Fernando Alonso was again spotted in Monaco driving a Bugatti, specifically a 2015 Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which is cited as the most expensive vehicle ever produced by the French manufacturer.
This model, identified as chassis 8100, was presented by Mechatronik, a German company specializing in collector cars. The Aston Martin driver had previously negotiated with Mechatronik, acquiring items such as the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and the Pagani Zonda Diamante Verde.
The hypercar is equipped with the W16 8.0 quad-turbo engine, generating 1,200 horsepower and 153 kgfm of torque. Its construction combines polished aluminum and carbon fiber bodywork, along with a red interior.
What distinguishes this Veyron from other examples lies in its manufacturing process. The first owner required that all body panels be molded from a single block of aluminum, without the use of welds, ensuring the metal extended to the bumpers. This request was unusual, as previous Pur Sang editions featured plastic bumpers painted to simulate aluminum.
To meet this demand, the factory located in Molsheim used approximately 20 tons of the material. The client warned that they would cancel other orders if Bugatti refused to undertake such an endeavor. Due to the risk of losing millions in orders, the automaker agreed to the terms, resulting in the most expensive Veyron and, according to the Spanish publication, the most complex to build of the entire series.
Although there is no confirmation about the exact amount paid by Alonso, estimates made at the time of the order suggested that, in addition to the base price of R$ 13.6 million (equivalent to 2.3 million euros), the initial buyer invested another R$ 26.6 million (about 4.5 million euros) solely in customizations. This raised the total cost to nearly R$ 40 million, considering the current exchange rate.
This owner later sold the car after driving it only 750 km, the mileage at which the Veyron arrived at Mechatronik. It is unknown whether the Spaniard kept the initials 'KAQ' engraved on the headrests and the fuel tank lid, references to Khadem al-Qubaisi, former president of the Swiss bank Falcon and former director of the Emirati sovereign fund IPIC.
Khadem al-Qubaisi was named by the US Justice Department as the beneficiary of approximately US$ 472 million (about R$ 2.4 billion) diverted from the Malaysian 1MDB fund. He has been detained in the United Arab Emirates since 2016, and part of his supercar collection was seized in Switzerland.
This acquisition joins a recent series of appearances, including the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Martini 6, which was also seen in Monaco. The Grand Sport Vitesse, produced until 2015, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds and reach 410 km/h with the fixed roof installed.
