Bugatti Veyron 16.4; fastest, quickest, most powerful. It was an expensive brief, but the company met it, albeit at extremely high costs. So high in fact that the scheduled 300 (only 125 have been delivered so far) profit-bleeders to be built will never return any money to parent company Volkswagen. But resilient VW is about to do it again!

Bugatti media communications manager Julius Kruta told Emirates Business that Veyron is not the end of the story, even though it so nearly became the end of VW itself.

“Even though it is not economically viable for us, we will do it again,” said Kruta, “we have bigger plans for the future and the next one from our stables will be even more expensive than the Veyron.” US luxury car company Dimora may have a word or two about this with their planned USD 2 million Natalia.

We know the Veyron is pretty special; the figures speak for themselves: 16 cylinders, four turbos, 1001 ps/ 736kW, 0 – 100km/h in 2.5 seconds, top speed of 407km/h. Ironically if it didn’t have a rear wing it would fly off! And Brad Pitt, if you are reading this, please email us to confirm if the going price is still USD1.3 million.

“We were putting the car [Veyron] through a hot test drive session in South Africa when a bird flew right into its path. At the speed of 330km/h it was like a small missile being hurled at the car and it smashed through the six aluminium meshes in front of the radiator and destroyed it.”

At this point there is no word to confirm the new super saloon will be called Lydia or Royale, after the classic 1927 example. What we do know is that Lydia/ Royale will be in addition to a smaller version of the Veyron, to be made to compete in the Ferrari F430/ Lamborghini Gallardo space. Then appears a smaller version of Royale itself, created to attack the Audi RS 6/ BMW M5/ Mercedes-Benz E AMG/ Cadillac CTS-V/ Jaguar XF-R/ Porsche Panamera Turbo crowd. Only now I realise how big this crowd has actually grown over the years!

The rumor mill is in full gear with speculation of a new Bugatti being introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Supposedly the new model, a concept of the Bugatti Royale, could be either a faster, more expensive car. However, what the car is exactly is anyone's guess.

Bugatti has also been rumored to be working on a better-stronger-faster replacement to the Veyron, as well as a more "cost effective" sports sedan. In the current economy, the company certainly has reason to flex their luxe credentials, but they clearly have a need to show off a more "affordable" model. A $200,000 high-end supercar has also been speculated.

The Volkswagen-owned automaker (or is that Porsche-owned?), has also been believed to be working on the Project Lydia, a $3 million, 1175 horsepower super supercar that is more geared for the track than the touring Veyron. "Lydia" theoretically has a tuned up version of the 8-liter quad-turbo W16 currently found on the Veyron. Named for the wife of company-founder Ettore Bugatti, the car could blast through the Veyron's top speed of 400 km/h (249mph).

It would certainly be unusual timing if a new, extremely expensive Royale were to come out now. The original $30,000 Type 41 Royale was planned as a 25-unit limited edition, but since it was introduced at the beginning of the Great Depression, they were only able to sell six. However, in today's money, that would be a sticker price of around $368,800, a far cry from the 1.1 million euro retail price of the Veyron.

This year is an important one for Bugatti. Not only does 2009 represent the centenary of the legendary marque but it also now marks the unveiling of a super sedan that may constitute the future plans of the company. One hundred years to the month since the company was founded by Ettore Bugatti, we now have our first look at Bugatti’s latest concept: the 2009 Bugatti Galibier 16C.

Speaking previously, Bugatti chief Franz-Josef Paefgen revealed that there are in fact three proposed designs for the next-gen Bugatti. This news mates well with what Bugatti officials told TheCarConnection in July, which is that the Galibier 16C is in fact a design model being shown to clients and dealers.

According to a new report, the concept may go into production once the run of Veyron’s have come to an end, expected to be sometime in 2012.

The Galibier 16C is constructed from a mix of aluminum and carbon-fiber, which will ensure that it is the lightest car in its class. The body itself is made of polished aluminum and dark blue carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), and LED lights flank each end.

Styling is borrowed from the Bugatti Type 57 Atlantique, including the historic model’s hatchback and spine design elements. Inside, there’s space for four and a large wooden dash that is dominated by two centrally mounted dials showing available power and speed. A removable clock manufactured by Switzerland’s Parmigiani also features.

Although no technical details have been revealed, the Galibier 16C is thought to feature the Veyron’s 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine and an output of around 800 horsepower, though it does away with the four turbos and replaces them with a two-stage supercharging system. Another key difference is the installation of an 8-speed automatic transmission rather than the Veyron’s advanced dual-clutch unit.

A final decision on possible production plans of the Galibier 16C is expected by the spring of 2010. In the meantime, Bugatti has its hands full filling current order lists. The company only has 50 spots left for the Veyron, of which the total build will be 300 units. The Grand Sport model, which is limited to just 150 models, has already received several dozen orders.