km : Automotive News

Upon the brand's centenary celebration last September, Bugatti pulled the cover off a new concept, the 16C Galibier, which should accurately predict the next production vehicle, a four-door evolution of the Veyron. For its official public debut in Geneva, it even got dressed in a black tuxedo.

The Galibier is still being called a concept to "judge public opinion," but based on initial feedback, it looks like almost a sure thing for production. While looking a bit like Volkswagen's original Phaeton concept at the rear, the Galibier couldn't be mistaken for anything else in its full form. Its front is like a tall, more imposing Veyron, only with much more interesting LED light treatment to bring the brand up to speed on where the industry has gone since the Veyron launched. The typical Bugatti grille is there, and from the top of it runs a long crease, or spine, in the metal that stretches all the way to the rear of the car. It's also an iconic Bugatti touch, meant to evoke the stunning Type 57S of the 1930s.

Other than what you can see, not much has been said about the technology of the Galibier. We know it uses a sixteen-cylinder, 8.0-liter engine with two-stage supercharging, and that it will run on ethanol, but not much more. And we know that it uses carbon ceramic brakes, but we don't know how big. If we had to venture a guess, we'd say that it wears the industry-leading set from Bentley's new Continental Supersports. Look for more announcements about the 16C's innards once production is confirmed, probably later this year and perhaps this summer at Pebble Beach, the new hot spot for high-dollar debuts.

An official gallery is linked to the right, but see more of this car in our VW Group's Night of Driving Ideas Gallery

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