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Bugatti SUV Edging Closer To Production Reality

In addition to hybridization to the detriment of the quad-turbocharged W16 engine, Bugatti has another wish for the near future. And that is to add a second model to the lineup, which could turn out to be a super sport utility vehicle.
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Photo: Bugatti
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“Wait, doesn’t Lamborghini have an SSUV thanks to the introduction of the Urus?” You can call it that, of course. But on the other hand, the Raging Bull of Sant’Agata Bolognese has 650 horsepower to offer and a maximum velocity that will soon be exceeded by Lister with their F-Pace SVR-based tuning project.

The 2019 Lister LFP is capable of more than 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) according to the British automaker, which makes it increasingly hard for Bugatti to catch up if an SUV will become the second model in the lineup.

Speaking to Car Advice, head honcho Stephan Winkelmann made it crystal clear that they should do "something different from a super sports car.” Bringing the point home, the chief executive officer expects Bugatti to look “at every body style and also regional demand, see what is going up and what is going down, and also in terms of pricing. We would not put our money into something which is fading.”

Even though Winkelmann didn’t say utility vehicle explicitly, ask yourself what sort of body style is in demand today. There’s only one correct answer to that question, and it isn’t sports car, supercar, or hypercar. But even still, the Volkswagen Group has the last say considering that Bugatti can’t do anything without the rubber stamp of the higher-ups.

Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget who was the chief exec of Lamborghini when the Urus was nothing more than a concept. If there’s anyone who could convince the Volkswagen Group of making the Bugatti SUV happen, Winkelmann is the right person for the job.

Having spent some time at Audi Sport as well, Bugatti is described by the 53-year-old German executive as “an opportunity to move a brand. Anything you do has to be above the expectations of the people you are dealing with, both inside and outside the company."
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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