Bugatti will not make an SUV, its CEO Stephan Winkelmann has stated, reacting to speculation that a second model line could be a high-riding vehicle to rival the Lamborghini Urus.
Winkelmann said: “There will be no SUV from Bugatti,” adding that such a model would not do justice to the brand or its history.
Rival Ferrari has previously said it won’t produce an SUV, yet it is now developing something that it has branded an "FAV" (Ferrari Activity Vehicle). Whether Winkelmann is choosing to be similarly coy about Bugatti’s plans remains to be seen.
His comment on the SUV comes as Bugatti celebrates its 110th year, in which the French brand has prepared a ‘few surprises”, including the “presentation of further models”. No more details have been revealed.
Rumours around a second Bugatti model line have been rife for some years, and Winkelmann confirmed to Autocar late last year that there is enough enthusiasm to grow the brand, citing the sell-out success of the £4.5 million Bugatti Divo, a track-focused development of the Bugatti Chiron.
At the time, he said: “The response to the Divo has been tremendous. Each car has been sold to an existing Chiron customer, and the allocation has gone immediately. That shows the passion for this brand.
“That shows me that we are ready to do more. In terms of the number of people we have who love the brand, I feel we have proved a lot. The next question is how much money do we have to invest into our future to make some of our ideas become reality – and will the return justify that investment. That is what we must work on.”
Bugatti is understood to be considering a number of bodystyles, looking at regional demand and growing segments. Alongside a potential SUV, there has long been debate over a four-door saloon, as previewed by the 2009 Galibier concept.
Winkelmann previously headed up fellow Volkswagen Group brand Lamborghini, where he was instrumental in launching the Lamborghini Urus.
Read more
Join the debate
Add your comment
Who cares about Bugatti when
I completely agree...
...the VW Group can do so much more with this brand, then making it just the one note wonder that it is. I'm not saying that it's one note is not very, very, Very impressive, but at some point it will NEED to be more. Yet I agree that another vehicle using the Audi Q7/Bentagay/Urus bones would be ridiculous! With most of the major luxury brands building three row crossovers that cast a larger shadow then that of the Q7, the VW Group needs to build a larger CUV platform for at least Audi, Bentley and Bugatti to stay competitive. Using the Panamera's hardware would definitely be a good starting point ( but I have my doubts they ever would). Then the Bugatti version of that platform wouldn't need to have the biggest foot print either. Using these three brands, the VW Group would have the economy of scale that they like to work from, even if they limited the Bugatti's run to just a couple hundred over a few years.
I (literally) can't buy into
I (literally) can't buy into this exclusive, incestuous club in which you have to have one to buy another, so I really don't give a damn. The name no longer has an apostolic connection with the originators; it's just a luxury brand, a Birkin bag on wheels. Whereas I would spend money on a Type 46 or 50.
There is no escape Bugatti
There is no eascape Bugatti! The hands are reaching out, ready to pull you into the bubbling cauldron of SUVs! Look at those who have crumbled against the oncoming wave; Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Jaguar, Aston Martin, the list goes on.
Seriously, though, if Bugatti make a stand i admire them for it