Bugatti La Voiture Noire: the ultimate solution for those who feel too good to be one of the 500 owners of a Bugatti Chiron. Because the La Voiture Noire is and will remain just one of them. As in its early history, Bugatti is back in coachbuilding, building unique cars for a single customer, a one-off.
During the Geneva fair in March 2019, we got an impression of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire for the first time, a concept car of what we can see for the first time today. Yes, a one-off is also first made into a concept car at Bugatti. The La Voiture Noire is purpose built for a Bugatti enthusiast. At the time, there was plenty of speculation about the identity in Geneva (including the name Ferdinand Piëch, but then La Voiture Noire would have been a black widow) and the name is still shrouded in mystery. Bugatti just wants to say that it is a fan of the brand and that the key to the La Voiture Noire will not be the first Bugatti key he gets his hands on.
Then the historic link of his new car will not escape the happy owner, because this one-off pays homage to the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic of the same name from 1936, the car in which Ettore’s son Jean himself drove and which shortly before. World War II was lost (the car, not Jean). Only four copies of the 57 SC Atlantic were built, the La Voiture Noire was number two.
That is three more than this La Voiture Noire. Technically there are of course many similarities with the Chiron, with the beating heart of the 8-liter W16 with four turbos, good for 1,500 hp and 1,600 Nm. Compared to the Chiron, the wheelbase is longer and the cabin is further back. The roof is completely closed, which should create a more enclosed GT feeling. The body shows fewer lines for a more minimalist design and the nose is a bit lower to have less optical volume. The rear light part, like many other parts, comes from the 3D printer and consists of one part, which runs all the way around the back. This should be a reminder of the typical line on the back of the 57 SC Atlantic.
Unlike the original La Voiture Noire, it will not stay in Molsheim for long. Although it has just been completed, in a few days it will be leaving for its mysterious owner, who has undoubtedly made a warm place inside for it. Nevertheless, it is not the end of an era for Bugatti, as they have revived the fine art of coachbuilding. Also consider few-offs such as the Divo, which will be built in an edition of forty units (5 million euros) and the Centodieci, ten of which will leave Molsheim with a unit price of 8 million euros.