“La Voiture Noire”, the black car, was a special Type 57 SC Atlantic created by Jean Bugatti – the most famous and most beautiful car in the world. Only four were built between 1936 and 1938. The black car disappeared at the beginning of the Second World War. If it were ever to be found, it would probably be the most expensive and most valuable car in the world.
In March 2019, Bugatti Design Director Achim Anscheidt reinterpreted “La Voiture Noire”, bringing this special automobile forward to the 21st century and if you were anything like me your tongue was hanging out as you drank this beautiful car in.
The modern interpretation of the coupé was created as the ultimate Gran Tourismo for Bugatti enthusiasts. This unique specimen once again demonstrates that Bugatti makes the most powerful, luxurious and exclusive hyper sports cars in the world. “The true form of luxury is individuality. ‘La Voiture Noire’ is the spearhead of automotive engineering – a sculptural beauty,” says Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann. A coupé with the comfort of a luxury limousine and the power of a hyper sports car.
Interest in the vehicle with its unique shape has been enormous ever since. Bugatti now offers its customers two versions of an edition model: in sporty style as the “Chiron Noire Sportive” and with a focus on elegance as the “Chiron Noire Élégance”. The special edition models, limited to 20 vehicles in total, will be delivered from the second quarter of 2020 at a price of three million euros net in the basic version.
Black exposed carbon covers the finely wrought body of the “Chiron Noire Élégance”. The grille of the famous Bugatti radiator sports a fresh design, while the Bugatti “Macaron” emblem sits at the centre, made of solid silver and exclusively refined with black enamel. Calipers finished in black are installed behind the new Caractère wheels. The C-shaped Bugatti signature line, milled from solid metal, visually interrupts the black body of the “Chiron Noire Élégance” with its matt polished aluminium finish. Other exterior accentuations such as the rear-view mirror and engine cover are finished in black carbon and polished aluminium. The “Noire” inscription adorns the side panels in front of the rear wheel and the underside of the rear wing.
The interior is also dominated by black. Inside the “Chiron Noire Élégance” only the “Inner Signature Line” – the light bearer curved in the style of the outer C-line – is made of aluminium with a silk-matt finish. The edition model inscription “Noire” appears on the door sills and on the outside of the centre console, as well as being sewn into the headrests. An additional carbon badge inlaid in the centre armrest demonstrates the exclusivity of each edition vehicle.
In the “Chiron Noire Sportive”, Bugatti covers the exposed carbon fibre with a matt black finish. The exterior trim elements, the C-shaped Bugatti signature line, the wheels, front spoiler and radiator grille are all matt black. The four visible tailpipes of the titanium exhaust system are likewise finished in black, as are parts of the engine cover. The interior is even more dominated by black than in the “Chiron Noire Élégance”. The embroidered “Noire” inscriptions on the inlays of the centre console and the headrest are black, as are the aluminium trim parts in the interior. Meanwhile the inner C-line, switches, push-buttons and rotary knobs on the dashboard, steering wheel, centre console and door handles in matt black underline the car’s exclusive, sporty character.
The iconic 8.0-litre 16-cylinder engine with 1,103 kW/1,500 hp and 1,600 Newton metres of torque continues to serve as the power unit. The “Chiron Noire” is also available for the Chiron Sport at an extra charge of EUR 100,000.
Photographs by Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.