Now that other manufacturers have caught up with Bugatti (see Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren’s hybrid supercars), the VW Group brand is developing a replacement for the Veyron, since its 1,000-ish hp output is no longer awe-inspiring.
There have been many rumors on what course the development of this new car could take, some even suggesting that it was going to be less powerful and cheaper than before – not so with this one…
Reuters tells us it has two sources inside VW (Bugatti’s parent company), who say the Veyron replacement will be a 1,500 PS monster of a hypercar that will achieve its monstrous output figure through using the familiar W16 engine, boosted by electric motors – it’s going to be a hybrid.
The news is backed up by the return to Bugatti of former Audi and Porsche research boss, Wolfgang Duerheimer, who rejoined the company on June 1. He’s a strong proponent of performance hybrids in general and a backer for the idea of a electrified Veyron replacement. Production is said to be limited to some 450 examples.
There’s also the promise that it will not be any less exciting than before; hopefully, it will be more exciting, particularly around the twisty bits, where some said its weight and lateral inertia really penalized its cornering capability.
By Andrei Nedelea
Note: Photos of alleged Veyron mule posted below
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