The Bugatti Chiron is no eco warrior with its 8l 16-cylinder engine. Picture: AFP
But will Bugatti, which has hinted at"surprises" this year, be joining other luxury carmakers in shifting to electric or hybrid models?"For the next 10 years to come, only the W16 motor provides the emotion and the passion expected by our supercar clients," Stephan Winkelmann, the firm's CEO, said recently in reference to its massive 16-cylinder engine.
That's probably because the average Bugatti owner has a collection of 42 cars to choose from, the brand says. It has also planted 4,000 trees to help forests in its native Alsace region recover from a devastating infestation of bark beetles in recent years."Bugatti is a highly visible brand, so it's important for us to take these steps and set an example for the industry," Winkelmann said.
While the typical Bugatti buyer is no eco-warrior,"lots of them donate to environmental causes, even though most people might not know it", said Tim Bravo, the firm's head of communications."2019 was an excellent year for Bugatti, the best since 1998 in terms of revenue, deliveries and earnings," Winkelmann said.