Report: Bugatti gets green light to build Galibier sedan

[HighestOfHigh]

Always wanted Veyron levels of power but needed room for the kids? Bugatti is ready to make your dream a reality because the Galibier has reportedly been given the green light. According to some in-the-know folks, Volkswagen has given a jewel-encrusted thumbs up that will allow Bugatti to build the four-door super sedan.

The Galibier is expected to be priced around $1.4 million, and according to Bloomberg, the W16 will arrive under-hood in 1,000-horsepower form. Other reports speculate that Bugatti will trim the turbocharger count back from four to two, causing horsepower to dip to a more pedestrian 800 hp.

- Report: Bugatti gets green light to build Galibier sedan

Rumored to be on the road to production since 2009, the Bugatti Galibier 16C four-door is back in the spotlight, this time on the back of word from sources supposedly close to the decision-making process that say Volkswagen has given the project the green light.

If you've forgotten the Galibier's stats, here's the cheat sheet: 800 horsepower, four doors, Bugatti opulence, and a $1.4 million price tag. As the name suggests, the Galibier sports a 16-cylinder engine much likes its Veyron brandmate. The 8.0-liter mill in the Galibier spurns the supercar's quad turbocharging for a two-stage supercharger system, however, likely offering a higher-torque, less-frenetic driving experience befitting a hyperluxury, hyper-fast sedan.

With Ferrari recently unveiling the four-seat (but just two door) FF and Lamborghini reportedly re-reconsidering production of the Estoque sedan, not to mention Aston Martin's Rapide, the market for super high-end sports cars for four appears to be booming.

No timeline for the car's arrival is yet known, but given that it has been on the burner for two years now, it's possible that Bugatti could move to production by the end of the year or early 2012.

- Report: Bugatti Galibier 16C Four-Door Gets Greenlight

 

[Merc1]

Going to be really something if this is true. I just wish it didn't look like a big bug.


M

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I think it looks good. I would have preferred a regular sedan look instead of the hatchback though. Either way the power makes up for it.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Bugatti Galibier On Hold

​

Just the Facts:

• New Bugatti boss has put Bugatti's four-door super sedan on hold because it's not yet an "argument stopper."
• The Galibier concept originally boasted 800 horsepower, which sources say isn't good enough for Wolfgang Durheimer.
• A decision will be made later this year about the sedan's future.

New Bugatti boss Wolfgang Durheimer has put Bugatti's much-hyped four-door super sedan on hold because it's not yet an "argument stopper," sources have admitted.

A decision will be made later this year about the future of the Galibier after Durheimer posed some tricky questions to Bugatti's engineering team about comfort, interior space and performance, sources said.

The concept car originally proposed 800 horsepower as the target figure, and it is understood that Durheimer is less than satisfied with that output.

"In his opinion," our source confirmed, "there should not even be a question about the best car in the world when you sit down to discuss it with your billionaire buddies.

"He doesn't want to build it until it's the car that finishes the argument, not the car that starts it.

"Right now, it's definitely not enough (power) and it needs more space and comfort, especially in the rear.

"It's 800 horsepower now, but there are tuners today who can give you that and we don't want our car to be involved in any discussion that involves tuners, so we have to move the benchmarks."

Inside Line says: Looks like the new boss of Bugatti is serious about maintaining the brand's reputation for vehicles that are over the top in every way possible.

- Bugatti Galibier On Hold

 

[Centurion]

Durheimer is suffering from Piech Ferdinand syndrome. He has too though. The Veyron is a Jurassic leap forward for the automotive industry. It's the Concorde of cars. A statement of opulence, cost-no-object and human engineering at its limit. For the Galibier to raise eye brows it must pull performance figures that will be ahead of rival sedans for at least 5 years. This car has the potential to topple the Phantom as the absolute most luxurious car on the planet. Best way of overcoming weight during acceleration would be to use electric motors to shave off 0.5sec or so in acceleration and let the petrol engine handle the top speed job.

 

[Guibo]

"It's 800 horsepower now, but there are tuners today who can give you that and we don't want our car to be involved in any discussion that involves tuners, so we have to move the benchmarks."

This is rather bizarre comment from a CEO. I have a hard time believing the "source."

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Bugatti Galibier To Be Significantly Redesigned For Production: Report

First unveiled to the public in 2009 as a design concept, to be shopped around to potential buyers to gauge interest, the Bugatti Galibier 16C was quickly rumored to be on the fast-track to production.

Two years have intervened without any official confirmation of production, however, there havebeen plenty of hints dropped by Volkswagen Group higher ups including Bugatti boss Wolfgang Durheimer.

The latest reports say development of the Galibier has been delayed due to the original premise for the ultimate luxury sedan being deemed “not outrageous enough” by Durheimer.

Accordingly, its projected pricetag has shot up to “extraordinary” levels, which we think is only fitting if the car is to pick up the legendary Bugatti Royale name.

Another reason for its delay is the potential image of launching such an extravagant sedan in this time of eco-consciousness.

Additionally, revealing plans for the extravagant--and not likely profitable, despite the halo image and stratospheric price--Galbier could derail the confidence of investors. After all, the Royale was a flop during its time, coming out just prior to the depression of the 1930s, and Bugatti would also be wary of the mistakes made by Daimler and its waning Maybach brand.

Speaking with Autocar, Durheimer has now revealed that the Galibier is in its second half of the design phase and that a final decision should be made by the end of the year.

“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.”

Performance is also expected to get a boost, with the projected horsepower now back into the four figures.

If all goes to plan, production could start by 2013 with sales to follow before the end of that same year.

- Bugatti Galibier To Be Significantly Redesigned For Production: Report

 

[K-A]

Looks like a Panamera in that last picture!

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Looks like a Panamera in that last picture!

That could be why they want to redesign it. A Bugatti shouldn't look like a Porsche or Audi (A7).

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

While some of the details are beautiful and immaculate, this car doesn't do anything for me. I hope after rethinking the design it will knock me over.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Bugatti Galibier (Royale) Delayed Until 2015: Report

​

Conceived as a Veyron-like sedan, later updated to include the trendy plug-in hybrid idea, then shelved for not being outrageous enough, the Bugatti Galibier, or Royale as it's expected to be called when it reaches production, has already lived a hard life--and it won't even be born until 2015.

That is, it won't be built until 2015 if the latest from Auto Motor und Sport is correct. Approval of the VW Group's board is still wanting, says chief Wolfgang Duerheimer, and therefore--somehow--it's expected to take another three to four years before the car can be properly readied for launch.

The Royale/Galibier could therefore undergo any number of changes from its current form. That form, as it sits most recently, is a long, round-backed sedan of the modern GT type, powered by an 8.0-liter W-16 engine turbocharged to reach 800 horsepower--wild, to be sure, but apparently not crazy enough.

Interestingly, the 2015 time frame is roughly the same as the upcoming new Lamborghini model which will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Could the VW Group be waiting to leverage the new ultra-performance large platform for both cars? It seems reasonable.

We had already learned that the Bugatti uber-sedan would face some redesign before reaching production due to focusgrouping with potential clients, but the new delay opens the door to a clean-sheet rewrite. Stay tuned to see how the situation develops.

- Bugatti Galibier (Royale) Delayed Until 2015: Report

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Bugatti Galibier to be "faster than anything on the market"​

​

Before Wolfgang Dürheimer moves to Audi, he's still got a few jobs to finish as head of Bentley and Bugatti, one of them being to oversee the development of the 16C Galibier. It was back in 2009 that the two-tone concept had audiences agog, and rumors and leaks since then have had everyone wondering if the four-seat fastback will ever become reality. To hit 'rewind' on the rumormill, the Galibier was initially greenlit in early 2011 and tipped to go into production this year, a timeframe that was later revised to next year. The model was earmarked to have less than 1,000 horsepower and optional hybrid power, and at the same time, the design was meant to be finalized, but it was instead reportedly scrapped for not being outrageous enough. The Galibier then went back to the design bureau and the horsepower was subsequently announced as surpassing the four-digit mark.

Production is now planned for somewhere around 2015, and according to Dürheimer's chat with Car and Driver, the Galibier on the way will be original and blindingly fast. The executive would only commit to the "over 1,000 hp" line, but C/D believes the ouput will be around 1,400 non-hybridized ponies. Whatever the final number is, it is said to get the Galibier beyond 235 mph and, Durheimer said, be "faster than anything on the market" – and that includes wares from the aftermarket sector. Dürheimer also says the Galibier will have technologies that are automotive firsts.

What remains to be decided is the candy coating that will envelop all that sweetness, since "the final design still is in flux." We'd heard before that the hatchback's entire rear end is being redesigned, but it appears that if nothing else, the eight tailpipes will remain.

- http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/bugatti-galibier-to-be-faster-than-anything-on-the-market/

 

[Centurion]

1,400hp without hybrid power? I don't believe that. Given that the car is likely to be heavy as President Obama's Cadillac One, it will need all it instant torque it can get. However I'm glad that the sky is still the limit and they are intent of making one hell of a car.

 

[Monster]

1,400hp without hybrid power? I don't believe that. Given that the car is likely to be heavy as President Obama's Cadillac One, it will need all it instant torque it can get. However I'm glad that the sky is still the limit and they are intent of making one hell of a car.

Back when the Veyron was announced, nobody believed 1000hp plus can be extracted from a driveable, reliable engine, well VW engineers proved the doubters wrong. The engineering work for the Veyron was completed almost a decade ago so there has to be room for improvement after all these years of technological improvements, I for one cannot wait to see what kind of craziness that will be unleashed by Bugatti once again.

 

[DblPen]

they should really cut that hatchback crap

 

[Centurion]

they should really cut that hatchback crap

They should take inspiration from the grand father of all sedans, Cadillac 16. It's an OPEC chairman's wet dream 13.6L V12 and it looks the business. Without a question the most awesome four door never built.

 

[Merc1]

they should really cut that hatchback crap

I agree. Everything from the VW Empire doesn't have to have the same hatchback, bug shape. My goodness. Come up with something else.

M

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Bugatti Delays Launch of Galibier - Still Deemed ‘Absolutely Necessary’​

​

​

We’ve known the Bugatti Galibier concept for a while now, and we have actually gotten used to its rather quirky yet aggressive shape. However, we may still have to wait longer for it to work its way into the Bugatti factory. The main reason cited for the delay are ‘customer needs’, autocar.co.uk reports.

In a recent interview with the President of Bugatti, Wolfgang Schreiber, the exec stated that: "We are still working on the Galibier concept, but I would say it is more difficult to fulfill all the requirements for Bugatti customers than Bentley customers [. . .] The Veyron and derivatives of the Veyron are very focused on the needs of the customers. If you now switch to a different type of car, it is very necessary to evaluate the needs of the customer."

However, despite the setback, Schreiber says that the car is still ‘absolutely necessary’, and it still has his full backing behind it. We are still waiting for even a hint of an official launch date.

- http://www.autoevolution.com/news/b...-still-deemed-absolutely-necessary-50454.html

 

[Deckhook]

If they're trying to fulfill the requirements of the super rich then heaven help them because that bunch NEVER know what they want ........which means it will probably never be built unless they draw a line in the sand and say "enough is enough, this is what you will getting".