French hypercar marque Bugatti may follow in the footsteps of its other Volkswagen Group luxury siblings and introduce an SUV to bolster its finances and ensure that the company maintains strong, positive cashflow in the future. While Bugatti’s shown intent in the Galibier to develop a 4-door saloon, it’s probably likely that they’ll go in the direction of a more popular SUV instead.
“It’s clear that if we do something different from a super sports car like the Chiron, then it would not be enough just to be in love with one type of car. [Bugatti] is ready to do more than one model. We would look at every body style as well as regional demand, and not put our money into something that is fading.” — Stephan Winkelmann, CEO, Bugatti SpA
That comment about “something that is fading” was what clued us and Autocar into the unlikelihood of a Galibier saloon joining the lineup. The Galibier was an interesting concept when it came about, and gave us an idea of what a four-door Bugatti would look like. It may also be used as a baseline, as a starting point for the design of a Bugatti SUV.
If Bugatti does indeed harbour intent to develop an SUV, it’s a good thing that Winkelmann’s in charge: He was the boss at Lamborghini when they conceptualised, developed, and launched the Urus. The Urus is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, which also underpins the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg; There’s plenty of experience within the Group to ensure that if Bugatti attempts a high-riding, ultra-luxury, super-fast SUV, it won’t be a (complete) embarrassment to the Bugatti name.
For the best deals on a new car, check out our Showroom.
