One-Off Bugatti La Voiture Noire Is Up For Sale: This Was Once The World's Most Expensive New Car

The world's only Bugatti La Voiture Noire has surfaced for sale. First revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the one-off hypercar was built as a tribute to the legendary Type 57 SC Atlantic and stands as one of Bugatti's most valuable modern creations.

The La Voiture Noire, meaning "The Black Car," directly references the missing Type 57 SC Atlantic. Built between 1936 and 1938, the Atlantic is considered one of the most celebrated pre-war designs, with one unit disappearing during World War II and never being recovered.

Bugatti developed the La Voiture Noire with hand-built carbon fibre bodywork, a stretched bonnet, and a continuous central fin that runs from nose to tail. Its styling recalls Jean Bugatti's original vision for the Atlantic while introducing elements tailored to twenty-first-century aerodynamics.

Defining exterior features of the La Voiture Noire include six exhaust outlets, an illuminated Bugatti script across the rear fascia, and custom wheels designed exclusively for this car. These touches ensure the La Voiture Noire remains visually distinct from other Bugatti models, including the Chiron, it is mechanically related to.

Underneath, the La Voiture Noire is powered by Bugatti's 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 engine. It develops 1,500 horsepower and 1,600Nm of torque, identical to the Chiron. However, the chassis tuning and aerodynamic treatment are unique to the one-off La Voiture Noire.

Performance is expected to match the Chiron, which can accelerate from 0-100km/h in under three seconds and surpass 400km/h. Bugatti has not released standalone figures for the La Voiture Noire, but its drivetrain ensures extreme capability consistent with the brand's standards.

At its 2019 unveiling, Bugatti revealed a pre-tax price of €11 million (₹98 crore approx), positioning the La Voiture Noire as the most expensive new car ever presented. With taxes and options, valuations of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire approached €16.7 million (₹148 crore approx), surpassing records held by competing ultra-rare hypercars.

The hypercar was delivered to its owner in Switzerland in 2021 after extended homologation and testing. Bugatti never revealed the identity of the buyer, fuelling speculation across collector circles. To date, the first owner of the La Voiture Noire has not been officially identified.

Now, SBX Cars, in partnership with Broad Arrow, has listed the La Voiture Noire for resale through its Private Treaty programme. This confidential sales method avoids public auctions, enabling private negotiations with vetted buyers across the global collector community.

The current asking price remains undisclosed. Given its one-of-one status, heritage significance, and Bugatti's confirmation that no second example will ever exist, analysts anticipate the La Voiture Noire will command a figure substantially higher than its original 2019 valuation.

Key Highlights of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire