The Bugatti La Voiture Noire, unveiled in 2019 at the Geneva International Motor Show, is more than just a car — it’s a piece of rolling art, a tribute to heritage, and a symbol of exclusivity and craftsmanship. Translating to “The Black Car” in French, La Voiture Noire is arguably the most expensive new car ever sold and one of the rarest vehicles in existence. It’s the perfect blend of timeless design, cutting-edge technology, and unrivaled performance, created by one of the most prestigious names in the automotive world: Bugatti.
A Tribute to History
La Voiture Noire pays homage to the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, one of the most iconic cars ever built. Specifically, it’s a tribute to one of the four Atlantics designed by Jean Bugatti, Ettore Bugatti’s son. One of these cars mysteriously vanished during World War II and has never been found. That lost Atlantic, known simply as “La Voiture Noire,” has become the stuff of legend — and now, its spirit lives on in Bugatti’s modern-day masterpiece.
Design and Craftsmanship
At first glance, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire demands attention with its sinister yet graceful silhouette. It’s constructed entirely from carbon fiber and painted in a deep black gloss that enhances its sculpted curves and aerodynamic body. The design is both minimalist and dramatic, with a flowing, continuous form that echoes the elegance of the original Atlantic while projecting modern aggression.
The front fascia features Bugatti’s iconic horseshoe grille, flanked by ultra-slim LED headlights that stretch into the fenders. The long hood, sloping roofline, and pronounced rear haunches give the car a grand touring profile. But it’s the rear end that perhaps defines the car: a bold light strip runs the width of the vehicle, ending in a central Bugatti badge, while six exhaust pipes—yes, six—sit below the aggressive diffuser.
Every component of La Voiture Noire has been handcrafted by Bugatti’s artisans in Molsheim, France. The level of attention to detail, from the precise carbon fiber weave to the bespoke interior finishes, reflects the brand’s commitment to perfection. Bugatti’s designers and engineers worked closely to ensure form followed function, while also honoring the aesthetic vision of Jean Bugatti.
Interior Luxury
While Bugatti has kept the interior details relatively private, given the car’s one-off status, it’s safe to assume that La Voiture Noire offers an opulent cabin that matches its extravagant exterior. Custom leather upholstery, polished aluminum controls, hand-stitched accents, and a dashboard finished with carbon fiber and exotic materials are all to be expected. Given that the buyer likely had full input into the final configuration, every element inside the cabin is personalized to the owner’s taste.
Bugatti is known for blending old-world luxury with modern tech, so features like a digital instrument cluster, advanced infotainment, and climate control would likely be subtly integrated into the luxurious design, avoiding the kind of tech clutter seen in more common high-end vehicles.
Performance and Engineering
Under the hood, La Voiture Noire houses Bugatti’s 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine, the same powerhouse used in the Chiron and Divo. This engineering marvel delivers 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited, though Bugatti’s vehicles are known to exceed 260 mph when unrestricted.
This level of performance is supported by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel-drive system, providing unmatched traction and handling even at extreme speeds. While La Voiture Noire is not a track-focused car, it offers a driving experience that blends raw power with refinement, making it equally comfortable on the Autobahn or displayed in a climate-controlled garage.
The chassis is based on the Bugatti Chiron platform, though La Voiture Noire features unique tuning and custom bodywork. Advanced aerodynamics, active suspension, and high-performance carbon ceramic brakes ensure that this grand tourer delivers a smooth and safe ride, despite its enormous capabilities.
Price: The Most Expensive New Car Ever Sold
When La Voiture Noire was unveiled, it carried a jaw-dropping price tag of €11 million (euros) before taxes. Including taxes and other customizations, the final cost ballooned to approximately €16.7 million, which converts to about $18.68 million USD (as of the exchange rate around the time of purchase). This makes it the most expensive new car ever sold, a title it still holds.
This figure doesn’t just reflect the materials or performance—it reflects exclusivity, history, and prestige. Only one unit of La Voiture Noire was ever made, and its owner remains officially undisclosed. Rumors have suggested that soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was the buyer, although this has never been confirmed by Bugatti.
To put this price into perspective, it’s significantly higher than other hyper-luxury vehicles like the Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta ($17.5 million) and Rolls-Royce Boat Tail ($13 million). La Voiture Noire stands in a class of its own—not merely as a vehicle, but as an object of extreme desire and elite status.
Symbol of Ultimate Exclusivity
More than just the price, the scarcity of La Voiture Noire contributes to its allure. Bugatti did not offer any additional units or similar configurations. Unlike limited production hypercars where 10 or 20 may be made, La Voiture Noire is a true one-off. For collectors, this is the ultimate expression of rarity.
The car is also a statement of what’s possible when cost is no object. Bugatti’s CEO at the time, Stephan Winkelmann, described it as “the most elegant and fastest way to travel by car.” It’s not just about transportation; it’s about creating a legacy, a story, a moment in automotive history that will be remembered for decades.
Final Thoughts
The Bugatti La Voiture Noire represents the pinnacle of luxury, performance, and design. It is a celebration of automotive heritage, a showcase of Bugatti’s engineering prowess, and a bold step into the future of hyper-luxury motoring. For most people, this vehicle will remain a distant dream — a headline, a photograph, a YouTube video. But for one individual, it is a tangible symbol of success, taste, and exclusivity.
At around $18.7 million, it redefines what a car can be: not just a mode of transportation, but a rolling sculpture, an investment, and a legacy. La Voiture Noire is not just a Bugatti — it is the Bugatti. And in the realm of automotive excellence, it has few, if any, equals.
