Bugatti La Car Noire, the quintessence of French automotive art
Only one person on Earth will have the privilege of claiming that they have a Bugatti The Black Car and she will have paid US $ 18.7 million to be able to say it.
Made in a single copy, the Bugatti The Black Car is one of the rarest cars in the world. It is built on the basis of the Bugatti Chiron and is found at the top of the range ahead of the other versions like the Centodieci, the Divo, the Super Sport 300+, the Pur Sang and, of course, the special editions like the 110 years and Legends of Heaven.
The price of all these cars is in the millions of dollars, but 18.7 million US dollars for the Bugatti La Car Noire is a record for the French manufacturer, at least for a new car. In particular, after holding the record for the most expensive new car for over two years, when the production version of the Bugatti was unveiled, Rolls-Royce was breaking the record with the BoatTail, a convertible that costs $ 34. millions.
Still in the specifics department, the La Car Noire concept, which even made a stint at the Toronto Auto Show, was actually an empty shell that was moved by means of a small electric motor. This contrasts with the W16, which develops 1,479 horsepower and produces 1,180 pound-feet of torque. Although this is the ultimate at Bugatti, it is still not the most powerful version at 1,578 horsepower like in the Centodieci.
In terms of design, the production model is extremely close to the concept. We find the original inspiration with the Type 57 Atlantic. In this case, it is resolutely modern and dynamic in the approach. The whole body is revisited and made of carbon fiber. The only thing that can be seen that is taken from another model are the main headlights that come from the Divo. For the rest, it’s unique.
Even though only one Black Car was produced, Bugatti engineers retain the same obsession with detail and refinement. Like all other Bugattis of the modern era, it has passed a battery of tests and reviews to ensure it lives up to the brand’s reputation. For her, it was two long years of preparation before arriving at the final unveiling.
Pierre Rommelfanger, Bugatti’s tailor-made project development manager: “Even though The Black Car is unique, we spent two years on a test vehicle to develop and test it on all points including road handling and safety, and this, for it to be approved. “
Stephan Winkelmann, the director of Bugatti, sums up the spirit that surrounds this extraordinary creation: “With La Car Noire, we pay tribute to our long tradition, to France and to the creative work of Jean Bugatti. At the same time, we are bringing exceptional technology, aesthetics and extreme luxury into a new era. The Black Car is at the pinnacle of automotive engineering. It is a sculptural beauty that highlights a unique technology. “
