Automakers seem to create variations of variations of variations. That’s how we end up with vehicles like the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which is totally not a slightly worked over M5 with a wider body. Many manufacturers seem to have taken Field of Dreams to heart, so it comes as a bit of a surprise that Bugatti said there will be no roadster version of the upcoming 1,500-horsepower Chiron.
Speaking to Autocar, Bugatti board member Dr. Stefan Brungs said that the Veyron successor would only come as a coupe. That’s a change of pace from the Veyron, which came in open-top Grand Sport and Grand Sport Vitesse versions. All in all, Bugatti sold a total of 450 Veyrons over a ten-year lifespan, a third of which were targa-roofed Grand Sports.
Dr. Brungs didn’t rule out more-powerful future variations of the Chiron, though the company is focused on selling the current 500-car allotment. The Chiron’s 1,500 hp are supplied by an 8.0-liter, quad-turbocharged, mid-mounted W16. That engine is a heavily updated version of the 1,300-hp W16 from the record-setting Veyron Grand Sport. That car holds the ill-defined title of the world’s fastest production car, something Bugatti itself hopes to top with the Chiron in 2018.
The Chiron goes on sale soon with a base price of $2.6 million, though options could easily push it over $3 million. Other hypercars, like the Ferrari LaFerrari, are coming out with open-top editions. The Porsche 918 only comes with a removable targa top. Despite the comments from Dr. Brungs, Bugatti is in the business of making money, so expect the company to seriously consider changing its mind.