One-off Bugatti Chiron Profilée becomes most valuable new car sold at auction

When you hear of ultra-expensive car auction sales you rightly think of vintage, classic or collectible older vehicles. But not this one.

That's because an RM Sotheby's auction in Paris on Wednesday marked a new world record winning bid paid for a brand new car.

The motor in question is very special indeed: one-of-a-kind Bugatti Chiron Profilée, which could be the last version of the French firm's incredible hypercar to feature the massive quad-turbocharged W16 engine.

When the hammer dropped yesterday, the highest bid was a staggering €9,792,500, which is fraction over £8.7million. That's officially the biggest sale figure for a vehicle with zero owners on the registration document.

Most expensive new car sold at auction EVER: This one-of-a-kind Bugatti Chiron Profilée sold on Wednesday at an invite-only event for a whopping £8.7MILLION

RM Sotheby's said the sealed auction saw an 'extended bidding contest' between collectors vying for the keys for what might be the most significant Bugatti Chiron there is

The auction house said the 'sealed', invitation-only, auction for this one and only car saw an 'extended bidding contest between a number of collectors in the room, on the telephones, and via the internet' before the hammer eventually dropped at the staggering winning sum.

Not only is this now the most valuable new car ever sold at auction, the massive figure achieved smashed the pre-sale estimate of €4.2million to €5.5million (£3.7million to £4.9million).

The selling price also places the car among the most valuable Bugattis of any era ever sold at auction.

The Profilée isn't just a one-of-a-king Chiron, it might be the last one Bugatti produces, which could make it the swansong for the thunderous quad-turbo W16 engine

The RM Sotheby's auction took place in Paris on Wednesday 1 February, with only the most affluent car collectors invited to bid

Not only is this the most valuable new car ever sold at auction, the €9,792,500 (around £8.7m) figure achieved smashed the pre-sale estimate of €4.2million to €5.5million (£3.7million to £4.9million)

The Profilée selling price places it among the most valuable Bugattis of any era ever sold at auction

While not officially confirmed by Bugatti, the brand has hinted that this could be the last of the W16 Chiron series. 

The Profilée bridges the gap between the standard car and the range-topping £3.4million Pur Sport, of which just 60 were created.

Development of the more road-bias - therefore comfortable - Profilée dated back to 2020 when Bugatti had planned to put it into series production.

However, when all 500 build slots for the limited-allocation Chiron sold out faster than expected, Bugatti realised it would not have the capacity to built a run of Profilées.

The Profilée went into development in 2020 with plans for it to be a series production Chiron. However, when all 500 build slots for the limited-allocation hypercar sold out faster than expected, Bugatti realised it would not have the capacity for this special run

The Profilée bridges the gap between the standard car and the range-topping £3.4million Pur Sport, of which just 60 were created.

The sale of the car is also helping good causes, with a percentage of proceeds from the winning bid split between a variety of charities

The interior of the Chiron Profilée is just as stunning as the exterior, with the Bleu Royal colour carried over for the steering wheel, seats and various panels across the cabin

Despite this, the luxury auto maker pushed through and finished the project, committing to one car only that would be sold at auction, with a percentage of proceeds from the winning bid split between a variety of charities.

It means the highest bidder now has their hands on a single, bespoke-engineered, version of Bugatti's acclaimed Chiron hyper sports car and the first and only 'pre-series' Chiron Profilée produced. 

It features an exclusively developed exterior shape that is said to enhance downforce and improve airflow management.

The revised bodywork includes larger air intakes at the front, a redesigned front splitter to increase front-axle downforce and a larger horseshoe grille. 

While not officially confirmed by Bugatti, the brand has hinted that this could be the last of the W16 Chiron series

The collector who placed the winning bid now has their hands on a single, bespoke-engineered, version of Bugatti's acclaimed Chiron hyper sports car and the first and only 'pre-series' Chiron Profilée produced

The Chiron Profilée has an exclusively developed exterior shape that is said to enhance downforce and improve airflow management over the 'standard' Bugatti hypercar

There are plenty of unique touches to set the Profilé apart from any of the other 500 Chirons, including a number of nameplate additions on the centre console and the door sills

If it is to be the last W16, quad-turbo-engined Bugatti Chiron, it is certainly going out in style... and with speed.

The Chiron Profilée's powerplant develops a monumental 1,476 horsepower, can accelerate to 62mph in just 2.3 seconds and has a quoted top speed of 236mph.

The body of the car is finished in a bespoke Bleu Royal Carbon tint, with the carbon fiber exposed, while the wheels are painted uniquely to distinguish them from any other Chiron. 

The Chiron Profilée's W16 engine packs a massive 1,476 horsepower and can accelerate to 62mph in just 2.3 seconds. The  quoted top speed is an eye-watering 236mph

The Profilée's revised bodywork includes larger air intakes at the front, a redesigned front splitter to increase front-axle downforce and a larger horseshoe grille

The body of the car is finished in a bespoke Bleu Royal Carbon tint, with the carbon fiber exposed, while the wheels are painted uniquely to distinguish them from any other Chiron

The Bugatti now does down as achieving the biggest sale figure for a vehicle with zero owners on the registration document

Frank Heyl, deputy design director at Bugatti Automobiles, said: 'With the customer wish in mind we incorporate an elegant, fixed sweeping tail that is both aerodynamically and thermodynamically optimized for the incomparable performance available to the Chiron Profilée’s owner, while also creating a graceful and timeless shape instead of the hydraulic rear wing of Chiron or the six-foot-wide fixed wing of Pur Sport. 

'We named it Profilée in honor of one of Jean Bugatti’s first creations Bugatti Type 46 and Type 50, which also carried that elegant flick in their tail.'

The 'Profilée' name comes from Jean Bugatti’s first creations, the Bugatti Type 46 and Type 50. This is because the fixed rear wing is similar to the elegant flick in the tail of those two classic models

The comparison of the classic Bugatti next to the latest Chiron model shows just how long modern hypercars are

If this is to be the last example of the Chiron, it is a fitting tribute to what has been one of the generations most incredible motors

Bugatti, like all other motor manufacturers, is set to embark on an electrified future, which is ultimately spelling the end for its humongous turbocharged petrol powerplants

While it is the most expensive new motor ever sold at auction, it isn't the priciest of all modern-era Bugattis.

That title still sits with the one-off La Voiture Noire, which is the second most expensive new car ever built behind Rolls-Royce's recent series of Boat Tail convertible limousines.

It is rumoured to have been a private commission by the late Volkswagen boss Ferdinand Piech (who set up the modern Bugatti) and, according to some reports, was bought by football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo.