Bugatti’s developing hybrid Veyron successor: report

BUGATTI is working on a hybrid-powered successor to the Veyron that will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 460km/h, according to sources inside the company.

While the Volkswagen Group-owned French sportscar-maker is keeping quiet, sources speaking to British publication Autocar have indicated a new Bugatti is currently being tested and will be unveiled in 2016.

The sources say the successor will be mid-engined like the Veyron and powered by a revised version of that car’s 8.0-litre quad turbo-charged W16, but teamed with a hybrid drive system.

The combined output will be a massive 1088kW of power, which is 206kW more than the most recent Veyron - the Super Sport World Record Edition. The seven-speed dual clutch transmission will be carried over and that means torque is expected to stay at about 1491Nm – an amount engineers consider safe for reliable running of the gearbox.

Company officials told the British publication the new Bugatti will have “the fastest top speed of any series-production road car, together with the sort of driveability to allow you to use it every day.” The top speed is expected to be close to 460km/h with 0-100km/h arriving in less than 2.3 seconds, which improves on the Veyron Super Sport’s maximum speed of 431km/h – a record back in 2010, with 0-100km/h of 2.5 seconds.

But the Veyron is now nine years old and its rivals are catching up and even overtaking it, including the Hennssey Venom GT which recorded 435.31km/h top speed in February this year to claim the fastest-car crown.

By offering a hybrid powertrain the new Bugatti will also be electrically fit to take on the rat pack of new hypercar heroes such as the La Ferrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche’s 918 Spyder.

Bugatti’s hybrid system will reportedly use a disc-shaped electric motor within the gearbox housing and a lithium ion battery.

The new Bugatti, like the Veyron, looks set to be built around a carbon-fibre moncoque which will have seating for two occupants in total luxury.

Exterior styling is expected to be similar to the Veyron although the insiders said much work has been done to improve aerodynamics and downforce which will affect the new car’s shape.

Bugatti is said to be upgrading its production facility in Molsheim, France in preparation for the birth of the latest model. Just like the Veyron too, only 450 cars will be built.