The Geneva Motor Show in 2019 was the first time the world laid its eyes on the phenomenal Bugatti La Voiture Noire, and ever since, we have been unable to get this incredible masterpiece out of our minds. Each time Bugatti releases a new supercar, as with the Veyron, Chiron, and Divo, it always seems like they have reached the pinnacle of their innovation. But the company appears to constantly prove they still have a lot more to give, and they have done precisely that with the masterfully crafted La Voiture Noire.
The La Voiture Noire is an ultra-rare car designed to celebrate 110 years of Bugatti's existence. And, as it turns out, it is fitting for the purpose. Between its powerful engineering, elegant design, sophisticated technology, and spectacular luxury, the La Voiture Noire is without equal and competently demonstrates the immense reputation of the Bugatti brand. While you may have expected that, here are 10 crazy facts about the Bugatti La Voiture Noire you may not have known.
Updated April 2023: The La Voiture Noire is a hugely impressive one-off special built to celebrate Bugatti's 110-year anniversary. As such, it perfectly combines exceptional mechanics with hallmark Bugatti craftsmanship and a stunning interior worthy of a world-beating supercar. Understandably, a car of its stature will attract added attention from the motoring masses. With that in mind, we've updated the content of this list with an up-to-date, extensive body of information about the Bugatti La Voiture Noire to keep it fresh.
10 The History Behind A Simple Name
La Voiture Noire is French for “the black car.” It's completely understandable that one would judge the obviousness and simplicity of the name. However, there is more to it. Between 1934 and 1940, Jean Bugatti, the eldest son of Ettore Bugatti, the founder of Automobiles E. Bugatti, designed, developed, and drove one of only four Type 57 SC Atlantic cars ever made.
Bugatti named that vehicle La Voiture Noire. Sadly, the original La Voiture Noire disappeared mysteriously before WWII and no one knows where it is, hence becoming a sort of legend of the automotive world.
Named after the original, the new Bugatti La Voiture Noire carries the weight of the innovation the company has inspired throughout its history. In case you're wondering what became of the other three cars – they were all sold to customers. The first unit (later known as the Rothschild Atlantic) got picked up by Victor Rothschild, an English banker, while Jacques Holzschuh got the second Type 57 SC Atlantic, which was subsequently called the Holzschuh Atlantic. A Brit, R.B. Pope, had the luck of owning the third Atlantic unit (called Pope Atlantic), which later went to US designer Ralph Lauren.
9 There's Only One Bugatti La Voiture Noire In Existence
Exclusivity is one of the ways Bugatti maintains the luxuriousness and integrity of its brand. Cars such as the Bugatti Veyron (450 car-run), Chiron (limited to just 300 examples), and the Divo (limited to 40 units) are fine examples of rarefied subjects in our big motoring world.
La Voiture Noire, however, is the rarest and most exclusive of all modern Bugattis, as only one example was ever built. This is one car that even the wealthiest of car collectors will certainly never get to own, and that just adds to its allure and that of the Bugatti brand.
8 Powered By A Monstrous W16 Engine
Bugatti debuted its W16, 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged engine in 2005 in the Bugatti Veyron, and it has since powered every one of its hypercars. The La Voiture Noire is no exception, with the unit here making an astounding 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, with that power channeled to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Its superior horsepower and performance mean the La Voiture Noire could sprint to 62 mph in an impressive 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed above 248 mph. With such breathtaking performance on tap, Bugatti equipped the La Voiture Noire with AP Racing-sourced high-performance brakes that stop equally well. The system, which measures 16.5 inches up front and 15.7 inches outback, allows the hypercar to go from 249 to 0 mph in an impressive 10 seconds.
7 Crafted Entirely By Hand
The design of La Voiture Noire makes wide use of carbon-fiber composites and other sophisticated materials that make it both functional and stylish. And, as you'd expect of a Bugatti, the La Voiture Noire's construction is extremely sturdy and fully perfected. As the car's designer, Etienne Salomé, puts it, “We worked long and hard on this design until there was nothing that we could improve. For us, the coupé represents the perfect form with a perfect finish.”
But what makes the team's effort so much more impressive is that every single component of the car's body was entirely crafted by hand, and it shows in the beauty of its design.
6 Based On The Bugatti Chiron
Bugatti built the La Voiture Noire on the same frame that underpins the Bugatti Chiron. However, it would be a mistake to think of the Noire as a Chiron with new coverings, as it is different.
La Voiture Noire is a car of its own, with a different character and essence. The unique wheels, extensively tested aerodynamic body, well-built interior, and exceptional cooling systems are ways the La Voiture Noire has differentiated itself from any of its predecessors.
5 Insane Attention To Details
As one would expect of Bugatti, the attention to detail on the La Voiture Noire was next level. The handcrafted components making up the car were attentively made with so much care and precision worthy of a project like this. Each headlight, for instance, consists of 25 individually milled pieces that combine to achieve the desired shape and lightning.
Per Bugatti, the interior features Havana Brown grain leather with aluminum inlays in various sections. The vein-like design of the weight-distributing wheels of the La Voiture Noire is another detail that would be hard to miss. Wherever you look, there is bound to be something to catch your attention.
4 Took Two And A Half Years To Build
All good things take time, and that is the case for La Voiture Noire. Between the presentation of the idea to the buyer and the vehicle being complete and ready for delivery, the La Voiture Noire took two and a half years to finish in 2021. The car presented at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show was a design mock-up detailing what the car would look like upon completion. That design model had an electric powertrain but no interior.
Two and a half years is a long time, but when one considers the amount of work and the level of ingenuity and details that went into the La Voiture Noire, it's easy to understand why it took that long to build.
3 The World's Most Expensive New Car
With a price tag of $13.4 million before taxes ($18.7 million after taxes), the La Voiture Noire was the most expensive new car at the time of its launch in 2019. However, that title now belongs to the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, which costs an estimated $28 million.
The hefty price tag also makes it the most expensive new Bugatti ever made, which, when you consider the craftsmanship and attention to detail, massive 1,479-hp quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16 engine, six exhaust tips, and the car's one-of-one status, perhaps it is fitting.
2 Mystery Buyer
According to Bugatti, the very first enthusiast to whom the Molsheim-based automaker pitched the idea of the La Voiture Noire accepted the deal and signed on to buy the car. Bugatti never revealed the buyer, and no one has been able to say for sure who it is.
However, that hasn't stopped speculation. Some of the names most often rumored to have bought the car include soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo; the late Ferdinand Piëch, the former Chairman of the Volkswagen Group; and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. Notably, reports suggest that the La Voiture Noire got registered in Zurich, Switzerland in December 2021, and this claim is further reinforced by the fact that people spotted the car in Croatia with a Swiss license plate. Whoever it is, they've got a real gem on their hands!
1 Buyer's Idea Considered In The Vehicle's Design
Although the idea and concept of the car were both conceived within Bugatti offices, the manufacturer took the buyer's input into account while building the La Voiture Noire.
One such opinion was the buyer's desire to fit six exhaust pipes at their partner's request. The idea ended up being valuable, as it added an expression of absolute grandeur to the car's design.
Source: Bugatti