Again in 2019 after completely destroying the manufacturing automobile prime pace world document with the Chiron Tremendous Sport, the primary automobile to hit the 300-mph mark, then-president of the model Stephan Winkelmann mentioned the French marque was completed chasing prime pace data. Lately appointed CEO Mate Rimac has mentioned “screw that” in an enormous approach, because the W16 Mistral simply demolished the highest pace document for open-top automobiles, going 21 mph sooner than Bugatti initially estimated it could.
As a refresher, the Mistral is the ultimate Bugatti highway automobile to make use of the unimaginable quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 engine, alongside the track-only Bolide, and it’s primarily a roofless Chiron with distinctive exterior styling. It makes 1,578 horsepower, the identical because the Chiron Tremendous Sport, and when it was unveiled in 2022 Bugatti initially estimated the Mistral would have a prime pace of 261 mph, eclipsing the 254-mph prime pace document set by the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse convertible in 2013. It seems, Bugatti’s estimates had been approach too conservative.
The Mistral’s new document was set by Le Mans winner Andy Wallace, who has completed all of Bugatti’s different data, on the Papenburg take a look at facility in Germany. (Bugatti is not ready to make use of Ehra-Lessien now that it’s been separated from Volkswagen management.) Based on Prime Gear, which was current for the run, the observe’s 2.5-mile-long straights are half the size of those at Ehra-Lessien, so the Mistral needed to carry much more pace out of the banked corners — 124 mph to be precise. On the finish of the run, SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH verified Wallace hit a prime pace of 453.91 kph, or 282 mph. That’s completely wild. Right here’s what Wallace needed to say about it:
All through the testing program main as much as this second, it was unimaginable to really feel how secure the automobile felt — I acquired the sense that it needed to go sooner. And when it got here to the second itself, the expertise was overwhelmingly thrilling; feeling the fundamental forces from the open-top cockpit, the sound of the immense W16 engine emanating from the air scoops subsequent to my ear — it made the achievement extremely emotional. A document like this pushes the boundaries of automotive innovation, and requires immense focus, dedication, and teamwork to comprehend. It’s a real testomony to the fervour that everybody at Bugatti has for making historical past.
Making this document much more thrilling is the truth that the proprietor of this particular Mistral was in attendance, and even acquired to experience together with Wallace for one more high-speed run after the highest pace was set. Bugatti says the Mistral nearly reached the identical pace with the passenger aboard, “probably setting an unofficial document for the fastest-ever passenger experience” within the course of.
This Mistral will probably be going to the Singh Assortment in Punjab, India, the place it’s going to be a part of World Document Version examples of the Veyron Tremendous Sport, Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and Chiron Tremendous Sport, all of which had black and orange liveries. To match these particular fashions, this Mistral has its personal coloration scheme of black carbon fiber and Jet Orange decrease sections, with orange inside accents and particular wheels.
Bugatti is just making 99 items of the W16 Mistral, and whereas the “regular” ones had been mentioned to start out at round €5 million every, Bugatti says this one-off Mistral World Document Automobile set its proprietor again €14 million. (I’m assuming a variety of that value went towards making the document try occur.) Bugatti says the client “was provided the chance to immerse themselves in an unique, beautiful expertise all through the weekend in honor of the momentous day.”
So, what subsequent for Bugatti? Will it go after some other data? I might guess the reply is sure. The Chiron’s successor, the V16-powered Tourbillon, will enter manufacturing in 2026 as soon as the Bolide and Mistral are all constructed. Bugatti says its prime pace is a meager 276 mph, however that may certainly be a prime pace document for an electrified automobile. I wouldn’t be stunned to see the Bolide begin to go after observe data, both — Bugatti beforehand mentioned its simulations put the Bolide sooner than the Le Mans document, and only a few seconds shy of the all-time Nürburgring document.
Mate Rimac positive talks like he desires to maintain pushing the boundaries of efficiency in terms of Bugatti. As he mentioned within the press launch:
Because the inception of Bugatti in 1909, the marque has sought to supersede the perceived realms of chance in luxurious, magnificence, and efficiency. The Bugatti World Document Vehicles all through the marque’s historical past have represented the epitome of pace and energy, setting new boundaries and redefining repeatedly what Bugatti autos are able to. And now, with the unparalleled achievement of the W16 Mistral World Document Automobile etched into the historical past books, we see historical past not simply repeating itself, however new historical past made. We’re immensely pleased with the entire crew that made this unimaginable achievement potential — an achievement outlined by ardour and the pursuit of perfection. That’s what defines Bugatti — and what makes its achievements really incomparable.
