The $13 million Rolls-Royce Sweptail is no longer the most expensive new car. That title goes to the $19 million Bugatti La Voiture Noire, a one-off coach-built hypercar that uses the same underpinnings as the Chiron.
As one of the most exciting premieres at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, we wanted to find out a bit more about it. CarScoops reached out to Bugatti’s Head of Communications, Tim Bravo, who confirmed that it’s only a concept for now, as the final product is still a couple of years away.
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“It’s not the final car. We only started working on the project half a year ago, when the customer agreed to our project proposal, we started building it. The car will be delivered only in two to two and a half years”, said Mr. Bravo, admitting that “the car in Geneva also didn’t have an interior design yet.”
Basically, the Geneva show car is a rolling display shell in the same vein of many non-functional concepts, intended to preview the actual model to show-goers.
Not only does the La Voiture Noire still need an interior, but it has yet to receive the 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine, too. The powertrain won’t be tuned, so total output will remain at 1,500 PS (1,479 hp / 1,103 kW) and 1,600 Nm (1,180 lb-ft) of torque, identical to the one powering the Chiron, Chiron Sport and Divo.
Now, since it’s easier to have show cars move on their own rather than being pushed, Bugatti fitted the display model with an electric powertrain. This is common practice in the automotive industry and it explains why the La Voiture Noire remained all quiet while moving in front of the camera, as it was filmed leaving the event a couple of days ago.
