Unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Bugatti’s La Voiture Noire (The Black Car) has been dropping jaws and turning heads since day one. Priced at 16.7 million euros, or a cool $19 million USD, Bugatti’s Black Beauty is reportedly the most expensive car of all time.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the mystery buyer who purchased La Voiture Noire at a secret auction back in March was none other than Real Madrid and star of Portugal’s National Soccer Team, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The story had been that it was Ronaldo’s $12.5 million USD bid which had secured the legendary Bugatti. Spanish sports newspaper Marca is credited as being the story’s originator.
It turns out however, that the story is false. Bugatti Executive Stephan Winkelmann confirmed this by saying The Black Car had already been sold by the time it was unveiled in Switzerland.
“There will never be another, Winkelmann said, adding, “I’m pleased to tell you that it has sold for €16.7 million.”
Despite the hype, it turns out Ronaldo was not the buyer after all. When asked for comment, Winkelmann shot down the rumor conclusively: “The story isn’t true. He has not bought it.”
Bugatti released the one of a kind hypercar to celebrate the brand’s 110th anniversary and pay homage to the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. With only four of its kind ever produced, the Type 57SC is a truly rare automobile. It’s rumored that fashion designer Ralph Lauren owns one and its insured for more than $40 million USD.
The Bugatti La Voiture Noire matched “the comfort of a luxury limousine and the power of a hyper sports car,” according to the company.
Built off components from the Bugatti Chiron, one of the world’s fastest and rarest sports cars, The Black Car has a particularly intriguing DNA. Only 500 Chirons were produced and sold at a price of $3 million each.
La Voiture Noire has an absurd six tail pipes which the company says “bare witness to its incredible power.” The package is rounded out with an ultra high performance 8-liter engine with 16 cylinders and upwards of 1500 horsepower.