What do you do when your garage is full of supercars, hypercars, limited edition cars, yachts, jets or an airline perhaps? You get something that's built just for you and is the only of its kind in the world. Somewhere out there, a certain billionaire has just done exactly that and paid some outlandish amounts of money for the same. We are talking about the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, a car that makes the Chiron look "affordable" with only one to be ever produced. And with a price tag of $12.5 million or Rs. 87 crore (ex-showroom), it is the world's most expensive new car to be sold ever. In fact, the one-off car actually costs about Rs. 132 crore on-road (after taxes).
The La Voiture Noire has been commissioned to commemorate the brand's 110th anniversary
The Bugatti La Voiture Noire has been commissioned to commemorate the brand's 110th anniversary and made its debut at the ongoing 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Only one example of the all-black car will be produced and has already been sold. The La Voiture Noire pays homage to the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, which was designed by Jean Bugatti, eldest son of founder Ettore. The 57 Atlantic had an iconic all-black variant, which went missing during the Second World War and the new La Voiture Noire takes after it with its all-black paintwork. Globally, there are four examples of the 57 Atlantic available today.
The La Voiture Noire gets a complete carbon fibre body with a deep gloss black finish
Every component of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire has been handcrafted and the complete carbon fibre body has a deep gloss black finish. The material has been handled perfectly, says Bugatti designer Etienne Salome, adding that the design was worked upon until nothing could be improved. Visually, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire looks almost evil, much like Darth Vader, but equally intriguing. The rear almost floats over the exhausts with the ultra-wide taillights extending from side-to-side.
The 8-litre 16-cylinder engine from the Bugatti Chiron also powers the La Voiture Noire
For what is a bespoke car completely, the La Voiture Noire shares its performance components with the Chiron. The 8-litre 16-cylinder engine develops 1479 bhp and 1600 Nm of peak torque. There are six exhaust pipes at the rear, a reference to the Atlantic's five exhausts. It's also the pinnacle of performance for the internal combustion engine that graces the expo floor that is also celebrating the birth of electric hypercars.
The La Voiture Noire pays homage to the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
The unnamed owner of the most expensive Bugatti ever will be receiving the finished example almost two and a half years later, during which Bugatti will be working not only on building the car but also on homologating it as well to make it road legal. The La Voiture Noire then, is as rare as they get, nothing short of a piece of art. This one though will be functional.
