Bugatti Galibier 16C Concept Car comfort and elegance of a modern four-door saloon

Revealed at a private event to customers and what Bugatti refers to as "opinion-makers" this past weekend at the firm's home in Molsheim, the 16 C Galibier is a conceptual proposal for a four-door, four seat sedan that could very well go into production in the next couple of years.

At the historic site where Ettore Bugatti once laid the cornerstone of his company, Bugatti's current president, Dr. Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen emphasised that the Bugatti Galibier 16C is one of several concept studies with which the company is considering for the future of the Bugatti marque.

Power comes from the works 8-litre 16-cylinder motor with two-stage supercharging. It can churn out between 588kW (800hp) and 735kW (1,000hp), all of which is channeled to all four wheels using the AWD system. Standard fuel is petrol but ethanol can be used as an alternative. To stop it running away from the driver is a set of powerful carbon ceramic brakes.

The Bugatti Galibier's design masters the challenge of uniting sportiness with the comfort and elegance of a modern four-door saloon. The basic architecture picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35, which was already revived in the Bugatti Veyron, and reinterprets it. With the typical Bugatti radiator grille, big round LED headlights and the clamshell running the length of the vehicle which became synonymous with the brand identity under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57, this car transports the Bugatti genes into the modern world.

The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dash panel has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers constantly informed of the actual speed and previous performance. Parmigiani, the Swiss maker of fine watches, created the removable Reverso Tourbillon clock for the Bugatti Galibier, which may be worn on the wrist thanks to a cleverly designed leather strap.

"Galibier" is not just the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France but, in its time, was a version of the four door Type 57 unequalled in sportiness and elegance.