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Bugatti plotting 920kW 'GT'

Crude oil supply constraints and drowning polar bears are of little concern to Bugatti in its design considerations for the Veyron range and its post 2012 replacement.

VW’s finest moment?

Although the Bugatti Veyron is the most expensive loss-leader in the global automotive market currently – perhaps ever – the technical achievement and engineering portfolio polishing for VW has been immense.

They said the Veyron could never be built. VW’s legendary boss at the time – Ferdinand Piech – locked up the engineers and told them to finish it by Christmas.

Piech’s successor and former BMW hardman Bernd Pischetsrieder finished off the job by sending back redesigns time and again until the high-speed stability problems were quelled. By 2005 the world had a 407km/h Bugatti which could rightly claim the title of being a supercar.



Supercars in the $100 a barrel crude oil world

What does the future hold for Bugatti though? Global energy usage patterns are changing, and by virtue of being the most famous 'supercar' around it has been thrust into the crosshairs of environmental activists and speed regulating bureaucrats.

Although owned by VW the company is located in France, and we know the French hardly concern themselves over environmental impact trivialities when the mood takes them. These are the selfsame people who regularly sent the Tahitian based French Foreign legion detachment to beat up Greenpeace activists – which is probably the reason there have never been carbon-concerned environmentalists picketing outside the gates of Bugatti’s Molsheim factory.

Last Veyron to be a ‘GT’ model?

Production of the current Veyron is set to run out by 2012, with the recently launched soft-top Grand Sport version set to be joined by a more powerful ‘GT’ coupe before production ends.

Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, Bugatti’s engineering boss, thinks there is some latent power still waiting to be extracted form the 8-litre, quad-turbo W16. Currently the 746kW engine ensures the Veyron is good for 407km/h.

With the ‘GT’ version Bugatti is allegedly keen on a 434km/h top speed which would necessitate 895kW of power to overcome drag. Rumour has it the boys from Molsheim are aiming for a 920kW output on the ‘GT’, which means you’ll be able to run the climate control whilst attempting a top end run – nice.

If the ‘GT’ embodies all the alleged power increases it should be a fitting swansong to the Veyron range.



Bugatti’s future might have four-doors

From a business perspective Bugatti is not interested in moving intothe volume market, which is understandable for a company whichallegedly losses money on each car it sells and is more an engineeringshowcase than anything else.

When Thomas Bscher was still the head man at Bugatti he conceded the Veyron is, "only an investment in the marque. We will make no money from it. That must come from a new model."

Bscher was keen on capitalising on the rejuvenated brand with a smaller, $100 000 performance car. He resigned last year though, after VW boss Martin Winterkorn countered rumours of a second Bugatti with the crushing quote that, “some wishes will stay dreams.”

Bscher was replaced by Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen. If one considers Paefgen's previous position as Bentley boss, the possibly of Bugatti returning to its limousine heritage in search for a Veyron replacement is given a huge amount of credence. Perhaps there is a W16 powered contemporary Type 41 Royale in the making? We are sure Ettore would have approved.




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