Click above to view the mirrored Veyron in high-resolution

If the current list of Bugatti Veyron derivatives isn't confusing enough, the automaker is developing yet another variant to be available to customers in April 2009. The new supercar is an open-top Veyron Grand Sport 'Sang Noir' (French for 'black blood') -- it's essentially an evil-looking unpainted carbon-fiber version of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport targa. The exposed version will be very limited in production (remember, only 15 Sang Noir models are to be built in coupe form), and likely limited to a top speed slightly below 253 mph.

The whisperers have it that Bugatti may be borrowing from Bentley for a new sedan. What they can't seem to pinpoint is exactly what kind of sharing the two marques will be doing, and whether or not the resulting super Bug will be a supremely high-powered four-door to compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. If the two brands do indeed share something, like the next Arnage's platform, for instance, that might make sense. But just a few months ago, Bugatti said that its next product would be even more expensive than the Veyron, and lead man Josef Paefgen has also said that there will be no inexpensive Bugatti.

What if in an alternate universe Bugatti says, "We're not going out of business, we're doing a new model in the same market as the Veyron," but it doesn't know what that model will be? There's another luxury car company in the family called Porsche that's looking to get into the 4-door game. So Bugatti says, "Hey, we did this design study of a 4-door wagon-y thing a while back, have a look," and Porsche takes a peek and says, "Hey, maybe we can work with this," and then Bugatti says, "If it all works out, maybe, you know, since you own us now we can share things and stuff and stop losing so much money on each car," and Porsche says, "Be quiet, we're working..." and, well, you get the picture.

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermes

We know what you're thinking, because we're in the same lamentable position ourselves: you'd totally order up that uber-exclusive Hermes edition Veyron, but you're not a big fan of the brown and tan paint scheme. Fortunately Bugatti has heard your cries, brother, and announced the availability of new color options for the Veyron Fbg.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

The big question for Bugatti is: What comes after the Veyron? Seriously, there isn't much that could top the 1,000-or-so horsepower, quad-turbo, 16-cylinder engine that's carried around in the back of the most gorgeous body ever with an equally exquisite interior. How about a revised model with 1,200-horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft of torque? Yeah, that'd do nicely. Rumors indicate that an über-Veyron could make an appearance at the very end of this current generation's production.

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

The wraps - and the roof - have come off the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport here in Monterey, finally answering a question few have asked and even fewer will sample.

As you'd expect, Bugatti hasn't just hacked the roof off the Veyron and gone to the pub. The windshield is slightly higher, the daytime running lights have been tweaked and then there's the showpiece: a removable, transparent polycarbonate roof, which blends the A-pillars into two painted carbon fiber strips that lead into the massive air intakes feeding the 1001 hp, quad-turbocharged, W16.

In the fantastic world in which Bugatti lives, there are two kinds of people: those who can afford a Veyron, and those who cannot. Most of us fall into the latter category, but those who fall into the former certainly have cash to spare (to say the least). For both, the most exclusive of exotic automakers has launched the Bugatti Collection.

The line at launch is quite limited, but includes such items as polo shirts, a jacket, a keychain and an umbrella. Of course, all of the Bugatti items are appropriately priced for the company's super-rich clientele, but even a thousand-euro leather duffle bag is a far cry from the price of a new Veyron - especially the new Grand Sport roadster.