The Bugatti La Voiture Noire, once the world's most expensive car, is up for sale.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019 to celebrate Bugatti's 110th anniversary, La Voiture Noire quickly caused a sensation by becoming the world's most expensive production model at the time. The only one of its kind sold for the equivalent of nearly C$25 million, including all taxes. It was finally delivered in the summer of 2021.
The identity of its customer has never been revealed, sparking several rumors, and will likely remain so as he has just decided to part with it barely four years after taking possession.
SBX Cars, known to many car enthusiasts thanks to Australian presenter and blogger Supercar Blondie, has been put in charge of the sale, which is reserved for select potential buyers and conducted with the utmost discretion. It will therefore be impossible to know the price paid this time around.
“Let us facilitate your next acquisition in the most private and discreet manner possible,” reads the company's website. With personalized negotiations, pre-qualified bidders, and discreet auctions, it is the ideal destination for discerning collectors seeking incomparable automotive masterpieces.
What is La Voiture Noire?
Based on the Chiron, this exceptional car has undergone the same tests and checks, both in the laboratory and on the road and track, except that Bugatti has devoted more than 65,000 hours of engineering to make it completely unique.
The inspiration comes from the Type 57 SC Atlantic, of which only four were produced in the 1930s, one of which was driven by Jean Bugatti (son of founder Ettore Bugatti) and nicknamed “La Voiture Noire.” It mysteriously disappeared before World War II and has never been found.
All carbon fiber body panels are exclusive, and the wheelbase is 25 cm longer than the Chiron. The grille was 3D printed, and since La Voiture Noire is designed more as a grand touring car than a sports car, its design is less racy and lacks a rear spoiler.
Incidentally, its black paint is a special blend that produces virtually no reflection but, according to Bugatti, adds a lot of tension and drama. While there are no photos showing the interior of the car in its entirety, we do know that the seats are upholstered in Havana brown leather to create a vintage look.
As for the engine, we're talking about a quad-turbocharged W16 that develops 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, breathes through six exhaust pipes, accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 260 mph.
From Black to Fog
As we saw earlier this summer, Bugatti is far from done with modern coachbuilding and unique creations. Its latest creation, called Brouillard, is also the first to come out of the Solitaire program, described by its manufacturer as “a new exclusive offering dedicated to the creation of truly unique, one-off vehicles that celebrate the brand's rich heritage while pushing the boundaries of customization and craftsmanship.”
The Solitaire program plans to launch two creations per year, based on the same W16 platform as the Brouillard and the Chiron line before it.
