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Bugatti looking into hybrid tech for next-gen Veyron?

Fast. Powerful. Opulent. There are any number of descriptors one could use to describe the Bugatti Veyron. But along with them is "heavy" - including heavy on fuel consumption. That's just the way it goes when you're dealing with a sixteen-cylinder, quad-turbo beast of a supercar. But that could change, if the latest output from the rumormill proves accurate.
According to a report from Auto Express, Bugatti is keen to improve its image in the eyes of a tree-hugging world, so it is looking at ways to make the successor to the Veyron more fuel efficient. One way would be to make the car lighter, something that shouldn't be all that difficult considering that the current model weighs in at over 4,000 pounds. One such method of trimming the fat reportedly revolves around carbon-fiber wheels, something that's been done before but far from widely adopted.
At the other end of the spectrum, Bugatti is also reportedly evaluating the prospect of hybrid propulsion - something that would not reduce weight but could help fuel consumption figures while keeping the power up. If the Molsheim automaker were to go that route, we'd expect something closer to what Ferrari is working on for the Enzo successor than an upmarket Toyota Prius.

Bugatti opens two new US showrooms with no new cars to sell

Bugatti has opened two new dealerships in the United States. With dealers opening and closing all over the States each and every day, what makes these interesting? Well, the marque sold the last of its Veyron models and has yet to introduce the new Chiron that's expected to replace it. What that means, in short, is that Bugatti and these dealerships are in a holding pattern. But what a glamorous holding pattern it is. The dealerships in question are Bugatti Manhattan and Bugatti Miami. They both form part of larger multi-brand dealerships: Manhattan Motorcars and Braman Motors, respectively. And they are the first to feature the new showroom design penned in Molsheim for Bugatti dealers around the world. The dedicated showrooms promise to offer customers the chance to see a car up close, steep themselves in the lore and history of the brand, and customize their own like they would at the factory in Alsace. Following the New York and Florida dealers, the design is already set to proliferate to new showrooms in Munich, Monaco, and Tokyo in the coming months. The marque currently has 27 dealers in 13 countries around the world. In the case of Manhattan Motorcars, the Bugatti showroom forms just one part of its new location at the corner of 51st Street and 11th Avenue in the neighborhood known as Hell's Kitchen. The area also features dedicated showrooms for Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche – other high-end auto brands which, like Bugatti, fall under the Volkswagen Group umbrella. The dealer, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, also handles Rolls-Royce, Koenigsegg, and Lotus. The new five-story complex offers 150,000 square feet of showroom space, of which the Bugatti section takes up less than 1,000. Little wonder, since it has at most one model to display – and currently has none. Related Video: BUGATTI OPENS SHOWROOMS IN MANHATTAN AND MIAMI WITH NEW BRAND DESIGN - The two US dealers are the first in the world to have French super sports car manufacturer's new showroom design - New York dealer also moves to new address in Manhattan - Other global showroom locations with the new brand design are to follow - Bugatti Board of Management Member Stefan Brungs: "The new showroom concept is a fundamental investment in the future of our brand." Molsheim/New York City/Miami, November 6, 2015.

Bugatti reveals the final version of the one-off La Voiture Noire

Bugatti is ready to deliver the La Voiture Noire, a one-of-a-kind model introduced at the 2019 edition of the Geneva auto show. Based on the Chiron, the coachbuilt coupe meets the same quality standards as a series-produced car. Making the La Voiture Noire a reality took two years because it underwent a long list of tests before Bugatti signed it off. As we've previously reported, it was blasted with thousands of gallons of water to ensure it's watertight and was driven flat-out on a track, among other evaluations. Over 65,000 engineering hours were invested into the project, a number that underlines the significant differences between the La Voiture Noire and the Chiron it's related to. And yet, Bugatti managed to keep the show car's lines and finer design details intact during development. While the quad-turbocharged, 1,479-horsepower 8.0-liter W16 engine comes from the Chiron, all of the carbon fiber exterior panels are new and the wheelbase is slightly longer. Bugatti also notes each headlight features 25 individually-milled elements, and that the grille was 3D-printed. Overall, the La Voiture Noire wears a purer, more touring-oriented design than the aforementioned Chiron and the Divo. It's not fitted with a rear wing, for example. Interior photos haven't been released, but we're told the seats are upholstered in Havana Brown leather. It creates a classic ambience that matches the turned aluminum inlays scattered across the cabin, like on the center console. There is but a single example of the La Voiture Noire, and Bugatti's not taking bids. The coupe is already sold to an anonymous collector, who paid 11 million euros (about $13.4 million at the current conversion rate) for it before taxes enter the equation. Time will tell if the new owner reveals his or her identity, drives the car, or keeps it tucked away in a private collection. In the meantime, the French firm will work on bringing the Centodieci to production. Perhaps inspired by Bugatti's success, some of the other luxury carmakers have started breathing new life into the long-lost tradition of coachbuilding during the past few years. Rolls-Royce notably created a yacht-inspired, one-of-a-kind convertible called Boat Tail for an anonymous couple that reportedly paid approximately $28 million for it. What's in a name? La Voiture Noire literally translates to "The Black Car" in French. It's entirely black, but there's more to it than paint and trim.