Development work has begun on a follow-up to the nine-year-old Bugatti Veyron, with the firm looking to raise the lofty performance of its hypercar with a new 286mph successor.
The Veyron replacement is set to adopt a heavily updated version of its predecessor’s turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine. It will incorporate hybrid technology and produce in the region of 1500ps (1479bhp), officials involved in the new car’s development have revealed.
The new Bugatti is currently undergoing initial conceptual engineering tests in a programme aimed at unveiling the car in 2016 prior to a planned start to customer deliveries the following year.
The eagerly anticipated replacement for the Veyron is set to build on the key strengths of its successor by offering “the fastest top speed of any series-production road car, together with the sort of driveability to allow you to use it every day”, according to company officials.
Although senior officials at Bugatti parent Volkswagen have attempted to play down plans for a successor to the Veyron while order books for today’s model remain open, sources close to Bugatti have revealed that early test
mules for the new car exist
and have already been
pressed into action in an
early round of testing.
“Five developmental prototypes with differing powertrain combinations have been constructed up to now,” said one insider. “They are based on the existing car
but use various solutions
that are being considered for the new model.”
Although returning Bugatti president Wolfgang Dürheimer has yet to officially confirm plans for a new model, tentative moves have already been made to advise existing Veyron owners. As with today’s car, production will be limited to about 450 units.
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