Reports about a second model from Bugatti have been circulating on the Internet for years and high-ranking officials have acknowledged the possibility of launching a product unrelated to the Chiron. However, the folks from Molsheim are concerned that higher volume vehicles will weaken the brand image, which is why there won’t be any SUVs in the next 10 years. Even so, the successor to the W16 hypercar could still be joined by other vehicles.
In an interview with Autocar, design director Achim Anscheidt explained products that are more volume-oriented should stay true to Ettore’s ethos of making custom cars. Of course, there is always the risk that customers who can afford the Chiron or its more expensive derivatives will criticize Bugatti for selling in the pursuit of volume and profit. Anscheidt ensures exclusivity will apply in the new era of Bugatti Rimac.
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“We always had the idea of a second-line model. But then we also [thinking] at one point, did you start selling the brand? What do you do with this precious logo? Would a move like this be too brutal, by selling the logo for a certain price?”
Anscheidt didn’t oppose Bugatti’s more useful ideas but stressed there had to be a balance between making traditional hypercars rarer:
“If someone does [bring out an every day/second model]I’ve always been a big fan of balancing this, not forgetting the company’s roots or [create] something more exclusive. This means that if you go into a bit more volume, you have to be more exclusive on the other side, so it remains a core product and balances this out.”
Meanwhile, Bugatti has plenty of space as it has long sold all 99 Mistral roadsters and 40 Bolide track-only cars. The “regular” Chiron also sold out, so the next few years will be all about finalizing production of the 8.0-liter quad-turbo engine. Hypercar replacements will lose the W16 in favor of a smaller engine as part of the hybrid powertrain.
It remains to be seen if that has anything to do with Lamborghini’s newly announced twin-turbo V8 hybrid or the V12 being worked on for the Aventador replacement.
