Bugatti Will Display Concept In September, But It's Not Bordeaux

This year is an important one for Bugatti. Not only does 2009 represent the centenary of the legendary marque but in September Bugatti’s management will reveal the future plans of the company, which will include the announcement of a brand new model. Why September? Because that is the month in which the company was founded back in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti. After two teaser images were revealed last month, hinting at a possible Bugatti super-sedan or even a new 'super-Veyron' and then news that the Bordeaux wouldn't be making a Frankfurt debut, the latest news may come as a surprise.

According to Bugatti chief Franz-Josef Paefgen, speaking with Autocar, there will be a concept on display this September - though probably not at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show - but it won't be the Bordeaux. It will, however, be one of three proposed designs for the next-gen Bugatti. This latest news mates well with what Bugatti officials told TheCarConnection in July, which is that the prototype/concept car that is currently being teased is in fact a design model being shown to clients and dealers.



A private showing at Bugatti's centennial celebration in Molsheim, France just ahead of the Frankfurt show is likely to generate some more photography of the design proposal, though whatever Bugatti decides to do with the car's eventual styling, it won't likely see production until 2011 or 2012.

The teaser image above is a digitally-manipulated composite sourced from Pistonheads, and like the original, it's a grainy, dim view of the new car's broad haunches, innovative rear lighting scheme and octuple tail pipes. Yes, you read that right, eight of them.

According to AutoExpress, the new model will be a four-seater supercar titled the Bordeaux, though other sources peg the name as 'Royale'. The vehicle will reportedly feature a shooting-brake style body and come powered by the Veyron’s quad-turbo 8.0L W16 engine, but mounted up front. The engine should maintain is 1,001hp and 1,250Nm rating, which means the new Bordeaux is likely to be the fastest four-seater in the world.

As part of its centenary celebrations, Bugatti will also be releasing its new special edition Bleu Centenaire Veyron, which was revealed for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show. While the Bleu Centenaire was not the much anticipated super-Veyron that was on everybody’s lips, Paefgen revealed in March to AutoTelegraaf that there are several projects in the works. Paefgen also ruled out the possibility of a cheaper model than the Veyron, explaining that Bugatti’s next car will be every bit as extreme and just as exclusive.

As for the introduction of the rumored super-Veyron, Paefgen said if anyone tries to build a car that can dethrone the Veyron then Bugatti will be prepared. The American-built SSC Ultimate Aero TT currently holds the title for the world's fastest production car (something that Bugatti has never attempted to attain with the Veyron) but the Veyron is arguably the better technical achievement due to its dual-clutch gearbox and ease of driving.

Paefgen also confirmed that there will be more special editions based on both the Veyron and the open-top Grand Sport.

In the meantime, Bugatti has its hands full filling current order lists. The company only has 50 spots left for the Veyron, of which the total build will be 300 units. The Grand Sport model, which is limited to just 150 models, has already received several dozen orders.