Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann recently shared in an interview that the automaker is considering creating a luxury car that is more suitable for everyday use than its high-end $3 million Chiron hypercar. While the Chiron is undeniably luxurious and state-of-the-art, maneuvering a 16-cylinder hypercar—comparable in width to a bus—through congested city streets can be quite challenging, underscoring a certain level of “first world problems.”
Winkelmann explained that this hypothetical vehicle will not share its architecture with the Chiron, as that platform would not be ideal for the new car’s intended purpose.
“I envision us developing a battery electric vehicle,” Winkelmann stated in an interview with Bloomberg. He emphasized that for this new model, the balance between performance and comfort is crucial, particularly for daily usability.
He noted that extreme speed, such as the Chiron’s capability to exceed 250 mph, is not necessary for this new design, implying that performance measures will be less prioritized.
Although Winkelmann did not disclose many specifics, like technical details or specifications, he dismissed the earlier suggestion of a Bugatti SUV or crossover, indicating that the vehicle is likely to adhere to a more traditional format, such as a coupe, sedan, or station wagon. He also hinted that the price would be substantial, likely in the upper six figures to lower seven figures, instead of reaching the lofty eight-figure range of the one-time model, La Voiture Noire.
“The key factor in a car’s price is the brand, which I believe will remain unchanged—thankfully for us,” Winkelmann asserted with confidence.
Currently, Winkelmann has yet to receive the go-ahead from the board of Volkswagen Auto Group, Bugatti’s parent company, to begin developing this new model. If approval is granted, it could take around four years of work to bring this vehicle to market, suggesting that an electric Bugatti won’t likely hit the roads until at least 2023..
