Bugatti May Be the Next Supercar Company to Make an SUV
Lamborghini’s SUV is already on sale, Ferrari and Aston Martin have theirs on the way and now Bugatti is considering a high-performance utility as well.
In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann said the brand is “ready for more,” in regards to its product portfolio, which currently consists of the Chiron and the Chiron-based Divo. The brand could soon add an SUV to its lineup, the former Lamborghini boss said, but it’s still having discussions in regards to the vehicle’s chassis and engine. Bugatti also faces the challenge of figuring out what denotes a high six-figure or possibly even seven-figure SUV from a lesser product like the Lamborghini Urus.
SEE ALSO: Audi RS Q8 Spied Testing as German Lamborghini Urus
If the SUV does come to fruition, it probably won’t have Bugatti’s venerable W16 engine under the hood. The thirsty sixteen-cylinder isn’t long for this world and probably wouldn’t be suited for duty in a high-riding, front-engine SUV anyway. There’s no telling what powertrain could be in store for Bugatti going forward, but Winkelmann says the W16 “won’t remain the heart,” of the brand forever. It’s open to hybrids and is even considering a pure electric model, but it seems as though these topics are still being discussed internally.
A report surfaced last month indicating that Bugatti may also be working on a track-focused Chiron SS and an open-top Chiron Aperta as well.
[Source: Automotive News Europe]
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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Why? Please, someone tell these automakers to stop with this "SUV" thing. If a (rich/wealthy) person was smart, and they wanted to stay in the VAG family, either buy the Urus, or buy the most opulent Touareg/Cayenne Turbo S/Q8 and save yourself a whole heap of coin. May $4/gal (in the US) put a stop to this trend and bring back the wagon.
Who cares? Just the uber-wealthy who want what they want, and money is no object. "I just have to have an SUV that will go 200 mph!"