MOLSHEIM, France — Bugatti has revived a name from its storied past on a new four-door concept, the Bugatti 16C Galibier, which the company says is intended to be "the most exclusive, elegant and powerful four-door automobile in the world."
While Bugatti chief Franz-Josef Paefgen maintains the company is considering several design proposals, he told Britain's Autocar: "This is what the Bugatti team wants to do?. Now we have to convince customers and the [Volkswagen] group to make it."
The current plan is to begin limited production in 2013, after the current Veyron two-door is phased out, with prices starting at about the same $1.5 million mark.
The 16C Galibier was unveiled over the weekend at a private reception here, at the ancestral home of Bugatti and current site of the VW Group's most exclusive marque.
The 16C Galibier features a jaw-dropping body constructed of carbon fiber and aluminum, with a hatchback design said to be inspired by the Type 57 Atlantique. Major body panels use handmade carbon-fiber pieces colored dark blue and designed to show the weave when illuminated. Doors and fenders, made of polished aluminum, present a striking contrast to the rest of the body. The face incorporates a massive Bugatti radiator grille flanked by large round LED headlamps.
Under the bifold hood is a new variant of the big 8.0-liter W16 engine that powers the Veyron. It eschews the Veyron's quad turbochargers for two-stage supercharging and is a flex-fuel design that can run on gasoline or ethanol. The engine will deliver around 800 horsepower, according to Autocar, with power delivered to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The minimalist cabin seats four and features a wooden dash that houses two centrally located gauges displaying speed and available power. A Reverso Tourbillon clock in the dash, crafted by the Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani, can be removed and worn as a wristwatch.
The concept resurrects a name last used in 1939, on an exclusive four-door model of the fabled Type 57C, which could be ordered at the time in any of three body styles — Galibier, Ventoux, Stelvio — all named for alpine stages in the Tour de France bicycle race.
Inside Line says: The 16C Galibier is imposing but not nearly as visually appealing as the vintage Type 57 Bugattis. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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