Bugatti is an icon in automotive history, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation and speed. The marque has had three record-breaking legends previously – the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, and Chiron Super Sport 300+. Following this, another vehicle joins their ranks; with the W16 Mistral World Record Car claiming a new top-speed world record for an open-top car, at an astonishing 453.91 km/h.
The W16 Mistral’s record-breaking run at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg GmbH, Germany, continues Bugatti’s legacy of speed. This series of achievements started more than 14 years ago, with a Veyron 16.4 Super Sport reaching a record of 431.07 km/h in June 2010. Then in 2019, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ achieved 490.48 km/h, breaking the closed-cockpit world record.
The W16 Mistral, however, takes this legacy to new heights, setting a world record for open-top cars. This feat follows the 2013 record set by the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse which reached 408.84km/h, solidifying Bugatti’s dominance in both closed-top and open-top speed records.
It was a momentous event when the W16 Mistral broke the world record. It wasn’t an accidental feat, in fact, it took months of preparation and detailed planned testing to push the car to the best of its abilities. The journey reached its pinnacle on November 9th, with the project-zenith in Papenburg. This historic moment was witnessed by a distinguished audience, including Bugatti Rimac CEO Mate Rimac and the dedicated team behind the project.
The driver of the W16 Mistral World Record Car for this event was Andy Wallace, Bugatti Pilote Officiel and winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours. After a first anticipatory lap, he gradually accelerated the car to 200 km/h on the banked track. before unleashing the full power of the vehicle on the straight, pushing it to an outstanding speed of 453.91 km/h. This achievement was officially verified by SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH, setting a new world record for open-top cars.
This event also marked a first in Bugatti’s history, when the customer of the vehicle was present to witness their car break a world record. To commemorate this historic event, the customer was treated to an exclusive weekend experience. As a special highlight, the customer was given the opportunity to ride with Andy Wallace on another high-speed run, nearly reaching the world record speed and potentially setting an unofficial new record for the fastest passenger ride.
The W16 Mistral World Record Car shares a common thread with its legendary predecessors. This unique €14 million vehicle features a striking “Jet Orange” colour scheme on its lower body and wheels, a signature hue that has been associated with Bugatti’s record-breaking models, including the Veyron and Chiron, combined with a black-carbon exterior. This design language extends to the interior, where orange accents create a captivating atmosphere that celebrates the car’s record-breaking heritage.
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