Now with every Veyron officially sold, Bugatti 
is preparing for its next big supercar. The Chiron, (pronounced Shir-on), is reportedly ready to bow sometime in 2016. The new car will be lighter, more nimble, and more powerful. This comes after our spy photographers captured images of a Veyron test mule tooling around the Nürburgring with interesting equipment settled to its back.
While the Veyron had an impressive run starting in 2005 that lasted through several variations and 30 different special editions, it had a few shortcomings. An off-set driving position and a relatively heavy curb weight earned it some negative press.
Bugatti is planning to remedy those issues with the upcoming Chiron. Automobile reports the car will be derived from the existing carbon-fiber platform but will only have some eight percent of carryover components. The main carryover piece will be the W-16, quad-turbocharged engine, though it will be heavily updated. Direct injection will be added and two of the four turbos will be electronically driven to eliminate turbo lag. Power is expected to be around 1,500 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of torque.
That insane amount of power is expected to produce 0-to-62-mph times under 2.5 seconds and top speeds of 288 mph. That equates to 300 more horsepower and an 18-mph faster top speed than the Veyron.
Though Bugatti’s parent company, Volkswagen, hasn’t officially announced anything, we can expect to see the Chiron debut in 2016.
Updated 08/122015: The upcoming Bugatti Chiron was spotted at an airport in Los Angeles, which could mean that it might be unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours.
Click past the jump to read more about the Bugatti Veyron Successor.
Spy Shots
August 12, 2015 – Bugatti Chiron caught in Los Angeles
April 14, 2014 – First Testing Session:
Exterior
The Chiron will have a similar shape to the Veyron’s with its curvaceous haunches, familiar Bugatti grille, and mid-engine design. A large front windshield wraps around the A-pillars and connects to the side glass that ends in an air scoop behind the B-pillars. Aerodynamics will be improved, helping gain the extra 18 mph on the top speed. Air intakes over the passenger compartment roof suck in air for the monstrous W-16 engine.
Interior
Bugatti is reportedly fixing the issues with the Veyron’s slightly off-centered driving position. The gauge cluster is also getting a makeover, getting away from the large center tachometer and replacing it with an analog speedometer with a 312-mph listed top speed. Ergonomics will also be improved with the switchgear repositioned and outward visibility greatly enhanced thanks to that large windshield. Expect the Bugatti to carry a similar if not more luxurious cabin with loads of creature comforts.
Drivetrain
Reports suggest the Veyron’s engine will carry over to the Chiron, but will receive numerous updates in order to keep it outperforming the competition. First, direct fuel injection will be added to the 8.0-liter W-16, then the turbo boost pressure will be increased. Lastly, two of its four turbos will be replaced with electronic turbos that are spooled by electric motors instead of exhaust gas, resulting in instantaneous boost on command.
These improvements are expected to give the 1,200-horse engine an extra 300 horsepower, resulting in a spectacular 1,500 horsepower. Torque will also get a massive increase to 1,100 pound-feet. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive will deliver the power to the ground.
Expect 62 mph to come in under 2.5 seconds with a top speed of 288 mph.
Pricing
Though pricing is unconfirmed at this time, it’s expected the Chiron will fetch roughly $2.5 million, or €2 million when it debuts in 2016.
Competitors
While the first-generation Bugatti Veyron was pitted against the McLaren F1 , the Chiron will be developed with supercars such as the Koenigsegg One:1 in mind. And the Swedish rocket is hard to beat with 1,340 horsepower and 1,011 pound-feet of torque under the hood.
The oomph comes from a twin-turbocharged, 5.0-liter, V-8 engine and enables the One:1 to sprint from naught to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. Top speed estimated stand at 248 mph, but Koenigsegg claims its latest creation can top that, although the company has yet to prove it.
To be built in only six units costing $2.4 million each, the One:1 is already sold out. This is where the next Bugatti Veyron will be different, with production to include a couple of hundred units, if not more (save for the numerous limited edition we’re likely to see).
GalleryKoenigsegg One:1
History
Launched in 2005, the Bugatti Veyron was offered with a quad-turbo, 8.0-liter, W-16 engine that delivered 1,001 horsepower and a luxury-packed interior. The initial version became the fastest production car with a top speed of 253.81 miph.
In 2010, the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport was revealed with 1,200 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of torque and revised aerodynamics. It immediately updated the top speed record to 267.85 mph.
Last year, Bugatti also grabbed the Guinness World Record for the fastest production roadster with the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse , which reached an average 254.04 mph.
Since 2005, Bugatti produced more than 30 special edition versions of the Veyron. Most of them were either unique or built in as many as three units .
First-Gen Bugatti Veyron
Update History
Updated 12/11/2014: New details about the Veyron successor reveal that the model will in fact be called Chiron (pronounced Shir-on) and should be unveiled in 2016. The model is rumored to deliver up to 1,500 horsepower and to hit a top speed of 288 mph — an increase of 18 mph over the Veyron Super Sport. Also, on the inside the model will get a speedometer that will span to 500 km/h (312 mph). The model is rumored to be priced at about $2.5 million. (Automobile Magazine)
Updated 08/06/2014: According to the British magazine Autocar, the future Veyron successor will be powered by a heavily updated, turbocharged, 8.0-liter, W-16 engine combined with hybrid technology for a total output of 1,479 horsepower. This will allow the supercar to hit a top speed of 286 mph. The car is already in the initial conceptual engineering tests and will be unveiled in 2016. Deliveries will begin in 2017.
Press Release from Autocar
The successor to Bugatti’s iconic Veyron hypercar could feature performance credentials so wild that its top speed will be difficult to prove, according to an exclusive report in Autocar today.
Bugatti insiders have revealed to the world’s oldest and most respected motoring magazine that the new model, slated to go on sale in 2016, could have a top speed of 286mph and a 0-62mph time of 2.3sec, if current computer simulations are to be believed.
The car will feature a hybrid powertrain based on the same quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine featured in the Veyron, and will generate close to 1500bhp.
The nine-year-old Veyron’s top speed of 268mph was already a challenge to prove, due to the limitations of its Michelin road tyres; Autocar believes that, unless tyre technology has advanced sufficiently, the rubber could disintegrate before the new vehicle reaches maximum speed.
Autocar road test editor Matt Prior said: “Even though aerodynamic drag increases at the square of speed, if you up the power enough, it’s entirely feasible that Bugatti could find another 18mph for the taking in the Veyron’s successor.
“But we’re well into the realms of academia now. Making a road car that can do 286mph is one thing; making a road car do it on road tyres is rather more difficult.”
A full report on Bugatti’s Veyron heir can be found in today’s edition of Autocar or by visiting the website at http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bugatti-plans-new-286mph-1479bhp-veyron-successor.
The new vehicle is being built around a carbonfibre monocoque, like its predecessor. It will seat two in what is planned to be a highly luxurious cabin, complete with all the very latest in connectivity technology.
The heavily revised powertrain receives electric assistance, while drive is channelled to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and multi-plate-clutch four-wheel drive system.
Originally launched in 2005, there are only 15 Veyrons left to be sold. As with the Veyron, the new car’s production will be limited to around 450 units.