Key Takeaways:
– Bugatti Rimac JV surpassed its own records with the open-roof Mistral.
– This comes after two record-breaking Veyrons and a Chiron.
– Bugatti plans to venture even faster with a new V-16 engine.
Bugatti’s Reputation and Track History
Veyron? Check. Chiron? Check. Now, meet Bugatti’s latest speed demon, the Mistral. After stipulating in 2019 that they would retire from record-breaking attempts, the Bugatti management has defied expectations yet again. The newfound joint venture between Bugatti and Rimac has already outdone itself with the open-roof Mistral, now the world’s fastest open-top production car.
The Fantastic Four
The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ and the W16 Mistral World Record Car. Each seen as the torchbearers of Bugatti’s legacy, have carved their marks in the history of hypercars due to their record-breaking feats.
Owned by an Indian customer, all four cars form part of The Singh Collection. They embody a combined horsepower of 5,520, each drawing power from their mega 8.0-liter, quad-turbo engines. Each Veyron stands at 1,183 hp, while both the Chiron and the Mistral impact an even higher power at 1,577 hp each.
Ground-Breaking Speed Records
These impressive powerhouses not only have monster engines but have also made history setting unbeatable speed records. The Veyron coupe hit a staggering 267.85 mph with its convertible counterpart, the Grand Sport Vitesse reaching a substantial 254.04 mph.
The feat continued with the successor Chiron era. Here, the Bugatti behemoth reached 304.77 mph with the coupe and left a notable 282.04 mph record with the open-roof Mistral. These records offer a testament to the unparalleled engineering and artistry that go into each Bugatti model.
Future Endeavours
Though the era of W-16 engines has ended, Bugatti’s endeavors for record-breaking and innovation haven’t. Their ambition to hit 500 km/h, approximately 310 mph, is fueled by the new V-16 engine, designed for Bugatti’s upcoming model, the Tourbillon.
CEO Mate Rimac is in discussions with Michelin for the development of a tire capable of sustaining such high speeds. If Michelin succeeds in creating such a tire, Bugatti hopes to script history once again. However, fans will have to wait, as the Tourbillon, Chiron’s replacement, won’t go into production until 2026.
Moreover, achieving this record won’t be easy. Bugatti no longer has access to the Volkswagen Group’s Ehra-Lessien test track, site of the world record speeds of the Veyrons and Chirons. Instead, the Mistral’s prominent record was achieved at the Papenburg test track in Germany.
Agility and resilience are key in business, and Bugatti’s record-breaking cars are a testament to this. Despite changing management and objectives, the company continues to evolve, innovate, and make history with its hypercars. Whether they’ll achieve their 500 km/h target with their new V-16 engine and Michelin tire or not, one thing is certain – Bugatti will continue to push the boundaries of automotive engineering.