Behind the scenes of the first Bugatti La Voiture Noire prototype
Published on Jun 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jul 09, 2025 at 10:56 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The one-off Bugatti La Voiture Noire was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, but there’s a secret behind the first Bugatti prototype that some people never knew about.
There was also a lot of fanfare surrounding the launch, mostly because no one had any idea what it was going to be.
After the unveiling, we learned that it was a one-off Bugatti, and we knew where the inspiration came from.
But there’s something about the actual Bugatti prototype that most people might still not know to this day.
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A little-known fact about the Bugatti La Voiture Noire prototype
The La Voiture Noire was unveiled on stage by the then CEO of the marque, Stephan Winkelmann.
It wasn’t known at the time, but the vehicle we saw at the – now-defunct – Geneva Motor Show was little more than an empty shell.
The Bugatti prototype looked exactly like the final production version when it came to the exterior. But it had an incomplete chassis and no powertrain.
Some outlets even claimed the car didn’t even have an interior. Although that’s probably at least partially inaccurate because the prototype had a driver seat and also a steering wheel.
Then again, the car was unveiled in 2019 but only registered in 2022, which means they had plenty of time to finish the job.
The most expensive new car in the world for good reason
Inspired by the iconic Type 57 SC Atlantic and based on the Chiron, the one-off Bugatti La Voiture Noire was the most expensive new supercar in the world when it came out.
The thing is, no one actually knows exactly what it cost.
The fact that it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, in Europe, and built by a European company made things even more confusing.
That’s down to several outlets having misreported the price, quoting dollars as euros or vice versa, without conversion.
There’s also mystery surrounding who owns it.
A number of newspapers and blogs spread claims that Cristiano Ronaldo – who also owns a Centodiec – had bought it.
But that was denied by a spokesperson for Ronaldo.
What we do know is that the car is registered in Switzerland.
And, surprisingly, the owner actually drives it, as it was also spotted in Croatia.
Good for them.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
