The Bugatti Mistral reaches 453.91 km/h, making it the fastest convertible in the world.
Bugatti’s legendary W16 engine is about to bow out, after almost 20 years of loyal service. Before retiring for good, this engine achieved one last feat: a new speed record with the Bugatti Mistral, the famous roadster derived from the Chiron.
At the Papenburg test track in Germany, the Bugatti Mistral reached the speed of 453.91 km/hthus becoming the fastest convertible car in the world. This record was approved in the presence of emissaries from TÜV, the German certification body, guaranteeing the validity of the record.
A record that cannot be made official
However, one detail qualifies this record a little. Bugatti official driver Andy Wallace, who was behind the wheel of the Mistral, drove the circuit in one direction. To officially enter the Guinness World Records, it is necessary to complete a round trip on the same section of track and calculate the average speed of the two journeys. A problem similar to that encountered by the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which had crossed the 490 km/h mark, but also in one direction. Therefore, The title of fastest production car in the world remains in the hands of the SSC Tuatara.
During this historic record, the Bugatti Mistral was not only accompanied by the brand’s CEO, Mate Rimac, but also the future owner of this unique hypercar, present to witness this performance. A rare privilege which allowed the future buyer to admire the capabilities of their car, a jewel of technology and customization, the final price of which reached the astronomical sum of 15 million euros.
The last roar of the W16 before a new era
The Bugatti Mistral that established this record now bears the name “Bugatti Mistral World Record Car”. It sports a two-tone livery inspired by the famous colors of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which, from 2010 to 2017, held the title of fastest production car in the world. The current owner of the Mistral is a knowledgeable enthusiast, also owning historic models such as the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition and the Chiron Super Sport 300+.
The Mistral thus marks the end of an era for the W16 engine, which made Bugatti famous for almost two decades. This record is a swan song for this engine, before giving way to a new generation of even more powerful engines. The Bugatti Tourbillon, equipped with a hybrid V16, is already in preparation and could well set new records.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
