must increase appeal to buyers as a luxury brand.

Therefore something like a super-opulent EV makes sense - especially to the man who signed off the . Urus. Don't forget it's a strategy being employed by Lagonda for its return, and hybrid Bentleys are a stepping stone to Crewe's own fully electric model. With battery ranges seemingly increasing by the day, alongside the popularity of SUVs, the notion of something like a big Bugatti crossover powered by batteries seems eminently more believable than it would have even a few years ago.

Winkelmann will be unafraid of the purists who say different. He faced them down at Lamborghini, and now Sant'Agata is producing more cars than ever. In times like these, loss-making - or indeed just low volume - vanity projects can no longer be justified simply on their own merit. Even when you're Bugatti.

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[Leftfootwonder]

Would hate to be the butler tasked with polishing all the chrome on that ostentatious, garish, tasteless looking thing.

[gigglebug]

Leftfootwonder said:

Would hate to be the butler tasked with polishing all the chrome on that ostentatious, garish, tasteless looking thing.

I wouldn't be overly concerned as that is just the Galibier concept from years ago which was canned as it was determined that the majority existing Veyron owners would rather see an updated version of that car as oppose to an all new model. I always thought it was a bit of a shame that we didn't get Bugatti's ultimate interpretation of a four door but I'd rather see it with the stonking internal combustion engine intact as oppose to an out and out EV. Maybe they will go half way and do a hybrid?

[ntiz]

I always thought it would be really cool if they did a modern version of the Bugatti Royale.

Just make the most insanely opulent car in the world. Make a Phantom look like it’s for peasants prices start at over a million etc. Obviously with Chiron engine in it or something else like the V16 Rolls couldn’t justify.

Looks like its EVs all the way now though.

[RobDickinson]

ntiz said:

Looks like its EVs all the way now though.

Far easier to develop a high end powertrain with EV than ICE.

Bugatti = VAG they part own Rimac, or could reuse the PPE platform

[fernando the frog]

an EV would be perfect for an opulent luxury car, the less noise and more refined the better.

[Tomatogti]

fernando the frog said:

an EV would be perfect for an opulent luxury car, the less noise and more refined the better.

This. EV have fewer moving parts and only a single gear so quieter and no gear changes to “upset” the occupants. Also likely to have garage(s) or at least private driveways to easily charge them. Car is always available at home, no need for a trip to the petrol station just at the time sir or madam may want to go somewhere.

[TheOrangePeril]

Surely Bug have made back the money spent on developing the Veyron via the Chiron and the myriad special editions? Not discounting the engineering thats gone into the newer models but they are building upon a base that only exists because of the investment in the Veyron in the first place.

[bigbadbikercats]

”...obviously wouldn't have the 250mph+ cachet of the hypercars.”

Really? Why not?

It seems like you can’t turn a corner without tripping over yet another ultra-exclusive all electric hypercar with obscene power output figures and ridiculous performance numbers (Rimac, Pininfarina, Lotus, Aspark, Tesla...) - I’m not saying it’s what they’re going to do (how would I know, I’m just another nerd on the Internet) but no way would I bet that Bugatti couldn’t build a 250+ MPH electric hypersaloon if they felt that’s what their customers were waiting for...

[WCZ]

bigbadbikercats said:

”...obviously wouldn't have the 250mph+ cachet of the hypercars.”

Really? Why not?

It seems like you can’t turn a corner without tripping over yet another ultra-exclusive all electric hypercar with obscene power output figures and ridiculous performance numbers (Rimac, Pininfarina, Lotus, Aspark, Tesla...) - I’m not saying it’s what they’re going to do (how would I know, I’m just another nerd on the Internet) but no way would I bet that Bugatti couldn’t build a 250+ MPH electric hypersaloon if they felt that’s what their customers were waiting for...

they could easily do it if they wanted, they are the unrivaled king of hypercars imo

will be intresting to see what they do in the future now they've won the top speed battle

[drpep]

WCZ said:

they could easily do it if they wanted, they are the unrivaled king of hypercars imo

will be intresting to see what they do in the future now they've won the top speed battle

I would say that accolade lies with Christian von Koenigsegg. They have quietly and confidently smashed all records with characteristic scandinavian modesty and quirkiness in equal measure.

Sources:
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/koenigse...

https://www.koenigsegg.com/

[WCZ]

drpep said:

I would say that accolade lies with Christian von Koenigsegg. They have quietly and confidently smashed all records with characteristic scandinavian modesty and quirkiness in equal measure.

Sources:
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/koenigse...

https://www.koenigsegg.com/

I disagree, the Chiron Supersport is a useable daily car with a 305mph top speed