2013 Bugatti Veyron

The world’s most incredible supercar is about to get even faster! Auto Express has learned that a quicker and lighter new Bugatti Veyron has been given the green light.

Although the VW Group has lost money on each one of the 300 coupés, 150 Grand Sports and 30 Super Sport models it’s built over the past five years, the Veyron’s status as a halo car has been worth every penny. And our sources have revealed that the German company has decided to build a new version. Backing this up, VW chairman Martin Winterkorn was recently widely reported as saying: “After 300 Bugattis, I believe we would be poorly advised if we were to allow that brand to become dormant again.”

As with the latest Bentley Continental GT and Porsche 911, the newcomer’s design will be evolutionary, but Bugatti is keen to keep the Veyron’s instantly recognisable silhouette intact. An insider has revealed that the next model could take its inspiration from a design proposal for the original Veyron penned by Walter de’Silva, current head of VW Group design, in 1999.

The dramatic prototype, which was never publicly displayed, was beaten to the punch by Hartmut Warkuss’ 18/4 Veyron concept from the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show. But its bold lines could be resurrected now that de’Silva is in charge of VW’s design direction.

Similarities include blacked-out A-pillars, creating a wraparound screen, a ‘floating’ roof that curves around to form the side air intakes, and one-piece rear light assemblies. Taking a leaf out of the current Veyron Super Sport’s book, the car will feature a smooth roof surface to give slippery aerodynamics, perforated with ducts to aid cooling.

Under the skin, Bugatti is likely to stick with the existing quad-turbo 8.0-litre W16 engine and seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox, both tweaked for efficiency. Considering that the current car churns out 596g/km of CO2, though, it is unlikely to win any green awards.

Power output will at least match the Super Sport’s – at around 1,200bhp and 1,500Nm of torque – but performance will take a big leap forward. Expect a scorching 0-62mph time of less than 2.5 seconds and a new record-setting top speed of 270mph. This jump will be made possible by saving weight; tipping the scales at 1,838kg, even the Super Sport is hardly light, so the new Veyron will make use of another VW-owned manufacturer’s know-how.

Lamborghini is quickly becoming a carbon-composite expert, and the cheaper and quicker-to-make alternative to carbon fibre weave will be used for all the Bugatti’s bodywork, much of the interior trim and the monocoque chassis. Lightweight alloys and thinner but stronger glass will also contribute to a kerbweight reduction of around 100kg, so boosting pace, efficiency and handling in one fell swoop. Meanwhile, carrying over many parts from the Veyron’s predecessor should dramatically reduce development time and slash costs. And although the firm is still unlikely to turn a profit on each car, that is less of a problem than you’d think. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, former Bentley and Bugatti boss, explained why: “It costs far more money to compete in a season of F1 than to run Bugatti.”

Now that production of the current Veyron is grinding to a halt, development of its successor is expected to get underway immediately. We’ll see the newcomer for the first time in 2013, before it goes on sale the following year priced at around £1million.

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[AutoExpress/b]