Since its introduction in 2005, the Bugatti Veyron hasn't made a dime for corporate parent Volkswagen. The original development costs were so high that even with a million dollar price tag, the Veyron sales weren't enough to put the project into the black. According to an interview with Bugatti CEO Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen in the Netherlands' AutoTelegraaf, Bug will turn a profit in those most magical of years, 2010. That's when they'll finally sell enough of the quad-turbo meisterwerk to pay for the program. As for another model, who needs another model? But seriously, a replacement for the Veyron will supposedly arrive in 2011 or 2012– soon enough that collectors may take the claim seriously, but far enough away that VW can change their plans completely if needs be. But since Bugatti can only sell so many Veyrons, and there are only so many Fifth Avenue designers to stamp their logo on a "version" of the car, it seems reasonable that they'd have to do something else. But what? A targa– sorry, removable panel roof? A four-door sedan? A 2000 horsepower coupe? When your modus operandi is "ridiculous," it's hard to follow that up as being "even more ridiculous." And don't forget, Volkswagen also has Bentley and Lamborghini in the wheelhouse. Decisions, decisions. I know! What about killing the brand?
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The Veyron, while expensive, has been a good PR move for VW. When they initially acquired Bentley and Lamborghini VW had to fight it’s “people’s car company” reputation with many doubting that they could cut it in the luxury and exotic segments. Since resurrecting Bugatti and building the absolutely bonkers Veyron it has attracted the attention and admiration of car fans worldwide – much more so than any new Ferrari has during that time. While it may have cost some cash, it certainly put to rest any talk that VW isn’t up to competing in the exotic or luxury segments.
Will it worth pouring more money into that venture? Who knows – with marketing you never know.
I vote for a four-door. I can barely make any forward progress in my Continental Flying Spur Speed.
In all seriousness, a ridiculous limousine would probably do just as well the current ridiculous coupe. Same customers, except with the sedan they can pay someone else to drive it for them, making it even easier to show off how much money they have.
Why it’s obvious! They need a hybrid Veyron.
— When your modus operandi is “ridiculous,” it’s hard to follow that up as being “even more ridiculous.”
Huh, not so sure about that. “Even more ridiculous” might work. There are an impressive number of rich people who are willing to pay for status.
In reality – I’m kinda of tired of all the new supercar press releases and special edition versions of supercars already available. Anyone else get tired of reading these? The bench racing comments that ensue are quite hilarious (see some Autoblog posts or join some car forums and go off topic) but get boring very quickly.
I vote for a hybrid / gas / diesel / hydrogen / fuel-cell sedan with solar panels on the roof. The way they can cover just about every technology to come out in the near future and have enough alternative energy basis covered to even sell the car to the ‘green conscious’ Hollywood elite.
For those of you who think you can’t fit all those technologies under the bonnet, may I direct you to the T41 Royale? With a length of about 6.4 meters, there is more than plenty of room to fit all the alternatives in the car, plus there’s history to boot!
TopGear called it. It’s the Concorde.
Personally, I vote for nuclear power with inter-galactic thrusters and teleporting.
Live and let live. I do not have control over others money.
I guess I have little use for a Veyron. Its also too dangerous to own in many places I believe. I’d certainly like to enjoy one for a while at least. A C300 is in many ways worth just as much though. So is an E30. Long live the Veyron, and more importantly may money flow my way.
How about bespoke only front engine? The trouble with resurrecting an old marque is that the technology and regulatory environments are so different that it is difficult to be thematically coherent. Arguably the nearest modern analogy to Bugatti is the AMG Mercedes line. Ridiculously fast luxury cars with a solid racing program. The Veyron is more like a Koenigsegg or Saleen, an exceptionally well made kit-car.