$4.5 million Bugatti saloon revs up interest here
By Samuel Ee
At least three individuals here have expressed interest in the $4.5 million Bugatti 16 C Galibier, a new four-door supercar that is likely to be ready by 2012.
According to a representative for Bugatti sales agent Malayan Motors, the Galibier is still a concept but the chances of it being put into production and with a right-hand-drive version are 'good'.
'If a right-hand-drive Galibier is available, with an on-the-road price of $4.5 million, then there are at least three people who say they are extremely interested in it,' said the representative.
The Galibier super saloon made its world debut at last September's Frankfurt Motor Show and is priced at one million euros (S$1.7 million) in Europe.
This is slightly less than the 1.2 million euro Bugatti Veyron coupe, which was launched in 2007 and of which only 300 units will be built worldwide.
Malayan Motors has managed to sell 'some units' of the Veyron in the region despite the car being available in left-hand-drive only, which means it cannot be registered for use in Singapore, for example. But if there were a right-hand-drive version of the Veyron, the representative said it would cost about $5.3 million after registration taxes here.
He said other prospective buyers of the Veyron are thinking of getting it as a collector's item.
'There are also potential customers who want to buy one to drive, so they may register the Veyron in the US or UK, where they have homes,' he added.
The mid-engined, all-wheel-drive Veyron has an 8.0-litre,16-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Galibier will use this same powertrain but the four-door model will, of course, have a new chassis and body.
But, like the Veyron, the Galibier will have supercar performance. The Veyron's 1,001 hp propels it from zero to 100 kmh in just 2.6 seconds. Zero to 300 kmh takes less than 14 seconds, with the two-door Bugatti able to race all the way to a top speed of 406 kmh.
The next international viewing of the Galibier takes place next month at Pebble Beach, where Bugatti will further evaluate demand for the supercar before committing to its production.
The official word for now is that no firm decision has been made yet. But, from early indications, it appears that there is a good chance the new car will be built and that a separate chassis will be developed for right-hand-drive markets.
In 2005, Bugatti Automobiles appointed Malayan Motors as its sales agent for Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand. Malayan Motors is a division of Wearnes, or WBL Corp. It also distributes Volvo, Jaguar, Renault, Land Rover and Bentley in Singapore.
Bugatti is one of the 10 brands under the Volkswagen Group, Europe's biggest carmaker, and apart from Singapore, the super luxury sports car's only other agent for the whole of Asia is in Hong Kong. Globally, the ultra-exclusive carmaker has less than 30 agents.
By Samuel Ee
At least three individuals here have expressed interest in the $4.5 million Bugatti 16 C Galibier, a new four-door supercar that is likely to be ready by 2012.
According to a representative for Bugatti sales agent Malayan Motors, the Galibier is still a concept but the chances of it being put into production and with a right-hand-drive version are 'good'.
The Galibier super saloon made its world debut at last September's Frankfurt Motor Show and is priced at one million euros (S$1.7 million) in Europe.
This is slightly less than the 1.2 million euro Bugatti Veyron coupe, which was launched in 2007 and of which only 300 units will be built worldwide.
Malayan Motors has managed to sell 'some units' of the Veyron in the region despite the car being available in left-hand-drive only, which means it cannot be registered for use in Singapore, for example. But if there were a right-hand-drive version of the Veyron, the representative said it would cost about $5.3 million after registration taxes here.
He said other prospective buyers of the Veyron are thinking of getting it as a collector's item.
'There are also potential customers who want to buy one to drive, so they may register the Veyron in the US or UK, where they have homes,' he added.
The mid-engined, all-wheel-drive Veyron has an 8.0-litre,16-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Galibier will use this same powertrain but the four-door model will, of course, have a new chassis and body.
But, like the Veyron, the Galibier will have supercar performance. The Veyron's 1,001 hp propels it from zero to 100 kmh in just 2.6 seconds. Zero to 300 kmh takes less than 14 seconds, with the two-door Bugatti able to race all the way to a top speed of 406 kmh.
The next international viewing of the Galibier takes place next month at Pebble Beach, where Bugatti will further evaluate demand for the supercar before committing to its production.
The official word for now is that no firm decision has been made yet. But, from early indications, it appears that there is a good chance the new car will be built and that a separate chassis will be developed for right-hand-drive markets.
In 2005, Bugatti Automobiles appointed Malayan Motors as its sales agent for Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand. Malayan Motors is a division of Wearnes, or WBL Corp. It also distributes Volvo, Jaguar, Renault, Land Rover and Bentley in Singapore.
Bugatti is one of the 10 brands under the Volkswagen Group, Europe's biggest carmaker, and apart from Singapore, the super luxury sports car's only other agent for the whole of Asia is in Hong Kong. Globally, the ultra-exclusive carmaker has less than 30 agents.
