1927 Bugatti 35b Replica on 2040-cars

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Bugatti won't make a hybrid, but an EV remains on the table

Bugatti is in an exploratory phase as it seeks ways to expand its lineup during the 2020s. Adding a second model to its range is almost a given, and electrification is possible, but the company's chief executive revealed he doesn't believe hybrid technology is the right solution. Speaking to Motor Authority, Bugatti boss Stephan Winkelmann said the internal combustion engine is "the right way to go" and "the real state-of-the-art powertrain." He backed up his argument by pointing out a gasoline-powered engine like the Chiron's W16 delivers limitless power and incredible acceleration without adding an excessive amount of weight or creating a packaging nightmare. Launching a second nameplate positioned below the Chiron remains one of the CEO's priorities. While it sounds like the model won't receive hybrid technology, Winkelmann is open to the idea of releasing an electric car that will deliver zero-emissions performance. He outlined a battery-powered, 2+2 model with a relatively high seating position, and more ground clearance than a standard luxury sedan. Increasing the distance between the tarmac and the rocker panels doesn't necessarily mean releasing an SUV, however. Bugatti previously told Autoblog it is not planning on making an SUV. And, it's important to note a final decision on the model hasn't been made yet. Winkelmann also closed the door to a modern-day interpretation of the gorgeous Galibier concept (pictured) unveiled in 2009 and often rumored to be a candidate for production. The close-to-production design study took the form of a four-door sedan with an evolution of the Veyron's 8.0-liter W16 engine mounted in front of the passenger compartment rather than behind it. The executive explained an updated version of the concept would compete in a segment that's "going down." He added Bugatti would need to make long- and short-wheelbase variants to cover the global market. Bugatti has offered stately sedans in the past, so the heritage is certainly there, but one of the issues with making a long-wheelbase four-door is that it would undoubtedly attract chauffeur-driven motorists, notably in China. Winkelmann stated he believes Bugatti makes cars that should be driven, not ridden in. That's a strong hint that the second model — regardless of what it looks like, when it makes its debut or what it's powered by — will be engineered as a driver's car.

Bugatti won't drop piston-powered cars under Rimac ownership

Volkswagen solved its Bugatti problem by merging the French carmaker with Croatia-based Rimac. Both companies will face the regulatory challenges of the 2020s together, but hastily putting the Chiron out to pasture and lazily resorting to badge engineering isn't an option, according to the man in charge of the newly-formed group. "I'm a car guy. We will not just recycle what we have — not restyle the Chiron or hybridize the Chiron. We're developing a completely new product from the ground up. Everything, because we think that's the best way to go. That product will have an internal combustion engine," said Mate Rimac in an interview with Auto Express. In a separate interview with Autocar, he added that "what some people expect might happen is that we take a Nevera and slam a Bugatti logo on it and call it a Bugatti." He stressed "that's absolutely not going to happen." Whether that internal combustion engine will be the thunderous W16 that powers the Chiron, among several other cars, remains to be seen. Rumors occasionally puff out of the auto industry's chimney claiming the unit will retire when the Chiron does. Regardless, an internal combustion engine won't power Bugatti's next models on its own. Hybrid technology will gradually appear to increase horsepower and acceleration times while improving fuel efficiency. Of course, the whole point of putting Bugatti under Rimac's roof is to give the former access to the latter's electric technology. Some degree of technology transfer is inevitable, though the partnership may take time to bear fruits. "I'll say that, within this decade, there will be a fully electric Bugatti. But, by the end of this decade, there will be combustion-engined Bugatti models as well, but heavily hybridized," Mate Rimac said. While "Bugatti is going electric" is likely to be the main takeaway, Rimac's comments also confirm that a multi-model range is in the pipeline. Auto Express speculated one way Bugatti could credibly expand beyond the hypercar segment is to release a sedan. Finally, Rimac played down concerns that Bugatti and Rimac will ultimately overlap. "Bugatti is about heritage and craftsmanship; Rimac focuses on technology. It's like Bugatti being an analog Swiss watch, and Rimac cars being an Apple watch," he said. "We can have two parallel, very distinct product lines." Related Video:

Bugatti promotes 27-year-old former intern to head of special projects

Bugatti has put the future of its one- and few-off projects in the hands of a former intern. 27-year-old Nils Sajonz has been promoted to head of special projects to oversee the development of upcoming models. Sajonz joined the French carmaker as an intern in 2015, and he wrote his university thesis on a race car developed for autonomous racing. While the prototype never hit the track, executives hired him as a designer after he graduated. He contributed to projects like the La Voiture Noire, the Centodieci, the Divo, and the Bolide. Working in Bugatti's design department requires a thorough understanding of its heritage, which includes obscure electric cars and championship-winning single-seaters. Many of the unbuilt projects that Autoblog discovered earlier in 2020 were visibly inspired by the company's past. Sajonz is still in his 20s, so he views design through a different lens than some of his older colleagues, but he noted he aims to bring new ideas to the team without diluting the key styling cues that have defined most of Bugatti's cars since its inception over 100 years ago. "The heritage of the Bugatti brand is not lost on me," he said in a statement. "It is important that future special projects retain the design identity of the brand, which is simply unrivaled." Interestingly, he shed light on why the recently-introduced Bolide track car has X-shaped rear lights. It's a styling cue that echoes the Bell X-1, which was the first plane to break the sound barrier, but it's also a reference to the tape that race car drivers used to put over their headlights to ensure the glass didn't spread on the tarmac if it broke. Sajonz will work directly under Achim Anscheidt, the company's head of design. We don't much about the future special projects he referenced, but we shouldn't have to wait too long to find out what his team has in store. Related video: