Reports from Germany indicate that Bugatti won’t be ready the put to Galibier concept into production until 2015.

Remember Bugatti CEO  Wolfgang Durheimer’s remarks about altering the car’s design? Well, turns out these changes are going to take a lot more time than expected, even though most of them are focused on making the car more comfortable by adding a bit more legroom.

But when you are going to make a car that will cost at least $1.4 million, you have to make sure it’s perfect in every way. The Galibier will also get the same 1001 hp engine as the Veyron, despite the rumors that suggest it would be a bi-turbo and not a quad-turbo, and therefore about a 100 hp weaker. Bugatti says a new model can’t be weaker than the previous one!

via: AMUS

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2011/10/bugatti-galibier-launch-pushed-back-to-2015/feed/ 1 http://www.motorward.com/2011/09/bugatti-galibier-to-get-a-new-design/ http://www.motorward.com/2011/09/bugatti-galibier-to-get-a-new-design/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:04:08 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=26332

Bugatti Galibier Concept is still on track for production, but it’s going to be significantly different than the concept version.

Bugatti decided they need to alter the design after a number of meetings with the Veyron owners who were invited to come check the car out and give feedback. Bugatti boss Wolfgang Durheimer is backing up the changes.

The new Galibier will be lengthier and provide more rear legroom for the passengers, and that’s the whole point of the car as a four-door uber-lux version of the Veyron. The engine will be the same W16, but the word is that Galibier only gets two turbos rather than four and therefore makes about a 100 hp less.

“I will suggest we continue development, but there will be some remarkable changes from the original concept,” said Durheimer. “The design will be different, especially from the B-pillar back, the ingress and regress to the rear seats will be improved, as will the legroom and ergonomics, the car will be a little longer, and the power of the engine will be at least four figures.”

source: Autocar

Volkswagen has been waiting to see how the luxury car market recovers from the economy downturn and then put the Bugatti Galibier concept into production. Now it seems the time has come.

Based on the recent reports, Bugatti has received the green light from parent company Volkswagen to prepare the Galibier for series production. Of course when we say series production it doesn’t mean they will make a thousand of them! The Galibier will probably have the same limited production run as the Veyron, and probably the same number of endless special editions.

The final production version of the ultra-lux super sedan – which is expected to arrive sometime close to 2013 – will be priced well over 1 million Euro or $1.4 million. I know it is insanely high, but it’s a bargain compared to the Veyron! Because it has twice the doors, twice the seats, and it’s supremely comfortable and luxurious, and it has the same 1000 hp W16 engine.

That said, the Galibeir won’t be as fast as the Veyron for obvious reasons, but it sure will be the fastest produciton sedan in the world.

via: Bloomberg

Last year Bugatti revealed the 16C Galibier Concept, which is like a four-door ultra-lux version of the Veyron. The car was introduced in the middle of the world’s economic downturn so the chances for it to become produced at that time was almost zero. Now though as the economy is getting better and better, VW officials are convinced that making the Galibier in limited numbers actually makes sense!

The car has recently been on a world tour in which the potential customers got to see it in person. Apparently they have shown great interest in the car and for that made the manager to make the final decision. Mind you, the process of turning from a concept into an actual production model is very time consuming, so the most realistic time for it to come would be in late 2012 or early 2013.

The production is said to be limited to just 300 units, with pricing around $1.5 million. The Galibier is based on the Veyron and is powered by the same 1000 hp quad-turbo W-16 engine. The car’s design is inspired by the legendary Type 35.

source: Autocar

After Geneva Motor Show, the whole auto industry has become a bit slow preparing for the next major event. So to cheer up the petrolheads around the world Bugatti has released new images of Galibier 16C in a very elegant black and silver finish. This car is still a concept for the time being, but almost certainly it’ll become a reality sometime in 2012. Like its brother Veyron, the Galibier will also sport a hefty price tag well over $1 million.

Hit the jump to see the pics…

Bugatti has released new video and images of its magnificent Galibier 16C Concept aka the ultimate super sedan, as rumors fly around that the production version of the car will be on display at the upcoming L.A. Autoshow. The Galibier is awesome, no doubt about it. It shares the same W16 engine with the Veyron which makes it the fastest sedan in the world, and it is as luxurious as Burj Al Arab hotel. But VW officials have not yet made up their minds to put it into production mainly becasue like the Veyron, they won’t be able to make much money out of it!

It’s ironic that the most expensive car in the world is a total financial failure for the company! but it’s true. Some say that making every Veyron costs VW more than twice as much as the car’s selling price. But then they have actually fulfilled its production plan and have also made a number of special editions! After all, for the Galibier, it’s going to be tougher because if it’s going into production, it will come out with a price tag even bigger than Veyron’s!

Press Release:

Bugatti presents 16C Galibier Concept in Los Angeles

The most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four-door automobile in the world

Los Angeles, November 5, 2009 – What was revealed at the climax of Bugatti’s centenary celebrations in September at its headquarters in Molsheim, was today presented to customers and opinion-makers in Los Angeles: the Bugatti 16C Galibier concept – designed as the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four-door automobile in the world. At the prestigious Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills, Bugatti’s Director of Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Alasdair Stewart, emphasised that the Galibier is just one of several concept studies that the company is considering for the future of the Bugatti marque.

Arte – Forme – Technique: those are the brand values by which Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean oriented themselves in order to develop even more powerful engines and even more noble body designs for each new model, which were unequaled in quality, handling, speed and elegance. In the process, they experimented again and again with new materials; thus was Bugatti one of the first manufacturers to use aluminium parts for bodies, engine blocks and wheels.

Arte – Forme – Technique are also the brand values by which the design and engineering team at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. oriented themselves in the development of the Galibier. With this new four-door concept car, Bugatti assumes once again a leading role in the use of new material combinations. For example, the body is constructed of handmade carbon fibre parts coloured dark blue so that, when illuminated, the woven structure strikingly shimmers through. Carbon fibre not only possesses exceptionally great rigidity but is also especially light. The wings and doors are made out of polished aluminium.

The Galibier’s design masters the challenge of uniting sportiness with the comfort and elegance of a modern four-door saloon. The basic architecture picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35, which was already revived in the Veyron, and reinterprets it. With the typical Bugatti radiator grille, unusual, round LED headlights and the clamshell running the length of the vehicle, which became synonymous with the brand identity under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57, this car transports the Bugatti genes into the modern world.

Beneath the bonnet, which folds back from both sides, resides a 16-cylinder, 8-litre engine with two-stage supercharging. What makes this engine so special is that it was developed as a flex-fuel engine and can optionally be run on ethanol. Four-wheel drive, specially developed ceramic brakes and a new suspension design enable the agile, always-sure handling of a saloon of this size.

The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dashboard has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers constantly informed of the current speed and previous performance. Parmigiani, the Swiss maker of fine watches, created a removable tourbillion clock for the Galibier, which may be worn on the wrist thanks to a cleverly designed leather strap.

“Galibier” is not just the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France but,
in its time, was a version of the four-door Type 57, unequaled in sportiness and elegance.

So Bugatti’s surprise for the 2009 IAA was not called Royal or Bordeaux, it is the Galibier! But at least it has four doors and is has the same W16 engine as the Veyron. But unlike the Veyron it comes with a hood! so engineers must have done something amazing about its cooling system. That really doesn’t matter now because the Gali is only a concept for the time being.

Actually there are some differences between this powerplant and the Veyron’s. According to Bugatti this W16 is developed as a flex-fuel engine and can also run on ethanol! So the most expensive, the fastest, the most amazing super sedan of all time is potentially green as well!

Bugatti Galibier has already been shown to a selected group of prospective customers at the company’s HQ in Molsheim. The car is what you expect it to be, the ultimate in every sense! So talking about the magnesium switches and the fine wood and leather trimming of the dashboard is pointless really. But there is one cool feature inside the cabin! The Reverso Tourbillon clock by Parmigiani i the middle of dashboard can actually be worn on your wrist too!

Press Release

As the climax of its centenary celebration ceremonies, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. presented customers and opinion-makers with the Bugatti Galibier Concept, intended to be the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four door automobile in the world last weekend in Molsheim. At the historic site where Ettore Bugatti once laid the cornerstone of his company, Bugatti’s current president, Dr. Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen emphasised that the Bugatti Galibier 16C is one of several concept studies with which the company is considering for the future of the Bugatti marque.

Art – Forme – Technique: those are the brand values to which Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean oriented themselves in order to develop even more powerful engines and even more noble body designs for each new model, which were without equal in quality, handling, speed and elegance. In the process, they experimented again and again without compromise with new materials; thus was Bugatti one of the first manufacturers to use aluminium parts for bodies, engine blocks and wheels.

Art – Forme – Technique are also the brand values to which the design and engineering team of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. oriented themselves in the development of the Bugatti Galibier. With this new four-door concept car, Bugatti assumes anew a leading role in the use of new material combinations. Thus the body is constructed of handmade carbon fibre parts coloured dark blue so that, when illuminated, the woven structure shimmers through strikingly. Carbon fibre not only possesses unusually great rigidity but is also especially light. The wings and doors are out of polished aluminium.

The Bugatti Galibier’s design masters the challenge of uniting sportiness with the comfort and elegance of a modern four-door saloon. The basic architecture picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35, which was already revived in the Bugatti Veyron, and reinterprets it. With the typical Bugatti radiator grille, big round LED headlights and the clamshell running the length of the vehicle which became synonymous with the brand identity under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57, this car transports the Bugatti genes into the modern world.

Beneath the bonnet, which folds back from both sides, there resides a 16-cylinder, 8-litre engine with twostage supercharging. What makes this engine special is that it was developed as a flex-fuel engine and can optional be run on ethanol. Four-wheel drive, specially developed ceramic brakes and a new suspension design enable the agile, always-sure handling of a saloon of this size.

The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dash panel has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers constantly informed of the actual speed and previous performance. Parmigiani, the Swiss maker of fine watches, created the removable Reverso Tourbillon clock for the Bugatti Galibier, which may be worn on the wrist thanks to a cleverly designed leather strap.

“Galibier” is not just the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France but, in its time, was a version of the four door Type 57 unequalled in sportiness and elegance.