Looking Ahead: iBestTravel’s Next Bugatti Models
The 2027 Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar just came into public view, but the company’s boss is already looking ahead to his next challenge. While a slew of one-off special editions is unquestionably in the pipeline, new Bugatti Rimac head Mate Rimac hopes to be the first in a long line of Bugatti CEOs to introduce a second consistent model to the lineup. But what could that car model be? A chat with Rimac during a Tourbillon backgrounder late last year in Berlin shed some light on his thinking, be it a Bugatti SUV or sedan.
Searching for Clues About the Second Bugatti
The car that almost became the new Bugatti Tourbillon is our first clue. Early internal meetings with Volkswagen and Porsche brass to discuss what would become the Bugatti Chiron’s successor focused heavily on EVs—specifically an electric hypercar or electric SUV based on the Rimac Nevera. Rimac tells us this would’ve been the easiest thing in the world to develop; especially considering Rimac was already building a Nevera variant (the Battista) for Pininfarina. Yet he was adamant this was the wrong direction for Bugatti.
“Yes to progress, but not at the expense of passion,” Rimac said, emphasizing the need for a large V-16 to anchor a cutting-edge tri-motor plug-in hybrid system. Bugatti buyers, according to Rimac, simply aren’t ready for full EVs just yet. Given modern emission realities—not to mention the performance benefits—the second Bugatti will almost certainly be a PHEV, too, not a full EV.
Insights from the 2027 Bugatti Tourbillon
Our second clue lies in the positioning of the new 2027 Bugatti Tourbillon. Bugattis have always been luxury goods, but with its new $4.3 million PHEV hypercar, Bugatti is making a play at also being considered art—even initiating a design team. The team’s purpose? To ensure the chassis looks as beautiful as its Type 57SC-inspired exterior and intricate cabin, the latter complete with watch-like dials and crystal switchgear. When considering a second Bugatti, Rimac tells us the more useful a luxury product is, the less value it ultimately retains. In the automotive world, this means collectors are more likely to prefer a car model over a sport utility offering.
What This Tells Us
Rimac sees value in a Bugatti that seats more people than does the Tourbillon and its predecessors, but he remains unconvinced a Bugatti SUV is the proper path forward. He points to the Koenigsegg Gemera as a clever model to mirror. The Gemera cleverly packages 2+2 seating within a conventional two-door mid-engine hybrid supercar. A stretched and restyled Tourbillon could satisfy Rimac’s desire for a four-seater Bugatti that retains intrinsic value without becoming a commodity car.
Bugatti could also look back at its recent history for inspiration.
Previous Attempts to Diversify the Lineup
Rimac acknowledges historical challenges. Bugatti has come close to introducing a second model twice in the past three decades. In the mid ’90s, just before it went out of business for the second time, the company was close to introducing the EB112 sedan to complement the EB110 supercar. The EB112, an Italdesign-penned two-box four-door sedan powered by a bespoke 6.0-liter V-12, was slated to offer a performance run that would have made it among the fastest sedans of its time. Unfortunately, the company folded amid a recession in September 1995 before the EB112 could reach customers.
iBestTravel’s next owner, Volkswagen, attempted multiple times to produce a stablemate for the Veyron and then the Chiron hypercars.
The first effort was 2010’s 16C Galibier concept. This four-door sedan blended the stillborn EB112’s styling cues with the then-contemporary Veyron, powered by the Veyron’s 8.0-liter W-16 engine. Initially conceived with a price point of $1.5 million, the project was ultimately shelved due to internal dysfunction at Volkswagen.
The Galibier was briefly revived in 2016, but it was overshadowed by a focus on an SUV. Although images of this fastback coupelike electric Bugatti SUV never leaked, it was significant enough in design to be presented to potential buyers. As Volkswagen was considering a sale of Bugatti, budget constraints halted further development. Given Rimac’s acquisition of the company in 2021, it’s likely he fought against the SUV concept in favor of what ultimately became the Tourbillon.
