Bugatti recently set a world auction record for a new car by selling its last purely gas-powered supercar, the Chiron Profilée, for over $10 million at an RM Paris collector car auction. Initially a special development model not intended for sale, the one-of-a-kind Profilée fetched a hammer price of $9.5 million, with fees bringing the total to $10.7 million. The final sale price significantly exceeded pre-auction estimates of $4.5 million to $6 million, marking a milestone in the collector car market. Despite this record, bespoke Rolls Royce models have sold privately for even higher sums.
The Chiron Profilée’s extraordinary price can be attributed to its unique nature, as collectors recognized the rarity and finality of owning this singular car. John Wiley of Hagerty noted that bidders often escalate prices for such exclusive opportunities, knowing they won’t have another chance. The gleaming blue Profilée is the fastest-accelerating model in the Chiron lineup, capable of reaching 62 mph in just 2.3 seconds and achieving a top speed of 236 mph. While not Bugatti’s fastest model, it offers a blend of elegance and performance that appeals to discerning collectors.
The Chiron Profilée was conceived in late 2020 as a variant of Bugatti’s flagship Chiron, of which only 500 units were ever planned. Existing versions, including the Chiron Sport and Pur Sport, offered varying levels of speed and handling aggression. The Profilée sought to combine the Pur Sport’s dynamic performance with a more refined design. Featuring a larger grille, revised transmission for quicker acceleration, and elegant styling, the Profilée stands out as a balanced and powerful interpretation of the Chiron ethos.
This unique car also holds significance as Bugatti transitions from gas-powered vehicles to hybrid technology. The Profilée’s teardrop-inspired design pays homage to classic Bugatti cars from the 1930s. Although Bugatti had planned to cease production of purely gas-powered vehicles with the W16 Mistral, they opted to complete the Profilée’s development and offer it as a one-off piece of automotive history. The buyer, whose identity remains undisclosed, will receive the vehicle directly from Bugatti.
While the Profilée represents the end of Bugatti’s W16 gas engine era, it is not the final delivery to a customer. Bugatti has a backlog of orders that will keep its production line active through 2025, producing around 80 cars annually. With the Chiron Profilée’s auction success, Bugatti has closed a chapter in its storied history, setting the stage for a new era of hybrid high-performance cars.