The Bugatti 16C Galibier came to life in 2009 as a concept car. Developed as a successor of the EB 218 from 1999, which followed the EB 112 of 1993, the Galibier's design was based on the Veyron supercar, while the engine was a significantly modified version of the 8.0-liter W-16. Originally slated for production as a modern Royale, the Galibier was eventually cancelled in 2013. Although there's no official reason for that, it's believed that the French firm wanted to focus on a Veyron successor, which was launched in 2016 as the Chiron. Word has it that the Galibier project is now back on Bugatti's table, so we created a brand-new rendering to go with a speculative review.

If you've been following the media on the Galibier matter, the project has gone up and down numerous times. Each report that it was considered for production was followed by another one that Bugatti won't do it weeks or months later. There still isn't an official statement, so it's pretty much a mystery. But it's safe to assume that Bugatti will do it at some point, mainly because it will sell like hotcakes no matter the sticker. Declining the opportunity to make a profit with an ultra-fast and ultra-luxurious sedan would be pure madness. And, Bugatti may be mad, but in a different way. So yeah, I think that the Galibier will arrive in a few years - maybe even sooner than 2020.

Continue reading to learn more about the Bugatti Galibier.

2020 Bugatti Galibier

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2020 Bugatti Galibier
  • Engine/Motor: W16
  • Horsepower: 1000
  • Torque: 800
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

You could say that our rendering is very similar to the concept car and you'd be right. Our aim wasn't to rethink the concept, but rather bring it to modern standards. And by that I mean update it to Bugatti's current design language. When the concept arrived in 2009, the sedan was based on the Veyron. It had an almost identical front end with similar hood, grille, and bumper sections, but with larger headlamps. Bugatti also adapted the Veyron's C-shaped profile to the Galibier.

With Bugatti having revised the Veyron's design with sharper lines, we wanted the sedan to reflect these changes. So our artist redesigned the bumper and changed the concept's Veyron-based headlamps with Chiron-like units. These are sunk into the bodywork and feature a four-bulb LED layout. Of course, they're larger than the supercar's to go with the sedan's more massive nose. We also went for a more conventional engine hood. As you may remember, the concept had split hood with a "butterfly" opening system based on car from the 1920s and 1930s. Although that's a cool feature to have on a modern vehicle, I'm pretty sure it won't make it into production. Bugatti may be open to all sorts of unusual ideas, but this one would be difficult to implement and still have proper access to the engine.

Exterior comparison: Galibier rendering vs Galibier concept.

On the other hand, the longitudinal rib, also seen on the previous EB 118 and EB 218 concepts that references the longitudinal body seam of the Type 57SC Atlantic, will most likely be used on the production model.

Our designer also updated the C-shaped trim on the sides, which just like on the Chiron, circles the side windows and the doors. He also took this opportunity to create a two-tone finish, with bright red on the front section and doors and black on the roof, side skirts, and rear section, separated by chrome trim. The wheels also feature a two-tone layout, this time around with chrome and red. The rear section is likely to retain the concept's fastback layout and split window, but we could see a number of changes to the taillights and bumper. Oh, and you'd better forget about the double quad-pipe exhaust configuration.

Interior

The interior of the Galibier is a mystery right now but based on what we can find in the Chiron and the Galibier concept, it's safe to assume that this sedan will have one of the most luxurious cabins on the market. To be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing the production Galibier sport the same interior as the concept car. I'm a big fan of the simple dash with the massive wood veneer and analog clocks, as well as the screen set just atop the center console. Granted, it could use a larger, tablet-style display, but the clean yet luxurious design is more than suitable for a sedan in this category. And yeah, I really dig the control panel on the roof, an airplane theme that Bugatti needs to exploit even further.

But no matter the design, expect every surface to be either wood, leather, Alcantara, aluminum, and carbon-fiber. You won't find an inch of plastic in the Galibier, which is to be expected from a car that's supposed to cost millions of dollars. A big TFT screen should act as an instrument cluster and provide all sorts of data about performance, mileage, and navigation. The seats should be very comfortable, but also offer solid lateral support of spirited driving. After all, the Galibier is a performance sedan too. Other highlights should include a bespoke, premium sound system, silver-made emblems, and a host of very expensive options to choose from.

How expensive? Well, to get the carbon pack monotone in the Chiron you have to pay a little more than $50,000. A sports seat costs around $17,000, while a comfort seat sends you back nearly $30,000. Remember the Tourbillion wrist watch that doubled as a clock on the dashboard in the Galibier concept? Well, if this becomes an option in the production model, expect to pay a good few thousand dollars for it. Bugatti will also agree to customize just every single feature inside the cabin as long as you agree to let them drain your bank account even further.

Drivetrain

The concept used a revised version of the 8.0-liter W-16 in the Veyron that had a pair of superchargers instead of four turbos. Needless to say, Bugatti has probably given up on the idea, more so since the Veyron's powerplant has been revamped for the Chiron. But there are several issues here.

Fitting the huge W-16 and the four turbochargers under the front hood isn't easy. It takes a lot of engineering and a very clever strategy in creating the necessary space. Not to mention that Bugatti will have to come up with a lot of tricks in order to give the Galibier the optimum weight balance. From this standpoint, supercharging might be an option, but a very costly one since it has to be developed from a clean sheet.

Output-wise, I wouldn't bet on the Galibier being as powerful as the Chiron. Bugatti has had enormous headaches in making the supercar useable with 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque and a front-engined configuration would make that mission that much more impossible. But that's not to say that the Galibier will be mundane in terms of performance. Bugatti will probably retune the engine to around 1,000 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of twist, which will be just about enough to make it the most powerful production sedan in the world.

It should also be pretty fast. While its top speed won't be nowhere near as spectacular as the Chiron's, which is rated at 261 mph, it should easily exceed 220 mph. And it's safe to assume that Bugatti will attempt to set a record for the world's fastest sedan. On the flipside, while it will be as quick as a sports car from 0 to 60 mph, it won't be the quickest sedan in the world. Simply because the Tesla Model S P100D with the Ludicrous package needs only 2.4 seconds for that benchmark, and not even the Chiron can beat that.

A quick-shifting automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive, and an advanced cooling system will also be part of the drivetrain.

Finally, there are rumors claiming that Bugatti is also working on a hybrid drivetrain. It remains to be seen whether the Galibier will be offered with two options, but an electric motor in addition to the gasoline engine is a given.

Prices

With all that extra room and added features inside, it's safe to assume that the Galibier will be more expensive than the Chiron. The supercar is priced from €2.4 million ($2.75 million as of June 2017) before options, so I guess the four door could start from around €3 million (about $3.4 million). Add all the fancy options and a bit of customization and the Galibier could cost a whopping €4 million (around $4.6 million). Production will be limited too, but I expect Bugatti to build more than 500 units, like it does with the Chiron. At least 1,000 examples sounds about right.

Competition

Let's face it, a car like the Bugatti Galibier would face no rival if launched today, but this may change in a few years. In the meantime, there are a few production sedans that are nearly as luxurious but lack the performance and four-doors that are really fast, but aren't as fancy inside the cabin.

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

The Maybach S-Class is one of those sedans that has all the luxury and options you could want, but isn't quite as powerful as the Galibier. And needless to say, it's not as special on the outside, being just a slightly modified S-Class. But hey, step inside and you'll find a ton of cool stuff and the most comfortable interior Mercedes-Benz has created so far. It comes with soft sculpted bucket seats wrapped in perforated leather, finely crafted wood and metal inserts, the company's latest tech and a premium sound system. Oh, and it's also very quiet thanks to its innovative sound-deadening system. The rear section includes two massive seats that are as comfortable as they get and plenty of legroom. You can basically spend your entire day having video conferences in this car and you can even take comfortable naps during long trips. And while it may not be as powerful as a Bugatti, it ain't no slouch either. The range-topping S600 model has a 6.0-liter V-12 rated at 530 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque and hits 60 mph from a standing start in five seconds flat. Not bad! Pricing starts from $189,350 for the S600, which is pennies compared to the Galibier. You can even get the most expensive options and the sticker won't just beyond $300K.

Find out more about the Mercedes-Maybach S600 here.

Mercedes-Maybach 900 by Brabus

Those in need of more oomph can buy the Maybach S600 and take it to Brabus. The company's treatment for the sedan includes a sportier exterior, bespoke leather and Alcantara in a variety of colors, and the Brabus exclusive iBusiness multimedia system. On top of the added exclusivity, the 900 also gets a more powerful drivetrain. Instead of the stock 6.0-liter engine, Brabus uses a 6.3-liter V-12 rated at an impressive 887 horsepower and a whopping 1,106 pound-fet of torque. Charging from 0 to 60 mph takes only 3.5 seconds with the extra oomph, while top speed jumps from a mundane 155 mph to a mind-boggling 217 mph. But of course, all these upgrades make the sedan much more expensive than the standard $189,350 sticker. Brabus has yet to reveal pricing, but be prepared to pay close to $300,000.

Learn more about the Mercedes-Maybach 900 by Brabus here.

Tesla Model S

Granted, the Model S isn't as fancy as a Maybach or a Bugatti, but its exterior design is definitely unique and still futuristic. And of course, I'm including this car here for the performance. Instead of a gas-guzzling V-8 or V-12, the Model S P100D uses electric motors that deliver the equivalent of 779 horsepower and 920 pound-feet of torque. With the Ludicrous mode enabled, it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a scant 2.3 seconds, which makes it the quickest production car available right now. And on top of being extremely fast, it's also cheaper to run as you don't have to stop by the gas station. A single battery charge is enough to cover 315 miles. It's significantly more affordable than the competition too, retailing from $140,000.

Learn more about the Tesla Model S here.

Conclusion

It's impossible to outline a conclusion for a vehicle that has yet to be officially confirmed, but it's a given that once it arrives, the Galibier will be most luxurious and powerful sedan on the market. The four-door will also help Bugatti expand its one-nameplate lineup, as well as bring the first sedan to wear the horseshoe emblem in decades. The French firm has been designing sedan since the early 1990s, but it has yet to build production model despite huge demand. The Galibier will put an end to that and turn Bugatti a competitor for the likes of Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce.