Key Takeaways:
• Bugatti Mistral snags land speed record for an open-top production car.
• The record car is a custom example valued at a staggering $14.7 million.
• Production of the Mistral model will be limited to only 99 cars.
New Record Set by Bugatti Mistral
In a breathtaking achievement, Bugatti’s Mistral roadster has claimed the world land speed record for a production open-top car. The speed took place at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg facility in Germany on November 9, with Bugatti’s chief test driver, Andy Wallace, in the cockpit.
Exceeding Expectations
Reaching a phenomenal speed of 282 mph, the Mistral obliterated the previous record of 265.6 mph. This record was held by Hennessey’s Venom GT Spyder since 2016. While the Mistral now holds the top spot for open-top cars, Bugatti’s Chiron Super Sport 300+ still retains the title of fastest production car, reaching 304mph in 2019.
Driving the exclusive Mistral World Record Car, Wallace led the machine to this record speed. The owner of the car was present during this momentous achievement, witnessing the feat firsthand.
The Prestige of Bugatti Mistrals
Custom made for the record-setting feat, the car is a model of luxury and power. The world edition car cost the owner 14 million euros, approximately $14.7 million. This price is in stark contrast to the standard Mistral’s price of 5 million euros or about $5.3 million. This extraordinary vehicle comes with bare carbon and orange livery, a unique touch that Bugatti reserves only for the special World Record Edition cars. These vehicles get their name because of their stellar performances in setting new land speed records.
Other Bugatti World Record Edition cars include the Veyron Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, and Chiron Super Sport 300+. The owner of the new record-setting Mistral also boasts ownership of these exceptional vehicles.
The Unveiling of Bugatti Mistral
First introduced at the 2022 Monterey Car Week, the Mistral was revealed as a tribute to the iconic quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W-16 engine. This power-packed engine first appeared in the Veyron two decades back. Bugatti’s upcoming hypercar, the Tourbillon, is set to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain with an all-new 8.3-litre V-16 engine as an internal combustion component.
The Mistral’s record-breaking run confirms the power and performance of its engine which produces a torque of 1,578hp. Beyond its top speed, Bugatti has not disclosed any additional performance figures.
Mistral’s Marvelous Engineering
Creating an open-top car on the Chiron’s platform was an engineering challenge Bugatti readily undertook. Development of the Mistral was more complex due to the difficulties in providing enough rigidity with the removal of the roof. The aerodynamics also required attention to maintain stability at record-breaking speeds.
Bugatti intends to only manufacture 99 Mistrals, and the demand for the hypercars has already exhausted all available build slots. This power-packed and luxurious roadster is set to continue making waves in the automobile world with its unrivaled performance and class.