Bugatti La Voiture Noire 2019

The Type 57 SC Atlantic behind the name was closely associated with Jean Bugatti. According to Bugatti, the black example disappeared shortly before the Second World War and has never been found. The modern La Voiture Noire echoes the earlier car through its central spine and six exhaust outlets, but presents both ideas in a fully contemporary design. Bugatti also says that the project remained an unrealized idea for more than twenty years before the company finally developed it.

Bugatti states that production of La Voiture Noire was limited to a single car. The company presented it in 2019 as a one-off and announced that it had already been sold to an enthusiast for 11 million euros before tax. That figure is the launch price reported at the time, not a current market valuation or resale estimate. Despite its unique status, the car required two years of development, including handling, safety, aerodynamic and validation testing. The sources consulted do not identify any additional production run or derivative series carrying the exact La Voiture Noire name. The later Chiron Noire is a separate limited edition and should not be counted as part of La Voiture Noire production.

The Geneva unveiling attracted substantial media attention because of the announced price, the car’s one-off status and its connection with the Type 57 SC Atlantic. The Guardian reported the 11-million-euro pre-tax sale and highlighted the 1,500-horsepower engine. MotorTrend emphasized the car’s visual impact while recording sharply divided reactions on social media: some observers found the design striking, whereas others criticized the rear treatment or felt that the Atlantic influence was not strong enough. This mixed response reflects the deliberately expressive nature of the project more than a conventional road-test consensus. Bugatti later presented the car as a finished grand tourer rather than a track-focused derivative.