The Bugatti Galibier project has officially been axed, with the firm instead planning to launch a direct successor to the Veyron, Volkswagen Group chief Martin Winterkorn has confirmed.

“The Galibier is officially dead,” Winterkorn confirmed to Autocar. “We won’t do it. In its place will be a second-generation Veyron with more power.”

Winterkorn, speaking at the launch of the Mk7 VW Golf R, did not mention any other details about the new Veyron or hint at a launch date.

A proposed ‘Super Veyron’, an ultimate performance version of the current car intended as a run-out model, has also been ruled out by Winterkorn. That model would have had more than 1500bhp and a 280mph plus top speed.

The Galibier saloon concept was first revealed in 2009, with the model pegged to become a new flagship for the brand. Development of the Galibier was slow, however, and any launch date pushed back to at least 2015/2016 when Bugatti officials last spoke of it.

The Galibier was originally said to have an asking price of £900,000, with power coming from a W16 engine derived from the Veyron. As much as 800bhp was tipped to be available on some models of the four-wheel drive super-saloon.