- The next-generation Bugatti will be more carbon-composite-intensive than the current Veyron.
- Zero-to-60 acceleration will take less than 2.5 seconds.
- Expect a price tag of $1.6 million.
LONDON — Volkswagen is about to begin development work on the next-generation Bugatti Veyron. Due in 2014, the car is expected to be more carbon-composite-intensive, a bit lighter and considerably quicker than the current car. The anticipated price tag is around $1.6 million.
According to Auto Express, a new Veyron has been green-lighted in Wolfsburg, home of Bugatti's German corporate parent VW. The automaker has built nearly 500 Veyrons over the past five years, and has lost money on every one, the magazine said.
In an interview with the British publication, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, former head of Bentley and Bugatti, explained why VW nevertheless is ready to dive back into development of a successor: "It costs far more money to compete in a season of F1 than to run Bugatti."
Auto Express said the next Veyron's design will be evolutionary, and may borrow cues from a 1999 design proposal done by Walter de'Silva, current director of VW Group design.
Likewise, the new model is likely to stick with the current quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 engine, which will be massaged to deliver 1,200 horsepower and more than 1,100 pound-feet of torque. Sending power to all four wheels through a revised seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the engine will have enough zip to propel the lighter Veyron to a top speed of 270 mph, with 0-60 acceleration in less than 2.5 seconds.
The next Veyron's performance is liable to be enhanced through extensive application of carbon-composite technology being perfected by sister division Lamborghini, including body panels, monocoque and much of the interior trim.
Inside Line says: Auto Express predicts we'll get the first official glimpse of the new Veyron in 2013, possibly at either the Geneva or Frankfurt show. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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damaje199 says:
06:22 PM, 07/18/2011
I find it hard to believe that a million plus of an MSRP does not at least have a teeny weeny bit of profit baked in, I mean it is not like the car's body panels are gold and the chrome bits are pure platinum, and the headlights certainly don't look like Baccarat Crystal or even Waterford. If there were no profits in making a Supercar, Ferrari and Lambo would have been added to the list of extinct automakers years ago.
k55 says:
09:26 AM, 01/18/2011
"Bugatti Veyron Successor To Top 270 MPH" ........yes, this was the only reason that was keeping me from a 2011 Veyron. I guess I'll just keep my 2009 version..................(yeah right) ...........IS there ANYWHERE in this world where this top speed would possibly matter? Bigger checkbooks do not equate to bigger IQ's.
Well , what would you have me say? That I actually envy someone with one of these? After all where would you put the grocercies?
ed341 says:
04:11 AM, 01/18/2011
This is sort of off base, but I'm sure VW makes more than enough money of the servicing of Veyrons to justify its existnance. $30K for wheels and tires every other oil change etc...
05stangdriver says:
01:17 AM, 01/18/2011
Awesome! My faith in humanity is restored (a little bit) by the fact that someone, ANYONE, is building a car like this.
No, it's not practical. Yes, it's insanely expensive. Sure, it's probably horrible for the environment (but then again, by that reasoning, it's only marginally worse than ANY motor vehicle, on a per-unit basis, and there are many more 'regular' cars and buses and airplanes - well, you get the idea - driving around out there than there are a few hundred Bugatti Veyrons... where was I?)
Ah, yes, all the reasons why VW 'shouldn't' build this car. Sure, there are lots of reasons not to do anything you could name. Hell, never go outside and you'll never be hit by a car, or get a sunburn, or... Anyway, you get my point.
We're all 'car people' here, right? Well, in the broad strokes, anyway. The one reason that this car MUST be built, and improved, and seek ever faster top speeds, is the PASSION that it inspires! Aren't we all in absolute awe that there exists a production road car that can do what this car does?!? If you're not, then I pity you, for you have lost your sense of wonder.
Yes, JMaroun, of course it's 'all about the machine', THAT'S THE POINT! I don't care how great of a driver you are, if your MACHINE ain't capable of going 270+ m.p.h., then you ain't goin' 270! Lol.
I love this car, and I always will. I shall always covet one, as well, and even if I never so much as see one in person, I'm still grateful to VW for creating it.
:D
jmaroun says:
12:30 AM, 01/18/2011
It is interesting how less interesting infinity is when one obtains it. One stand atop zenith and wonders, wtf have I done? Why? The problem with Veyron, IMO, is that the machine is the star. The driver is dwarfed and trivialized. Glory is more beautiful when the driver can inspire to achieve greatness and be the hero. I'll take a GT3RS please.
smihal says:
06:36 PM, 01/17/2011
WTF is wrong with you people? You are complaining about a 1200hp hyper car.
Why don't you all go post on green.autoblog.com and you can talk about how you wish VW would import TDi Polo's instead.
There are numerous valid reasons to make a Veyron Mk2:
1.Most of the cost of the original Veyron was R&D. With most of the tech carrying over the dev cost will be much lower.
2. They wish to launch Bugatti as a (profitable) brand along with the Galibier. Using the same engine and drivetrain in both cars spreads costs even further.
3. It is advertising for the entire VW family. Having the worlds fastest and most expensive car in your portfolio is good for the whole family.
danielp2 says:
04:49 PM, 01/17/2011
Isn't the veyron limited to 268 for its tires? so if they improve the tires, they could just remove the top speed limiter and have a 270+ mph car?
jackson611 says:
11:53 AM, 01/17/2011
The reason why VW continues to support the project even though it loses money is for R&D and prestige. Nobody in F1 makes money, but they have F1 technology trickle down into their road cars eventually (Ferrari is the best example of this).
smallfield says:
11:43 AM, 01/17/2011
With the Grand sport going 268 that isn't really a big engineering feat. 0.2psi more boost?
Either way. I agree with those wondering what Audi is doing. They lose about $1,000,000 per car they sell and to achieve only one measure of performance - straight line speed. (I know it is fast by other measures too, but others are arguably better on a track.
tehnighthawk says:
10:41 AM, 01/17/2011
Who cares?
Not I