2012 Bugatti Veyron on 2040-cars

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Bugatti previews what looks like a W16-powered race car

Bugatti captured our attention when it released an image of an enigmatic new model whose rear lights form an X. We still don't know exactly what we're looking at, but a photo of its powertrain sheds light on what's coming. Significantly, the digital rendering shows the car is built around the quad-turbocharged W16 that powers the Chiron. An earlier report speculated it would be electric, and that's evidently not the case. The engine is mounted directly behind the passenger compartment, and the transmission it's bolted to seemingly spins the four wheels. We also see a rectangular steering wheel, a pair of carbon fiber bucket seats, and center-locking wheels covered by carbon fiber discs. All of these parts look like they belong in a race car, but Bugatti is keeping additional details under wraps. "What if...?" again appears on the photo, so we're expecting something out of the ordinary.  An earlier teaser showing the number 0,67 also asked more questions than it answered. Europeans use a comma instead of a decimal, so there's a strong chance we're looking at 0.67. It's far too high to be the car's drag coefficient; keep in mind the original Land Rover Defender had a 0.59 drag coefficient, and the rear-engined Volkswagen Beetle posted 0.48. If this is indeed a track car, is it 0.67 seconds quicker than the Chiron around a given track? It's possible but unlikely, because that's a rounding error at best regardless of whether we're talking about the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Nurburgring, or Suzuka. 0.67 seconds quicker to 60 mph is plausible.  Is it a one-off, or a limited-edition model? If it's the latter, are there any build slots left? Your guess is as good as ours. All of our questions will be answered when the mysterious car makes its global debut online tomorrow, October 28, at noon Central European time, which is 6 a.m. on the East Coast and 3 a.m. in California.

Pininfarina teases its Tesla- and Bugatti-baiting EV supercar

Pininfarina isn't being bashful when it comes to getting into the car business. The Italian design house has revealed a sketch of the PF0 Concept, an electric supercar aimed directly at the world's fastest and most expensive vehicles. With upward of 1,000 horsepower, along with an expected price in the millions of dollars, this extreme EV is meant as a calling card for Pininfarina's upcoming range of electric cars and SUVs. So should the likes of Tesla, Porsche, Ferrari, Bugatti and Lamborghini be worried? Pininfarina might be new to building its own cars, but the company has many decades of experience designing and engineering some of the most desirable cars of all time — including many of the finest supercars to have worn a Ferrari badge on their nose. As we reported earlier this year, Pininfarina has teamed with Indian auto manufacturer, Mahindra, to develop a range of high-end EVs. With this roughly $500 million investment, not to mention some engineering help from Croatian supercar manufacturer, Rimac, Pininfarina aims to start high. The company will first introduce a hypercar, based on the PF0 Concept, within two years, then bring along a range of more affordable electric cars and SUVs. These will more directly take on the likes of Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus, and Tesla Model X. So yes, if you're in the business of building expensive cars, especially ones with a lot of batteries positioned inside them, Pininfarina's plans for the PF0 (that's a zero, not the letter "O," by the way) should make you sit up and take notice. "Automobili Pininfarina is a pioneering new business created to service the most discerning clients in the world," said Michael Perschke, CEO for Automobili Pininfarina. "Our product portfolio will launch with an innovative, zero-emissions hypercar that represents the progression we aim to make at the pinnacle of the luxury and sports car market." According to its press release, Pininfarina is currently presenting its "business and product plans to prospective retailer partners, clients and media in New York this week." After its tour of the Big Apple, look for Pininfarina to officially reveal the PF0 Concept during Monterey Car Week in August. Related Video: Design/Style Green Bugatti Lamborghini Porsche Tesla Electric Future Vehicles Luxury Performance Pebble Beach supercar mahindra hypercar Rimac

Bugatti Galibier could arrive after Chiron

Bugatti has been playing "Will they, won't they?" with the Galibier sedan for years, and the endless speculation has grown tiresome. Just build the damn thing. Believe it or not, the ultra-high-power, ultra-luxury sedan is kind of a white space. The world needs a vehicle as sumptuous as a Rolls-Royce Phantom, but with the driving dynamics and performance of, well, a Bugatti. Now, according to CEO Wolfgang Durheimer, his company might actually go through with such a creation. The Chiron will remain an only child for the time being, Durheimer says, but Bugatti is already looking at potential paths for life after its current 1500-horsepower monster. "We are following a sequential pattern. We don't want to make two model lines, but we are deciding on the product that would succeed the Chiron," Durheimer told Car and Driver. "We are weighing four strategic alternatives, all of them sensational. One of them is the Galibier." Galibier would be great news. But what else could Bugatti be considering? Perhaps something more track focused than the high-speed heavyweight Chiron? A crossover (we shudder)? A high-speed hybrid to humiliate the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, perhaps using a more powerful version of baby brother Porsche's 918 Spyder tech? It's all hard to predict, although whichever path Bugatti takes, we doubt it'll be anything but spectacular. As for the Chiron, if it follows the Veyron's path, we can expect a convertible version in the near future. C/D asked Durheimer about it, particularly about whether it'd get a set of T-tops in order to retain the trademark Atlantic line on the roof. The CEO didn't say much, beyond telling C/D its question was "very perceptive." We expect this kind of cagey response, but the fact that Durheimer even acknowledged it is a good sign for the few dozen people wealthy enough to want a topless Bugatti. Featured Gallery Bugatti 16C Galibier concept View 11 Photos News Source: Car and DriverImage Credit: Bugatti Bugatti Convertible Luxury Performance Sedan Bugatti Chiron wolfgang durheimer bugatti galibier