As Bugatti is said to have just 15 unsold Veyrons in its inventory, the obvious question is when a follow-up model will be released. More importantly, people want to know whether the Veyron’s successor will be as extreme as the current model and it appears that the new model won’t disappoint in this respect.
Bugatti has reportedly begun development work on the Veyron’s successor, which is tipped to reach a top speed of 286 mph (460 km/h) and hit 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.3 seconds.
The new model will be powered by a heavily revised version of the turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine, which will feature hybrid technology and will produce around 1,500PS (1,479hp). The mid-mounted engine will send its enormous power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Electric turbochargers are rumored to be fitted to the W16 engine, which would work with a disc-shaped electric motor mounted within the gearbox housing and a lithium ion battery.
Bugatti plans to unveil the new car in 2016, with customer deliveries scheduled for the following year. The carmaker has already built early test mules of the car and has sent them testing. “Five developmental prototypes with differing powertrain combinations have been constructed up to now. They are based on the existing car but use various solutions that are being considered for the new model,” an insider told Autocar magazine.
As with the Veyron, the upcoming model has to offer the fastest top speed of any production road car while being usable as a daily driver. The new car is said to be built around a carbon fiber monocoque and to offer two seats, with the cabin to combine ultimate luxury with the latest technologies.
By Dan Mihalascu
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