Skip to main content

That was fast: A pair of Bugatti Chirons are already heading to auction

Bugatti Chiron offered for sale by Mecum Auctions
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Just 10 months after the first examples of the Bugatti Chiron were delivered to customers, at least two of the supercars are headed to auction. It’s a handy way to get your hands on a Chiron now rather than later (the production line moves at a glacial pace, with just 70 cars built in 2017), but you’ll need to plan a heist in order to get the cash for one of these supercars.

RM Sotheby’s will offer a Chiron at its Paris auction, which begins February 7. Set to be delivered in April, the car in question was one of the first 20 Chirons to leave Bugatti’s factory in Molsheim, France. It wears a two-tone Atlantic Blue and French Racing Blue paint scheme, with brown leather and contrast stitching on the inside. Other distinguishing touches include a carbon-fiber steering wheel and Maritime Blue brake calipers. The car has less than 620 miles on the odometer, and RM Sotheby’s expects it to sell for between $3.8 million and $4.3 million, an increase over the roughly $3 million the original owner likely paid.

A second Chiron will cross the block January 13 at the Mecum Auctions sale in Kissimmee, Florida. This car (pictured above) has a Black Carbon and Blue Carbon two-tone exterior that showcases the weave of the Chiron’s carbon-fiber bodywork beneath translucent color finishes. The interior is upholstered in black leather with red contrast stitching. Mecum says the car has just 249 miles on the clock.

It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to part with a Chiron. Bugatti’s latest supercar features an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine similar to the one used in its Veyron predecessor, producing 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. The Chiron does 0 to 60 mph in well under three seconds, and it’s a serious contender for the mantle of fastest production car in the world, a record the old Veyron Super Sport held.

But many car buyers view their vehicles as investments, and it’s probably not a bad time to be selling a Chiron. Some people will inevitably get impatient and, rather than wait for a brand-new car from the factory, buy one at auction instead. This kind of flipping isn’t something automakers generally approve of, but it’s a reality of the capitalistic world of supercars.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ: price, design, specs, and more
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ against a cloudy backdrop.

The Escalade is getting the electric treatment. Cadillac took the wraps off of the electric version of the big, flashy SUV last year -- and boy will it be luxurious. In fact, the Escalade IQ will likely end up being one of the most luxurious electric SUVs to date, and it'll have a price tag to match.

Curious about the Escalade IQ and what it'll end up offering? Here's everything we know about the Cadillac Escalade IQ so far.
Cadillac Escalade IQ: design
The design of the Escalade is iconic, and it's getting a serious face-lift for the electric model. The new Escalade has a huge faux grille on the front, with vertical headlights along the the sides and an imposing Cadillac logo emblazoned in the middle.

Read more
Waymo’s honking robocars finally fall silent
waymo self driving truck

 

In one of the more bizarre technology tales so far this year, Waymo has apparently finally gotten its honking robocars to be quiet.

Read more
Tesla has released a cheaper Model 3 — and I really hope it comes to the U.S.
Tesla Model 3 Highland Front

The Tesla Model 3 is already one of the most popular electric vehicles, thanks to its large selection of great EV features and a reasonably low price compared to other electric cars. But it seems like Tesla is working on making the car even cheaper and has released a more affordable Model 3 with a downgraded interior in Mexico.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that the Model 3 is available at a lower price in Mexico (it cuts the price of the current base Model 3 by around $4,000). But I really hope the vehicle makes it to the U.S.
What's different?
There are a few things that set the cheaper Model 3 variant apart from the current base Model 3 in the U,S. Most of these have to do with a regression of features compared to the Model 3 Highland update that was released last year. For example, the new passenger display in the back seat has been removed, and the accent lighting in the car is white only. Additionally, the seat coverings are a cheaper fabric instead of the faux leather available in the current Model 3. And there are no options for heated seats or a heated steering wheel.

Read more