SPIEGEL Online (Germany) reports that Bugatti's CEO Thomas Bscher (pronounced "Bay-share") resigned this week. Bscher and new VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn disagreed over the direction of the brand's product portfolio; Bscher wanted to expand the lineup beyond the ultra-fast Veyron, but that's not in the cards for the short term.

Perhaps this is another touchpoint in the de-Pischetsriedering of the company. Former VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder promoted Bscher heavily, eventually handing him the Bugatti brand to run in 2003. Bscher was known as not only a crafty manager but a certified hot shoe: he finished fifth at Le Mans in 1999 driving the BMW V12 LM.

Now it will be Franz-Josef Paefgen's role to run both Bentley and Bugatti. It's unclear whether this is VW's preferred strategy for the long term or if Paefgen will be the temporary shepherd until a new Bugatti boss can be found (resumes@bugatti.com, for you thrill seekers).

+ SPIEGEL ONLINE: Bugatti boss throws job (via Autoblog and German Car Scene)