• “La Perle Rare” began as a Pebble Beach commission.
  • Development of the one-off started in August 2023.
  • It keeps the 1,579 hp W16 with no hybrid assistance.

Bugatti’s Solitaire program may be soaking up the headlines after the debut of the Brouillard and Veyron FKP Hommage one-offs, but if your Rolodex is sufficiently rarefied, the rest of the lineup can be just as exclusive.

Exhibit A is this W16 Mistral, known as “La Perle Rare.” It was commissioned through Bugatti’s Sur Mesure division and finished in a labor-intensive hand-painted livery that exists for one client, and one client only.

The name is not poetic exaggeration. Bugatti swears that it will not replicate it. The concept was first discussed at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, when a “discerning client” outlined his vision. From there, designers and technicians in Molsheim translated that brief into something suitably intricate, and suitably expensive.

When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte

The idea did not begin in gold. The earliest proposal centered on silver, before evolving through various shades of white and ultimately settling on the final “Vagues de Lumière” livery, or Waves of Light. Perfecting the finish required hundreds of hours, which feels appropriate when the car underneath already sits at the very top of the open-top hypercar hierarchy.

More: This Bugatti Chiron Has More Miles Than Your Grandpa’s Old Toyota Camry

The upper bodywork wears a gold-infused hue, paired with a warm white finish across the lower surfaces. Both shades are bespoke, and both extend to the diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Inside, the same theme continues. White upholstery is offset by warm gold inserts, ambient lighting, and machined and polished aluminum accents, giving the cabin the same layered and curated feel as the exterior.

When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte
When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte

The Dancing Elephant sculpture of Rembrandt Bugatti makes its appearance on the gear selector, headrests, and front fenders. Furthermore, a “La Perle Rare” signature is placed on the central tunnel, the engine cover, and beneath the active rear wing, just in case anyone forgets this is a one-off.

More: Bugatti Almost Made This W16 Sedan Its Only Model

Underneath the artistry, it is still very much a Chiron at heart. That means the familiar quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16, delivering 1,579 hp (1,177 kW / 1,600 PS) and 1,600 Nm (1,180 lb-ft) of torque, with no assistance from electrification.

When You’re That Rich, You Can Afford To Paint The World’s Fastest Convertible Like A Latte

The Mistral W16 still holds the title of the fastest open-top car on the planet. In 2024, the €14-million World Record Car edition recorded 453.91 km/h (282 mph) at the Papenburg track in Germany.

Frankly, it’s hard to imagine the owner of “La Perle Rare” attempting anything similar. At those speeds, even a stray pebble becomes a genuine concern, and this is not the sort of paintwork you casually subject to flying debris.

More: Bugatti’s Veyron Revival Hits With A W16 And Finishes With A Rear You’ll Think About Later

Bugatti has not disclosed the price of the one-off commission, but it’s a given that it carried a healthy premium over the €5 million ($6 million) starting price of the open-top hypercar.

Bugatti