Words: Jonathan Wells
For those of you who don’t know, to be ‘in the black’ means to be making a profit. It means that you’ve got your affairs in order, your debts cleared and you’re financially solvent. So it seems fitting that Bugatti have named their latest supercar ‘La Voiture Noire’ — as, with a price tag of €11 million, you’ll have to be squarely in the black to afford it.
Loosely based on the only all-black Type 57 SC Atlantic — a limited run of 4 touring cars built in 1937 — this latest release from the French carmaker is not only a beacon of pure elegance and sophistication, but also the most expensive new car ever made.
The record, previously held by the £9 million Rolls-Royce Sweptail, was been left in the dust by ‘La Voiture Noire’ when it sold to a mystery buyer — Bugatti would only say they were “an enthusiast of the brand” — at the Geneva Motor Show. Rumours, however, suggest that the lucky, moneyed buyer is Ferdinand Piech, grandson of the founder of Porsche.
“A feast of aesthetics”
Although many traditionalists would prefer the Noire’s four-wheeled inspiration, there is something undoubtedly impressive and evocative about the new car. Based on the Chiron, Bugatti President Stephan Winkleman claims that the car “creates an elongated impression with the elegant waistline defining the contours of the coupé.”
“Purism and elegance are reflected in the surfaces and the clear lines,” he continues. “The bumpers are smoothly integrated into the body and the windscreen seems to flow seamlessly into the windows at the sides like the visor on a helmet. Without any irritating lines, the surface is “all of a piece” and there is nothing to disturb the optical flow.”
“There is no other car in the world with such an engine”
And it’s not all about those all-black, carbon-fibre, deep-gloss looks. Under the bonnet, an 8.0 litre, 16-cylinder engine bristles with an output of 1479 horsepower — over double that of the Aston Martin DB11.
“This is not only an engine but the heart of the vehicle and a technical masterpiece,” claims Winkleman. And he’s right. Just look at the six tailpipes at the Noire’s rear, lined up as a testament to the car’s incredible power.
But, whether you’re attracted to the hypercar for its sheer force or its ultrafine fibre structure, one thing’s for sure: you’ll have to be in the black to be in the Noire.
Want more vintage-inspired motoring? Take a look at this sleek 1967 Ferrari, Pininfarina’s finest hour…
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