A few years ago, no one would have believed high-end supercar manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin would enter the SUV market, but this is now a reality with the launch of the Lamborghini Urus and the upcoming Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX.
Bugatti has yet to officially announce plans to build an SUV, but company boss Stephan Winkelmann recently said he wants to add a second model to Bugatti’s line-up with a different body style than the Chiron hypercar. With sedans sales falling, it seemed likely that Winkelmann was referring to an SUV.
After all, this is the man who made the push for the Lamborghini Urus. Speaking to Automotive News at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Winkelmann admitted that Bugatti could build an ultra-luxury SUV to broaden its range and rival the likes of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga. "The brand is ready for more," said Winkelmann. "The W16 engine is at the core of the brand today, but it won't remain the heart forever."
However, while the SUV would need to live up to the Bugatti name, a business case also needs to be made to justify the investment needed. “We need to come up with a convincing pitch to our shareholders that justifies the related investment,” Winkelmann said.
If it does get the green light, don’t expect it to be powered by VW’s wonderful W16 engine. Instead, a more efficient hybrid powertrain is likely to be on the cards. Winkelmann admitted that a hybrid engine "could be part of the future - you have to consider social acceptance in terms of emissions." As sacrilegious as a Bugatti SUV may sound, it would allow Bugatti to boost sales volumes and help fund the development of more insanely powerful hypercars in the future.
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