We know Volkswagen AG->ke94 is currently preparing a successor for the Bugatti Veyron->ke1112. What we don't know is how VW is going to manage creating a successor for the official "world's fastest car." Well, according to a Bloomberg report, three different concepts->ke169 are currently being tested in anticipation for a car that can fill the enormous shoes the Veyron will leave behind.

The new car is expected to be lighter and more powerful than its predecessor; rumors point at the potential that it’ll be 25 percent more powerful than the Veyron Super Sport. Considering the Veyron SS has 1,200 horsepower under its hood, this is quite the feat. There’s also talk that at least one of the aforementioned three concepts is carrying an electric motor, leading to the possibility that past rumors of a hybrid->ke147 Bugatti->ke16 may not be hearsay after all.

Neither Volkswagen nor Bugatti have laid out detailed plans for the Veyron’s successor, but a Bugatti spokeswoman, Manuela Hoehne, did say that an outlook on a new model should be available next year. VW design chief Walter de Silva also told TopGear that the new model could make its debut at the end of next year, probably around early 2016.

From now until its official debut, we can at least be assured that Bugatti and Volkswagen are not sitting idly by as the Veyron enters its personal twilight. A successor is coming. It’s just a matter of waiting for it to arrive.

Click past the jump to read more about Bugatti Veyron's Successor.

Why It Matters

Even if Bugatti isn't really making Volkswagen any money -- it's actually losing a lot for its parent company -- there's still a significant portion of "one-percenters" who are not only devoted to the brand, but are loyal enough to keep paying millions to own a Bugatti. The Veyron is a good example of that. Of the 450 models Bugatti has produced, only 20 are left unaccounted for, which is a pretty good batting average by any stretch of the imagination.

No matter the price, people will still buy Bugattis, if for nothing else than the cache that comes with owning such a machine.

Despite not making any money for the company, Volkswagen knows the power of a good brand image. Plus VW is big enough with its stable of brands to absorb that hit in favor of keeping its "ultra premium" standing within the auto industry.

Bugatti Veyron Successor

There have been a lot of rumors and reports surrounding the successor to the venerable Bugatti Veyron; even typing that feels like an understatement. But that's what happens when you need to replace the car that holds the official record as "world's fastest." Just don't say that around anything named the Hennessey Venom GT.

Let's sift through a few of the preliminary rumors and reports, shall we?

Back in September 2014, Car and Driver reported that the model will be called the Chiron, which could actually have been taken from the famous centaur in Greek mythology.

Then there are the other reports suggesting that a hybrid drivetrain could be used on the new Veyron, incorporated into an updated version of the current model's 8.0-liter, W-16 engine.

Last but certainly not least are the spy photos taken in April 2014 of two Veyron mules spending some quality test time at the Nurburgring.->ke999 Both models had distinctive features between them, including a weird aluminum setup atop one of the prototype's engine, and another that carried a handful of aerodynamic components, including wider fenders, a wider track, and a set of carbon-fiber wheels.

Could these two test mules be part of the three concepts Bloomberg mentioned in its report? It's not unlikely, that much I can tell you.