Bugatti Ponders SUV

Volkswagen AG’s Bugatti Automobiles luxury brand confirms it may add an SUV/crossover to its lineup.

Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann tells Bloomberg News that the brand’s one-model lineup is ready to expand beyond its Chiron supercar. The company has been signaling it is ready to offer a second model for the past few months.

“The brand is ready for more,” Winkelmann tells Bloomberg. He took over as head of Bugatti in January after heading Lamborghini and the development of that brand’s Urus crossover model. His predecessor said two years ago that the company was pondering four options for a second model: a sedan, smaller sports car, all-electric car and a crossover.

Bugatti’s just-introduced Divo (pictured) is a €5 million ($5.7 million) variant of the Chiron. Powered by an 8-liter, 1,500-hp W-16 engine, the Divo’s planned run of 40 cars has already sold out. The street-legal car can sprint to a top speed of 380 kph (236 mph).

Winkelmann concedes that increasingly tougher emission rules in Europe mean that the engine will be the last of its kind made by Bugatti. He says his group won’t proceed with developing any new model, chassis or powertrain until it can present a viable business plan to show economic viability.