Few have seen it – even standing still – but a report from the UK's Auto Express is already suggesting that the Bugatti 16C Galibier concept, shown to a select few at the company's factory in Molsheim, is set to receive the green light for production.

The concept for succeeding the two-door, mid-engine Veyron offers a more conventional four-door, front-engine bodystyle with bragging rights that pale only in comparison to its record-breaking forbearer: the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine would carry over, albeit detuned from its 1000+ hp output in the Veyron to "only" 800, while sources suggest that the Veyron's purpose-built dual-clutch transmission would be replaced with a more conventional torque-converter eight-speed automatic. With less power and a larger shape, the Galibier is tipped to reach a 220 mph top speed – a good thirty less than the Veyron's top end, but still miles ahead of even the fastest production sedans.

Rumor has it that the Bugatti could share the platform from the new Bentley Mulsanne. And while earlier reports indicated that Bugatti would be trying out a number of different concepts before selecting one for production, if this latest report is accurate, the Galibier could hit the market by 2013 with a £900,000 price tag – about $1.5 million, the same price as that Veyron speeding off into the setting sun.



[Source: Auto Express]