Rimac announces that the next Bugatti will be hybrid

In an interview with Auto-Express, Mate Rimac assured that the next Bugatti will be equipped with a hybrid engine developed by Rimac.

Car enthusiasts are patiently waiting to see what Mate Rimac has in mind for Bugatti. They will be pleased. Mate Rimac confirmed that the new Bugatti will feature a sleek design, equipped with a hybrid combustion engine.

Bugatti says goodbye to the W16

Speaking to Auto Express, Mate Rimac described the new powertrain as “totally crazy.” He also adds that “everyone will be stunned when they see the new Bugatti.” Interestingly, Rimac started working on the new combustion engine alone two years before the merger with Bugatti, with a clear vision of the successor to the Chiron. While Bugatti initially planned an electric utility vehicle, Rimac “immediately stopped” this prospect. The Croatian brand prefers to opt for an electric hypercar with a hybrid combustion engine.

When Mate Rimac confirmed the creation of a new thermal engine Bugatti earlier this year, we thought the model would use a new version of the monstrous W16 engine. However, it seems that this is not just an update, because the new hypercar will share no components with its predecessor.

The two brands with distinct characters

Speaking about the new Bugatti, Mate Rimac said: “This will be a hypercar rearranged as a hybrid. It is entirely new, so there is not a single piece taken from another car. Everything has been created from scratch,” he assures. These comments show that Rimac takes Bugatti’s future very seriously. He is willing to invest heavily in research and development instead of choosing the easy path of shared development between the two brands. The CEO assures there is enough differentiation between them, emphasized by the different technologies used in Bugatti and Rimac models, and the distinct character of each brand.

According to him, Bugatti is a more luxurious and aristocratic brand, with “engines with combustion for the foreseeable future” and a more beautiful design. Bugatti will focus on “fine art,” thus honoring its illustrious past. On the other hand, Rimac will focus on “bending physics.” Mate Rimac hinted that the car would debut next year. Previous reports suggested that the successor to the Chiron would arrive in 2024. This indicates that the project is in its final development stage.

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