Bugatti 16C Galibier Concept makes its public debut in Los Angeles

The noble concept 16C Galibier was unveiled last September at Bugatti’s headquarters in Molsheim; but has now been officially shown to customers and critics at the prestigious Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills. Alasdair Stewart, Bugatti’s Director of Sales, Marketing and After Sales, announced that the 16C Galibier is just one of few concepts that is being considered for the future.

Not many cars can be compared to the 16C Galibier, which is designed to be the most exclusive, powerful and noble car in world. The new four-door concept vehicle is shaped to be both sporty and elegant. It features handmade carbon fiber parts colored in dark blue, combined with polished aluminum wings and doors. Powering the Type 35 inspired, torpedo-like Galibier is a 16-cylinder, 8-liter engine with two-stage supercharging, which can work on ethanol optionally.

For agile handling, the car is equipped with specially developed ceramic brakes, four-wheel drive and new suspension design. Matching its external appearance, the car’s interior design gives the impression of extremely natural vision and innovative highlights. One of its exclusive features is the Parmigiani’s removable tourbillion clock, which can be worn on the wrist as well due to its cleverly designed leather strap.

Press release:

“What was revealed at the climax of Bugatti’s centenary celebrations in September at its headquarters in Molsheim, was today presented to customers and opinion-makers in Los Angeles: the Bugatti 16C Galibier concept - designed as the most exclusive, elegant, and powerful four-door automobile in the world. At the prestigious Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills, Bugatti’s Director of Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Alasdair Stewart, emphasised that the Galibier is just one of several concept studies that the company is considering for the future of the Bugatti marque.

Arte - Forme - Technique: those are the brand values by which Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean oriented themselves in order to develop even more powerful engines and even more noble body designs for each new model, which were unequalled in quality, handling, speed and elegance. In the process, they experimente again and again with new materials; thus was Bugatti one of the first manufacturers to use aluminium parts for bodies, engine blocks and wheels. Arte - Forme - Technique are also the brand values by which the design and engineering team at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. oriented themselves in the development of the Galibier. With this new four-door concept car, Bugatti assumes once again a leading role in the use of new material combinations. For example, the body is constructed of handmade carbon fibre parts coloured dark blue so that, when illuminated, the
woven structure strikingly shimmers through. Carbon fibre not only possesses exceptionally great
rigidity but is also especially light. The wings and doors are made out of polished aluminium. The Galibier’s design masters the challenge of uniting sportiness with the comfort and elegance of a
modern four-door saloon. The basic architecture picks up on the torpedo-like character of the Type 35, which was already revived in the Veyron, and reinterprets it. With the typical Bugatti radiator grille, unusual, round LED headlights and the clamshell running the length of the vehicle, which became
synonymous with the brand identity under Jean Bugatti in the Type 57, this car transports the Bugatti genes into the modern world.

Beneath the bonnet, which folds back from both sides, resides a 16-cylinder, 8-litre engine with two-stage supercharging. What makes this engine so special is that it was developed as a flex-fuel engine and can optionally be run on ethanol. Four-wheel drive, specially developed ceramic brakes and a new suspension design enable the agile, always-sure handling of a saloon of this size.

The interior reflects the elemental design of the exterior. The dashboard has been reduced to the essential; two centrally located main instruments keep even the rear passengers constantly informed of the current speed and previous performance. Parmigiani, the Swiss maker of fine watches, created a removable tourbillion clock for the Galibier, which may be worn on the wrist thanks to a cleverly designed leather strap. “Galibier” is not just the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France but, in its time, was a version of the four-door Type 57, unequalled in sportiness and elegance.”