Bugatti joining the ultra high performance luxury sedan segment with the Galibier

According to Bloomberg, two individuals (who wish to remain nameless for very obvious reasons) have informed them that Volkswagen has given the Bugatti division the go-ahead to begin work on a production version of the 16C Galibier sedan concept that debuted last year. No official information has been offered, although Bloomberg reports that the Galibier will likely pack around 1,000 horsepower and the super sedan could cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.4 million US dollars. The Galibier would likely be built at the company’s Molsheim, France production facilities, although the new for re-tooling would likely set the delivery date of the new high end sedan sometime in 2013 or 2014.

No other information on the Bugatti 16C Galibier is available but based on the few tidbits of information offered, we can make a few guesses as to the juiciest portions of the Galibier. First off, it would come as no surprise for the Bugatti sedan to feature the same/a very similar drivetrain to the Veyron 16.4…meaning the Galibier would be powered by some derivative of the Veyron’s 16-cylinder engine mated to an advanced all wheel drive system. Some people speculate that the Galibier would focus more on luxury than performance and in doing so the power output would be trimmed to something a little more civilized – but I would expect that it packs enough horsepower to give it hefty bragging rights over the other high end sedans around the world.

For those wondering about the name, the Col du Galibier is a mountain pass in the French Alps best known for being one of the more grueling stages of the annual Tour de France. The Galibier name originally appeared in the Bugatti lineup as a 4-door variant of the Bugatti Type 57 in the late 1930s.

Bugatti is best known in recent times for their world record-holding Veyron 16.4 which boasts over 1,000 horsepower and the world’s highest top speed but the company isn’t just about high performance – with their interior materials and craftsmanship being worthy of mention among the world’s top luxury automakers. The gallery below offers a look at the Bugatti 16C Galibier in concept form but we can expect the production version to look very similar to the car shown below, both inside and out. It will be interesting to see if the 8 chrome exhaust tips make it through to production and with any luck, Bugatti/Volkswagen Auto Group won’t keep us waiting too long on official details.

Source: Bloomberg

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