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Bugatti reveals the final version of the one-off La Voiture Noire

Bugatti is ready to deliver the La Voiture Noire, a one-of-a-kind model introduced at the 2019 edition of the Geneva auto show. Based on the Chiron, the coachbuilt coupe meets the same quality standards as a series-produced car. Making the La Voiture Noire a reality took two years because it underwent a long list of tests before Bugatti signed it off. As we've previously reported, it was blasted with thousands of gallons of water to ensure it's watertight and was driven flat-out on a track, among other evaluations. Over 65,000 engineering hours were invested into the project, a number that underlines the significant differences between the La Voiture Noire and the Chiron it's related to. And yet, Bugatti managed to keep the show car's lines and finer design details intact during development. While the quad-turbocharged, 1,479-horsepower 8.0-liter W16 engine comes from the Chiron, all of the carbon fiber exterior panels are new and the wheelbase is slightly longer. Bugatti also notes each headlight features 25 individually-milled elements, and that the grille was 3D-printed. Overall, the La Voiture Noire wears a purer, more touring-oriented design than the aforementioned Chiron and the Divo. It's not fitted with a rear wing, for example. Interior photos haven't been released, but we're told the seats are upholstered in Havana Brown leather. It creates a classic ambience that matches the turned aluminum inlays scattered across the cabin, like on the center console. There is but a single example of the La Voiture Noire, and Bugatti's not taking bids. The coupe is already sold to an anonymous collector, who paid 11 million euros (about $13.4 million at the current conversion rate) for it before taxes enter the equation. Time will tell if the new owner reveals his or her identity, drives the car, or keeps it tucked away in a private collection. In the meantime, the French firm will work on bringing the Centodieci to production. Perhaps inspired by Bugatti's success, some of the other luxury carmakers have started breathing new life into the long-lost tradition of coachbuilding during the past few years. Rolls-Royce notably created a yacht-inspired, one-of-a-kind convertible called Boat Tail for an anonymous couple that reportedly paid approximately $28 million for it. What's in a name? La Voiture Noire literally translates to "The Black Car" in French. It's entirely black, but there's more to it than paint and trim.

These are the 'Greenest' and 'Meanest' cars in 2015

As has become tradition, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has come up with a ranking of what it refers to as the "greenest" cars of 2015, and, by way of contrast, a list of the so-called "meanest" cars, so those who value eco-friendliness over all else can choose which vehicles they should or should not consider buying. As you may expect, electric cars make up the majority of the greenest cars on the list, but, perhaps surprisingly to many, the Tesla Model S didn't make the cut. It's worth noting, too, that where the electricity an owner uses to charge their electric vehicle has a big impact on its overall environmental impact. "A car that is charged using electricity generated from natural gas or renewables is going to have significantly less impact on the environment than one charged on a coal-heavy grid," says ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. The ACEEE's list for 2015 looks very different than it did in 2014. It's an interesting collection, though – and we're sure this goes without saying, really – we'd recommend doing a bit more research into each vehicle and how it might fit into your daily life before making any purchase decisions. Click here to see the ACEEE's list of the Greenest and Meanest vehicles sold in the United States in 2015. Green Bugatti Chevrolet Fiat GM GMC Mercedes-Benz Nissan RAM smart Toyota greenest greenest cars

Bugatti Chiron to pack 1,500 electrically turbocharged horses

For a car capable of unprecedented speeds, the Bugatti Veyron sure has stuck around a long time – but it's almost gone. And that means it's time for the Alsatian marque to move on to the next thing. Fortunately, according to Automobile magazine, Bugatti has been working on the Veyron's successor for about four years now. And though Bugatti has kept pretty quiet on the details of what its next hypercar will entail, the publication's well-informed European correspondent Georg Kacher has some tasty details on the followup to one of the most famous automobiles of the modern age. For starters, the Veyron successor is expected to carry the same 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine as its predecessor – only with much more power. Where the original coupe and Grand Sport roadster produced 1,000 horsepower and the Super Sport and Vitesse packed 1,200, the followup is tipped to ratchet up the horse-count to a whopping 1,500 hp. That headline figure is being enabled by the use of direct injection and higher-pressure turbochargers – at least two of which are expected to be electrically powered for immediate response. The result is an anticipated 0-62 time of under 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 288 miles per hour – 18 miles faster even than the record-setting Super Sport. Active aero will keep it stable and carbon-ceramic brakes, operating in tandem with the rear-wing air-brake, will keep it all in check. The cabin is tipped to be more spacious and ergonomic while offering easier ingress, egress and outward visibility than the Veyron. And this time around, it'll be lighter weight and with a greater emphasis on more nimble handling. We're told to still expect Bugatti to revive the Chiron name used earlier on the concept (pictured above) that previewed the Veyron back in 1999 and which originally belonged to Louis Chiron, one of the most decorated racing drivers from the marque's hey day. Unfortunately Automobile reports that the launch of the new Chiron has been pushed off from 2015 to 2016. But rather than leave the factory in Molsheim with nothing to do, word has it that Bugatti could extend the Veyron's life by creating a Speedster to be produced in strictly limited numbers and with an even higher price tag. Related Video: