Bugatti Successor planned

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Bugatti is preparing a successor to the 16-cylinder Veyron in 2011 or 2012, but the future model won't take a radically different path, according to CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen.

Paefgen, who heads both Bugatti and Bentley, was interviewed by the Dutch publication AutoVisie. He said that by 2011 or 2012, "there will be a completely new model" to replace the current Veyron, which is adding a targa model in 2009. The newcomer, added Paefgen, "must fit into the Bugatti history but also to the Veyron. A totally different direction is not an option."

Paefgen also told the publication that he wants to take Bugatti back into motorsports (Pierre Veyron was the co-driver of the 1939 Le Mans winner) — but "not with the Veyron."

What this means to you: Paefgen knows his automotive history well and appreciates how much the heritage of Bugatti underpins the brand.