Bugatti's Questionable Future

With a Veyron Roadster in the wings, Bugatti has seemingly made a huge comeback, and it's all because of VW's bold, money-flushing decision to build it. However, things are stirring up now that Porsche is part of the picture. A few quotes from CAR magazine's December issue, about this heated debate on the future of Bugatti (within the VW Group):

"Porsche plans to use its new-found control over the VW group to halt the rise of Bugatti. That's the stark truth emerging from Wolfsburg, where Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking has told the VW board he wants the Veyron's maker reduced to mere coachbuilder status. The atmosphere at corporate board meetings has changed from constructive to combustible now that Wiedeking and his entourage are putting in regular appearances. In a recent session, the experts reportedly indulged in a heated debate about the future of Bugatti."

"Ferdinand Piech, who bought Bugatti and triggered the Veyron project, was also in the room to hear the outburst."

"Bugatti is indeed in a squeeze. It borrowed time by getting approval for the Veyron Spyder, which will receive a removable roof courtesy of Webasto, but will be restricted to a less sexy 217mph top speed. The model will safeguard production at Bugatti's Molsheim factor for an extra couple of years..."

"The rumoured front-engined, four-door Royale supersaloon is dead in the water, and the proposed £35,000 mid-engined roadster is also on the back burner."

"But if Wiedeking gets his way and the cashflow gets turned off, the only short-term option may be cochabuilt one-offs."

"The option of an £84K front-engined car looks more promising, but it's receiving flak from in-house rivals Porsche, Bentley, Audi and Lamborghini, all of whom think it's too close to their various portfolios (think Panamera, the Continental family, the Gallardo and the new R8)."

"'This is a political issue more than anything else,' claims our main from Wolfsburg...'Above all, Bugatti depends on help from Audi. We're fast approaching crunch time.'"

Will Porsche be able to kill Bugatti, or will Audi save them? Discuss.

MercBasher - 11/25/2006 10:51:50 AM

-1 Boost

I'd love to see Bugatti make highly stylized vehicles for under $150,000. Some magazines have shown artists impressions of a georgeous affordable roadster that may be under development.

I can see why Porsche would be worried.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/26/2006 10:21:23 AM

+2 Boost

LOOKS DULL??? CHEAP INTERIOR?

Oh, I'm sure YOU'VE sat in one, right?!? Oh sure, you're "JakeKann", reviewer of automobiles extraordinare.

LOOK AT SOME PICTURES OF THE CAR BEFORE YOU TALK.

Heyhuub - 11/26/2006 10:46:11 AM

+4 Boost

Character and quality interiors from Toyota...

That made me laugh.

synx - 11/26/2006 8:19:47 PM

+2 Boost

JakeKann,

you think that toyota has style and character-they are the dullest, most boring car brand in the world besides daewoo and dihatsu(however you spell it). the old corolla was the most invisible car on the road. and have you SEEN the veyron?? There is a reason why Bugatti is making a loss on each one sold. The interior is gorgeous and the exterior is not dull-its very exciting.

"The Bugatti looks like a fat guy in fashionable clothes."

surely buy "fat guy" you are referring to the inside of the car(engine etc...). you say that it is as "fast as hell" yet you also say that it is like a 'fat guy"???

by "fashionable clothes" you are talking about the exterior. i am under the impression that fashionable means `good-looking` but you then contradict that by saying that it "looks dull". you confused idiot!!!

matt635 - 11/26/2006 12:29:11 PM

+3 Boost

This is the problem when your portfolio of manufacturers gets too big. If you expand, you'll always stand on someone's toes.

audiot - 11/26/2006 1:28:41 PM

+2 Boost

This issue is not about the future of Bugatti, but the future of VW and Audi.

Bugatti is losing money on every 1.3 million dollar car they make. VAG fans should applaud Porsche for putting a stop to more money wasting. The Bugatti is very very cool, but not the future of VAG--even a 150k model.

If Porsche can make Audi a true performance brand, instead of the brand it currently is, straddling style and luxury and performance, then who cares if they kill Bugatti. It's not like we're ever going to drive one. Audi in Porsche's hands could reinvent that brand.

Let's see what Porsche has in mind for VAG. They are the better brand and better company. VAG knows how to waste money and put out 2nd best cars. Porsche can help.

chewy - 11/26/2006 9:18:26 PM

0 Boost

VW is losing less money on the Veyron per year than running an F1 season.

audiot - 11/26/2006 11:34:01 PM

+2 Boost

When dumping money into the Veyron matters to a Rabbit buyer, then you can call Bugatti's losses marketing. But who beyond this web site feels the link between these two companies.

Agent63 - 11/26/2006 5:28:04 PM

+3 Boost

JakeKann - 11/26/2006 8:03:47 AM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Toyota should buy them and inject some style and character into it. The Bugatti looks like a fat guy in fashionable clothes. Sure, it's fast as hell but it looks dull and the interior is cheap.

If Toyota bought the brand, you'd be seeing quality interiors as well as character.
----------------

When you pay that much for a car i doubt anything is cheap and i would doubt they'll come anywhere short from that. You obviously haven't watched the reviews or seen the pictures of this interior that you call 'cheap' and yes you are just a picture viewer and not a go-getter and even if you were you would never be able to afford one. Perhaps the envious side of you is hating on the Bugatti because you'll never get to sit in one and enjoy what the world has brought us to. The Bugatti Veyron is epic! get things straight before you attempt to get it right. Cause you're wrong on all levels and you sounded incredibly stupid by saying a Toyota's level of quality and 'non-cheapness' is superior to Bugatti. That's just rubbish!

TheGenius - 11/26/2006 10:00:22 PM

+2 Boost

Toyotas with character and style!!.. This must be sarcasm at its best. Ha ha..think of the millions of Corolla, 4 Runner, highlander or Camry posters being sold as people clamour to put them up on their walls so that they could salivate and dream. Toyota is by far the dullest brand on the planet. I think Daihatsu and Daewoo make better looking cars