Bugatti has confirmed that its next hypercar, which will succeed the Chiron, is set to debut in 2024 and launch in 2026. The announcement was made as the automaker revealed the retirement of Achim Anscheidt, who has served as Bugatti’s design chief for the past 19 years. Anscheidt’s final task was to sign off on the design of the new hypercar.
Interestingly, Anscheidt had intended to resign three years ago. However, Mate Rimac, the CEO of the Bugatti Rimac partnership, convinced him to stay on and assist with finalizing the design of the Chiron’s successor. This decision turned out to be crucial as Anscheidt’s expertise in understanding Bugatti’s identity and design language was invaluable in crafting the new hypercar.
Bugatti has confirmed that Frank Hey, the brand’s deputy design chief, will take over from Anscheidt as the new design chief. Hey, who has been with Bugatti since 2008, will continue to work alongside Anscheidt in an advisory role to shape the future of Bugatti’s design until the end of the decade.
Rimac expressed his gratitude for Anscheidt’s contributions, stating that his understanding of Bugatti’s heritage and design legacy, inherited from founder Ettore and his son Jean, is unparalleled. Rimac also praised the design of the upcoming hypercar as Achim’s “masterpiece” and the most beautiful and authentic evolution of Bugatti imaginable.
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Although Bugatti has not revealed much about the Chiron successor, Rimac previously mentioned that the car will be a hybrid rather than purely electric. This came as a surprise to many since Rimac, being the founder of EV technology company Rimac Group, is closely associated with electric vehicles. In an interview with Auto Express, Rimac disclosed that his technology company began development on the engine for the Chiron successor around 2020, during his initial talks with Volkswagen Group about the Bugatti Rimac partnership.
The decision to create a hybrid hypercar was driven by the need to replace Bugatti’s iconic quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W-16 engine, which is being phased out with the introduction of the Chiron-based Mistral roadster. Rimac was insistent that the Chiron successor incorporate hybrid technology. In fact, he had to convince senior management that a hybrid hypercar was the way to go, especially since Bugatti was considering an electric crossover as the successor to the Chiron.
Rimac’s vision for Bugatti and Rimac’s own hypercars is to differentiate them through their powertrain technologies and design philosophies. Bugatti will continue to prioritize craftsmanship, analog dials, and beautiful design, while Rimac’s focus will remain on injecting more technology, such as autonomous modes for drifting or hot laps, into their vehicles.
In conclusion, Bugatti’s next hypercar, set to succeed the Chiron, is scheduled to debut in 2024 and hit the market in 2026. This car, which will be a hybrid, represents Achim Anscheidt’s final contribution to Bugatti’s design legacy. Frank Hey will assume the role of design chief, working closely with Anscheidt to shape the future of Bugatti’s design. The decision to go for a hybrid powertrain reflects the desire to replace Bugatti’s revered W-16 engine while maintaining the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship and analog design. Rimac’s influence on Bugatti’s future direction will be evident in the incorporation of more advanced technologies in Rimac’s own hypercars, differentiating them from Bugatti’s offerings.
