A future electric Bugatti model would move away from the maker’s core business of hypercars and instead offer a more practical vehicle, but still with the performance and ultra-exclusivity for which the brand is famous.
“If we speak about a second model as Bugatti,” said Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann, “I am convinced we don’t have to do a car which is only for weekends. This is a car to be used on a daily basis. It has to have a different shape [to the Bugatti Chiron] and have a different mission.
He continued: “If we do something outside of the hyper sports car business, there will be a car that is not in the direction of the W16. In my opinion, electrification would be the right approach.”
A second Bugatti model has long been in contention, and is likely to be either an SUV or a four-door GT, but Winkelmann has repeatedly stated that no decision has yet been made by the Volkswagen Group board. “For Bugatti, it is a good opportunity and could be a winner. But I also see that a big group like VW Group has a lot of priorities. It is in the midst of an electrification revolution and it must decide where to spend its money.
“A second model would mean doubling the size of the company or more. It’s clear we need 100% commitment from everybody - it’s not enough that I’m convinced!”
While group-wide sharing of platforms is commonplace - for example, Audi and Porsche are sharing EV platforms - Bugatti would create its own. WInkelmann commented on the possibility of platform sharing: “This is not the case for a car with the performance of a Bugatti.”
He added that repeatable acceleration and top speed would be far more important than range for a Bugatti EV. “I’d rather have some reserve performance than keep range on a high level,” he said.
Charging is another major barrier, Winkelmann said, adding that EV charging times would need to be equivalent to filling up a combustion car. He said: “We would sell [electric] cars where the infrastructure is best - the east and west coast of the US, the UK, Asia and so on. “On top of that, our customers have more than one car - to say the least - so they are not depending on one particular car.”
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So Bugatti's CEO isn't worried about range...
...if they were to build an EV, but he suggests that the Chiron and its derivatives are weekend vehicles. Yet if they built a powerful daily driver, that only had limited range, what would be the point of calling it a daily driver? I get it, the Chiron is a vehicle your meant to have fun in, so mpg are not a big issue. Big if I'm a captain of industry and can afford a Chiron as a weekend car, I would take issue if someone in my employment drove a Tesla that had 200 miles of driving range more then my Bugatti EV that I drove to work, or my wife drove as a daily driver! For the amount of money they charge for their vehicles, I do not see why they can't have power and range?! In another recent Autocar article about Lucid Motors, they said the automaker was go In to have a sedan with 400 miles of EV range and a top speed of 235 mph. A Bugatti EV with that kind of range and a top speed of about 200 mph, along with the aesthetics, attention to detail and service that Bugatti can provide for about a million dollars would suffice!
4 door electric fast GT.....hhhmmm
Has anyone in Bugatti even looked at the Porsche website? Hey Bugatti - your German cousins have the awesome Taycan. Stick a new body on that and some fancy materials. Charge $500K. Job done.
Because so many people want
eseaton wrote:
There's more than enough demand for fast EV's to justify a move like this.
Want a fast electric car?
if u want a fast electric car, head over to Tesla or check out the Porsche Taycan....they r already around