The world’s most expensive car, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, has been unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show, where it was sold to a mystery buyer for $27 million.

The sleek, jet-black supercar is loaded with a 1500-horsepower, eight-litre, 16-cylinder engine, encased within a carbon fibre body.

The company has not released more specifics about the engine, though it is thought to be very similar or identical to that of its turbocharged Chiron model.

Bugatti describes it as “the highest level of automotive haute couture one can reach” and company president Stephan Winkelmann said the car combined “extraordinary technology, aesthetics and extreme luxury”.

Made to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the company, the vehicle will be the only one of its kind ever produced, and is a homage to the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.

The rear of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire with six exhaust pipes. Photo: Getty 

Only four Atlantics were made between 1936 and 1938. Fashion icon Ralph Lauren is the owner of the last one built.

Bugatti will not confirm the identity of the buyer, saying it was “an enthusiast for the brand”, but it is generally thought to be Ferdinand Piech, the grandson of Porsche’s founder.

Mr Piech is a former CEO of Volkswagen, which owns Bugatti.

The Bugatti website lists the fuel consumption as 35.2 litres per 100 kilometres in urban areas.

Based on the Chiron, the La Voiture Noire would be a seven-speed automatic with a top speed of 420 kilometres per hour, and could go from 0 to 100kmh in 2.4 seconds.

Though Mr Winkelmann described it as “the ideal grand tourer”, the boot space is likely to be only about 44 litres, about the size of a medium backpack.

-ABC