Bugatti president Stephan Winkelmann says the Chiron’s W16 will be the “last of its kind”, suggesting increasingly strict emissions legislation will kill off the hefty quad-turbo engine “sooner or later”.
Speaking to Autocar, Winkelmann said the French brand would – like every other major automaker – soon be forced to take “radical steps” when it comes to powertrain development.
“Sooner or later, the legislation will force everybody to take radical steps,” the former Audi Sport boss told the British publication.
While Winkelmann didn’t say it outright, it’s all but certain the Chiron’s eventual replacement will feature some sort of electrification.
“There will be no new 16-cylinder. This will be the last of its kind,” the 53-year-old added of the 8,0-litre unit that is currently used in the Chiron, Chiron Sport and Divo.
And that’s not all that’s changing at Bugatti. In September 2018, Winkelmann dropped a pretty hefty hint the brand is considering building a super-SUV, revealing he would look “at every body style”…
