Bugatti
is said to be developing an all-new model to sit alongside the Chiron hypercar
in its range. According to Bloomberg, this will be either an all-electric Grand
Tourer or a crossover. While recently speaking with the publication, Bugatti
chief executive Stephan Winkelmann said that the French car manufacturer is
having discussions with the Volkswagen Group about approving the investment for
such a new vehicle. It could be drastically more affordable than the Chiron or any
current Chiron-based models, priced from between 500,000 euros (US$ 553,925) and 1
million euros (US$ 1.1 million).
Winkelmann
is looking to ensure that Bugatti is viable enough to potentially survive
outside of the VW Group, should the German conglomerate ever decide to alter
its ownership of Bugatti as it simplifies its portfolio in a new era of
electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology.
The
executive says Bugatti is “earning decent money” these days and is looking to
increase its cache as a luxury brand following its record-setting top speed run
with a Chiron prototype earlier this year. Currently, Bugatti builds about 100
vehicles per year and the addition of a four-seat crossover or grand tourer to
its range could boost this output by more than 600 additional vehicles
annually.
Moreover,
Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess has been pushing the company’s
flagship brands to generate better returns. Last year, he mapped out a plan to
pool Bugatti with Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche into a so-called
super-premium group.
Bugatti
has been toying with the idea of release a second model to complement its
flagship hypercar for many years. In fact, it presented the 16C Galibier
concept some 10 years ago as a potential hyper saloon that could have been sold
alongside the Veyron.
