New Bugatti Revealed: The 16 C Galibier Concept “World’s Most Exclusive, Elegant, Powerful Sedan”

The new Bugatti is here. Well, not quite as it’s still a concept but judging from the video above, production may not be that far away. Bugatti CEO Franz-Josef Paefgan describes it as the “most exclusive, elegant and most powerful sedan in the world,” and we could not agree more.

It’s powered by a 8-liter 16-cylinder engine with a two-stage supercharge system and is capable of churning out between 800hp and 1,000hp, channeled to all four wheels using Bugatti’s AWD system. It runs on standard petrol but will also run on ethanol if the owner so wishes. And to put a stop to all that power are a set of very powerful carbon ceramic disc brakes.

The rear remains true to the teaser images we published not too long ago with the four exhaust pipes on either side while the rear window features an integrated third brake light which runs vertically from the roof down. The side profile, mainly the wings and doors are made of polished aluminium and the rest of the body is built on dark blue hand-made carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). And to top off the gorgeous exterior are a set of large LED headlights that flank the imposing Bugatti radiator grille.

The interior is well suited to the world’s most exclusive and elegant sedan remark. It’s characterished by a smooth flowing dashboard made of fine wood and leather. The center console features a large LCD screen while the speedometer has been deliberately placed in the middle of the dash so rear passengers can see just how fast they are traveling. A very unique and stylish feature is the Parmigiani removable Reverso Tourbillon Swiss clock which can be worn on the wrist through it’s cleverly-designed leather strap.

When the first teaser images surfaced, names like Lydia and Bourdeaux were floating around and it was almost confirmed that the new Bugatti would be called the Bourdeaux. But Bugatti has chosen to name it’s new car after the classic 4-door Bugatti Type 57. Galibier is also one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France. Read on below for official information from Bugatti itself.

Press Release

As the climax of its centenary celebration ceremonies, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. presented customers and opinion-makers with the Bugatti 16 C Galibier concept, intended to be the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four door automobile in the world last weekend in Molsheim. At the historic site where Ettore Bugatti once laid the cornerstone of his company, Bugatti’s current president, Dr. Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen emphasised that the Galibier is one of several concept studies with which the company is considering for the future of the Bugatti marque.

Art – Forme – Technique: those are the brand values to which Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean oriented
themselves in order to develop even more powerful engines and even more noble body designs for each new model, which were without equal in quality, handling, speed and elegance. In the process, they experimented again and again without compromise with new materials; thus was Bugatti one of the first
manufacturers to use aluminium parts for bodies, engine blocks and wheels.

Art – Forme – Technique are also the brand values to which the design and engineering team of Bugatti
Automobiles S.A.S. oriented themselves in the development of the Galibier. With this new four-door
concept car, Bugatti assumes anew a leading role in the use of new material combinations. Thus the body is constructed of handmade carbon fibre parts coloured dark blue so that, when illuminated, the woven structure shimmers through strikingly. Carbon fibre not only possesses unusually great rigidity but is also especially light. The wings and doors are out of polished aluminium.

The Galibier’s design masters the challenge of uniting sportiness with the comfort and elegance of a
modern four-door saloon. The basic architecture picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35,
which was already revived in the Veyron, and reinterprets it. With the typical Bugatti radiator grille, big
round LED headlights and the clamshell running the length of the vehicle which became synonymous
with the brand identity under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57, this car transports the Bugatti genes into the
modern world.

Beneath the bonnet, which folds back from both sides, there resides a 16-cylinder, 8-litre engine with
twostage supercharging. What makes this engine special is that it was developed as a flex-fuel engine and can optional be run on ethanol. Four-wheel drive, specially developed ceramic brakes and a new suspension design enable the agile, always-sure handling of a saloon of this size.

The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dash panel has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers constantly informed of the actual speed and previous performance. Parmigiani, the Swiss maker of fine watches, created the removable Reverso Tourbillon clock for the Galibier, which may be worn on the wrist thanks to a cleverly designed leather strap.

“Galibier” is not just the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France but, in its time, was a version of the four door Type 57 unequalled in sportiness and elegance.