For the first time since its jaw-dropping debut, the 2020 Bugatti La Voiture Noire, arguably one of the rarest and most expensive modern cars ever built, is hitting the open market. Auction houses SBX Cars and Broad Arrow have been entrusted with the sale, marking a pivotal moment for collectors chasing the pinnacle of automotive exclusivity.
A Modern-Day “Black Car”
La Voiture Noire, which translates directly from French as “The Black Car,” was first revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Designed as a one-off tribute to Bugatti’s 110th anniversary, it drew immediate comparisons to the legendary Type 57 SC Atlantic, a pre-war icon revered as one of the most beautiful automobiles ever made.
While the Atlantic inspired its form, La Voiture Noire was very much a product of Bugatti’s modern design language. Sculpted entirely from carbon fiber and finished in deep gloss black, the car exudes menace and elegance in equal measure. Inside, the contrast is striking: a cabin wrapped from floor to headliner in Cognac-colored leather, echoing the rich tones of its historic predecessor.
The Price of Exclusivity
When it was first sold in 2019, La Voiture Noire made headlines for its staggering price tag. Reports suggested the unnamed buyer paid around $12.5 million before taxes—bringing the final figure close to $19 million. That made it the most expensive new car ever sold at the time, cementing its place as a symbol of modern-day automotive excess.
Now, more than six years later, its original owner seems ready to part ways with the jewel. The motivation isn’t clear—perhaps a desire to clear space in a collection or to realize the return on what has proven to be an investment as much as a passion purchase.
Power Meets Rarity
La Voiture Noire is not just about looks and exclusivity. Beneath the sculpted black bodywork sits Bugatti’s formidable 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 engine. Paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the mill produces 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque.
Though Bugatti never released official performance figures for the car, estimates place its top speed somewhere between the 236 mph of the Divo and the 261 mph capability of the Chiron. Regardless of the exact number, the hypercar stands as a technological marvel, marrying power, refinement, and rarity in a way few vehicles ever have.
Auction House Perspective
Ro Choy, CEO of SBX Cars, described La Voiture Noire as the highlight of the auction house’s offerings: “Every car we bring to market is chosen for its cultural weight, design excellence, and lasting significance. La Voiture Noire embodies all three—a one-of-one masterpiece that bridges Bugatti’s legendary past with its engineering present.”
What Comes Next
The auction represents the first public chance to acquire La Voiture Noire since its creation. While no official estimate has been released, expectations are that it will fetch significantly more than its original price, given its one-of-one status and the appetite among elite collectors for rare, investment-grade hypercars.
Interested buyers can register with SBX Cars online to receive details about the sale. For those with the means, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own not just a car, but a piece of Bugatti history.
