With the limiter off, a modified Bugatti Chiron has finally broken the 300 mph barrier.
For over a year, Bugatti has remained adamant that they were not seeking a top speed record with the Chiron. Bugatti president Stephan Winkelmann has gone on the record multiple times saying that their customers aren’t interested in top speed and that Bugatti won’t make a version of the Chiron designed to beat the 300 mph barrier.
Well, looks like there’s egg in all our faces now.
On August 2nd, 2019, driver Andy Wallace took a prototype version of the Chiron into the history books. Driving at Volkswagen's test track in Ehra-Lessien, Germany, Wallace achieved a maximum velocity of 304.77 mph, shattering the previous top speed record held by the Koenigsegg Agera.
Besides removing the limiter that governed the Chiron's top speed at 261 mph, Bugatti performed a number of other modifications to achieve this historic feat. Engineers from Michelin were involved to create tires that could withstand the immense stress that comes with a car traveling at 300 mph. Aspects of the newly revealed Centodieci were also used in the prototype's construction, such as the stacked exhaust pipes and aerodynamic bodywork.
Everything about the car has been improved for maximum speed. The interior has been stripped out and replaced with a roll cage and safety seat for the driver. The rear spoiler is smaller, fixed, and recessed into the body to reduce drag. The chassis now sits closer to the road thanks to a lowered ride height, and the whole car is almost 10 inches longer for increased stability.
Although the 7-speed DCT and all-wheel-drive remain unchanged, Bugatti's legendary 8.0-L quad-turbo W16 engine now produces 1,578 horsepower.
"What a record! We're overjoyed to be the first manufacturer ever to have achieved a speed of more than 300 miles per hour. It’s a milestone for eternity. I would like to thank the whole team and driver Andy Wallace for this outstanding performance,” said Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann in a statement.
Although not currently in production, this prototype will inevitably start rolling off the factory floor in order for Bugatti to once again acquire the title of world’s fastest production car. Expect a price and presentation to befit the new king of speed.
(via Top Gear)