Electric Hypercar Maker Rimac to Acquire Bugatti
Volkswagen Group is looking to unload the storied French hypercar brand in order to focus more resources on an electrified future.
Oh boy, hold on because this gets confusing. Currently under the Volkswagen Group umbrella is Bugatti and Porsche, along with about half a dozen other automotive brands. Porsche also has a minority stake in Croatian manufacturer Rimac. Now we get word that Volkswagen Group is looking to jettison Bugatti to Rimac, via Porsche. Clear as mud, right? The apparent plan is that in exchange for giving Rimac Bugatti, the Volkswagen Group would get a larger share of Rimac.
Does this make any sense? It does if you are Volkswagen. They have already announced that they are going all-in with electrification. Rimac is a tiny outfit that currently builds only a handful of ungodly fast electric hypercars. However, their technology is impressive. Founder Mate Rimac currently has about 15 car companies that use his technology. This impressive technology can certainly be leveraged to power cars and trucks that are not solely designed to set lap records. People still need to go out for milk, and Volkswagen wants those people to use an electric Volkswagen for the trip.
Where does that leave Bugatti? For right now, no one really knows. A quad-turbocharged W-16 engine that can push a car beyond 250 mph is certainly exciting. However, that is not exactly the most efficient method of motoring. It is also not exactly an inexpensive way of motoring. Volkswagen has its eyes set on the future and apparently there is no room in that future for Bugatti as it is today.
This does not mean Bugatti goes away. On the contrary going under Rimac can mean some exciting things for the future of the brand. Afterall, using massive engines such as what powers the Chiron is not sustainable in today’s automotive world. Bugatti may grab headlines because of its massive power and huge top speed numbers, but it is more than that. A Bugatti is an exquisitely built car. Simply sit in a modern Bugatti and you feel like an Emperor. Combine the beauty with the Rimac electric power and you really have something. Rimac already knows a thing or two about power. The C_Two produces roughly 1,900 horsepower and can hit nearly 260 mph. Those numbers would work in a Bugatti.
Is this just a wild rumor, or is this a done deal? CAR Magazine reports that the deal was approved already by the Volkswagen executives and now just needs to be signed off by the supervisory board. It would appear this deal is happening. The magazine also reports that this may not be the only brand that Volkswagen is looking to unload. It would seem that some big changes are coming to the automotive landscape.
For the fans of electric vehicles, this is all extremely exciting news. Volkswagen is one of the largest automotive groups on the planet. They are committed to delivering a full range of electric vehicles. Even if that means dumping one of its crown jewels. If you are not a fan of electric vehicles, this may be distressing. Head on over to the 6SpeedOnline forums now. Let us know if you are excited about the move to electric or are going to hang on to your combustion powered cars for the rest of your life.
Photos: Rimac
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