One-off Bugatti Chiron Profillet to be auctioned for charity

A true one-off model of the Bugatti Chiron will go under the hammer at the RM Sotheby's auction in Paris on February 1, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

Called the Chiron Profillet, it is a pre-production model that is not part of the Chiron's planned limited production run of 500 units.

It was developed in response to customer demand for a more modest and elegant version of the hard-core, track-focused Chiron Pure Sport, which will go on sale in early 2020. However, demand for Chirons in general was higher than expected, and the entire production quota of 500 units of this hypercar was filled before the Chiron Profillet was introduced to the market. [Bugatti President Christophe Piochon said in a statement, "The Chiron Profillet is in every sense unique in the history of Bugatti and a true collector's item. Bugatti President Christophe Piochon released a statement saying, "We have decided to partner with RM Sotheby's to auction this unique car in order to give any follower of the Bugatti brand a fair chance to acquire it."

The Profillet benefits from Pürsport's upgraded chassis and shorter gear ratios, and the camber angle of the wheels has also been changed. However, it noticeably lacks the 6-foot-wide rear wing of the Pür Sport. In its place is a smaller ducktail spoiler, which, along with a modified front lip spoiler, helps generate sufficient downforce on the Profillet.

The car takes its name from the rear wing. One of Jean Bugatti's first creations, the Type 46, nicknamed the Super Profillet, had a rear section with a flicked tail.

The wheels were also a unique Profillet design.

Power came from the familiar quad-turbo 8.0-liter W-16, tuned here to deliver the same 1,480 hp as the Pür Sport. The Profillet accelerates from 0-62 mph in 2.3 seconds, 0-124 mph in 5.5 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 236 mph, faster than the Pur Sport. The top speed is 217 mph.

The interior is a mix of blue and white leather and exposed carbon fiber. Some areas are also lined with woven leather, a first for the Shillong. The braided leather used on the dashboard, door panels, and center console required over 8,000 feet of leather strips.