2022 Bugatti Chiron Profilée is priciest new car sold at auction 

Putting a car up for auction is a quick way to get a pretty penny for it, especially if the vehicle in question either has a great story behind it or is one of a kind. Bugatti opted for the latter when it saw its 2022 Chiron Profilée sold off as the most expensive brand-new car to ever go under the gavel.  

You're looking at the most expensive brand-new car ever auctioned off, apart from being one of the rarest 

Auction house RM Sotheby’s saw the one-off hyper sports car go to a lucky buyer who bid a whistle-worthy 9,792,500 euros (over Php 1.175 billion) for it, setting a new record for the highest amount of money paid for a factory-fresh example. What’s interesting, however, was that Bugatti never intended the Chiron Profilée to be alone. 

When the Chiron was introduced back in 2016, Bugatti had already dedicated 500 examples to bear the nameplate. Of that number, the first 200 standard Chiron units were already sold out, and the French automaker went on to allot the rest of the line into special derivatives, from the Chiron Sport and Super Sport 300+ to the Les Légendes du Ciel and the Pur Sport Grand Prix.  

The car was still in development when Bugatti booked all 500 orders for the Chiron

However, customers expressed an interest in a Chiron trim level that dialed down the aggression of the Pur Sport, which is how Bugatti came up with the Chiron Profilée. Unfortunately, all 500 orders for the Chiron had been filled ahead of schedule while the Profilée was being developed, leaving only one pre-series unit as the sole surviving example of the range.  

The Chiron Profilée bears the familiar silhouette while incorporating a sweeping tail as part of the vehicle’s advanced thermal management and aerodynamics. True to the car’s name, Bugatti worked extensively on the profile to optimize air flow for stability, leading to an upswept rear spoiler. 

That striking rear end isn't just for looks

From the enlarged horseshoe grille surrounded by upsized air intakes and redesigned front splitter, the exterior is split horizontally into two parts. The exclusive Argent Atlantique color dominates the Bleu Royal Carbon finish on the lower body, matched with special magnesium alloy wheels that were used on no other Chiron variant. 

The Profilée was also the first Chiron to feature a woven leather finish in the interior, comprising 2,665 meters of leather strips painstakingly applied by hand. Drivers have a view of the typical Chiron instrument cluster while settled on Comfort seats finished in Gris Rafale and Deep Blue leather. 

The Chiron Profilée's cabin boasts premium craftsmanship

But the latest Chiron variant is also noteworthy for being the last new Bugatti available with the 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo engine rated at 1,479 horsepower and 1,600 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It only takes 2.3 seconds to launch the Chiron Profilée from zero to 100 km/h thanks to an all-wheel drivetrain, and performance is pegged at an upper limit of 380 km/h. Chassis and suspension improvements deliver a tauter ride and more grip.  

This will be the final time an 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo will be available on a new Bugatti

Joining the Divo, Centodieci, and La Voiture Noire in the list of Chiron one-offs within the Bugatti stable, the Profilée that was eventually sold only had 396 kilometers on the odometer, acquired mostly during testing. Even as a solitary example, the Profilée can be driven on European roads on account of its single-type approval. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the car will go to charity.    

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