Bugatti W16 Mistral sets speed record for open-top car

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ holds the official record for being the fastest production car in the world, having reached 489 km/h. But that was a closed car with the driver inside a cabin. Where a ‘topless’ car is concerned, the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder set the record in 2016 with a top speed of 428 km/h.

With an open-top car or convertible, the aerodynamics are less efficient compared to closed bodies. Although the designers shape the body to optimise airflow, the open area still influences airflow and creates some drag, so the maximum speed attainable is not as high as with a closed body.

While there is of course a windscreen protecting the driver from the blast of air at such high speeds, it would still be quite a drive with no roof and the air rushing overhead. The fastest speed a man has travelled at (apart from astronauts) has been skydiver who hit 530 km/h on the way down. However, it is Felix Baumgartner holds the record for the fastest speed skydived at 1,357 km/h when he jumped from the edge of space.

But the aerodynamicists at Bugatti have been able to shape the W16 Mistral with optimal aerodynamics and along with the powerful 8-litre 1,600 ps drivetrain, the hypercar reached 453.91 km/h – a new top-speed world record for an open-top car. The record was set at the track of ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Germany.

The man behind the wheel was Andy Wallace, long-time official test-driver for the automaker and a winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours. “Throughout the testing program leading up to this moment, it was incredible to feel how stable the car felt – I got the sense that it wanted to go faster,” explained Wallace. “And when it came to the moment itself, the experience was overwhelmingly thrilling; feeling the elemental forces from the open-top cockpit, the sound of the immense W16 engine emanating from the airscoops next to my ear – it made the achievement incredibly emotional. A record like this pushes the boundaries of automotive innovation, and requires immense focus, dedication, and teamwork to realize. It’s a true testament to the passion that everyone at Bugatti has for making history.”

“Since the inception of Bugatti in 1909, the marque has sought to supersede the perceived realms of possibility in luxury, elegance, and performance. The Bugatti World Record Cars throughout the marque’s history have represented the epitome of speed and power, setting new boundaries and redefining again and again, what Bugatti vehicles are capable of. And now, with the unparalleled achievement of the W16 Mistral World Record Car etched into the history books, we see history not just repeating itself, but new history made. We are immensely proud of the whole team that made this incredible achievement possible – an achievement defined by passion and the pursuit of perfection. That is what defines Bugatti – and what makes its achievements truly incomparable,” said Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac (the Rimac Group has 55% share in the company).

Incidentally, the record-breaking car was actually one which was sold to a customer earlier. And for the first time in Bugatti’s history, the owner was in attendance to witness a record-breaking event with his car. He also joined Wallace on another high-speed run, almost reaching the same speed – and likely setting an unofficial record for the fastest-ever passenger ride.

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