Photo: SB MEdien
In an interview for German publication Bild, Volkswagen Group Boss Martin Winterkorn offered the first official confirmation that the company he is running is working on a Veyron successor. Of course, this comes as no news at all since the car has been spotted out testing a couple of times already, but nobody knew anything for sure.
Now, according to Autocar sources, the man also stated that the car will be a hybrid and that it will have around 1,500 HP. However, the statement is a little rough around the edges, leaving plenty of room for speculation.
"Next to the petrol model there will be a hybrid version with added performance for the first time," Winterkorn told Bild. That could mean that there will be two models launched at the same time, but that would be a logistical nightmare, to say the least.
That’s because developing two different powertrains would require huge amounts of cash, especially in the case of a car that is supposed to be the fastest production model in the world, with a top speed over 286 mph (460 km/h). In turn, that probably means that there will be a hybrid Bugatti that would make around 1,500 HP and would be using a heavily revised version of the 8-liter W16 engine the original Veyron had.
That amount of power would put the Bugatti right next to its arch rival, the Koenigsegg Regera that makes the same amount of power and has some incredible performance numbers to go with it. Those include going from 150 km/h to 250 km/h (93 to 155 mph) in 3.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of well over 400 km/h (248 mph). At the same time, the Regera uses Direct Drive an innovation from Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg himself.
Basically, that’s a sort of transmission that uses only one ratio. Using it helps reduce the mass of the car and allows it to do all these incredible things the Swedes are claiming.
The Bugatti won’t be short of surprises either, we’re pretty sure. However, until we actually get to see what they are, we have a lot of waiting to do. That’s because the car is currently in its initial phases of development and just the first phases of engineering tests are being carried out as we speak.
According to Autocar, no less than five different prototypes are being tested at the moment, all with unique powertrain options. Of course, they are also testing various weight reduction measures and the new Veyron will be built using a carbon fiber cocoon for two people.
"Next to the petrol model there will be a hybrid version with added performance for the first time," Winterkorn told Bild. That could mean that there will be two models launched at the same time, but that would be a logistical nightmare, to say the least.
That’s because developing two different powertrains would require huge amounts of cash, especially in the case of a car that is supposed to be the fastest production model in the world, with a top speed over 286 mph (460 km/h). In turn, that probably means that there will be a hybrid Bugatti that would make around 1,500 HP and would be using a heavily revised version of the 8-liter W16 engine the original Veyron had.
That amount of power would put the Bugatti right next to its arch rival, the Koenigsegg Regera that makes the same amount of power and has some incredible performance numbers to go with it. Those include going from 150 km/h to 250 km/h (93 to 155 mph) in 3.2 seconds and reaching a top speed of well over 400 km/h (248 mph). At the same time, the Regera uses Direct Drive an innovation from Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg himself.
Basically, that’s a sort of transmission that uses only one ratio. Using it helps reduce the mass of the car and allows it to do all these incredible things the Swedes are claiming.
The Bugatti won’t be short of surprises either, we’re pretty sure. However, until we actually get to see what they are, we have a lot of waiting to do. That’s because the car is currently in its initial phases of development and just the first phases of engineering tests are being carried out as we speak.
According to Autocar, no less than five different prototypes are being tested at the moment, all with unique powertrain options. Of course, they are also testing various weight reduction measures and the new Veyron will be built using a carbon fiber cocoon for two people.
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