The Bugatti Mistral, powered by the iconic 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 engine with 1,578 hp, has achieved a record-breaking top speed of 454 km/h for open-top cars, marking a final triumph for this behemoth of an engine in a road-going Bugatti.
This record-breaking run marks the end of an era for the W16 engine in Bugatti road cars. With the introduction of the Bugatti Tourbillon and its new 8.3-litre naturally aspirated V16 engine, the W16 has been phased out of road-going Bugatti cars. It now finds its home exclusively in the track-only Bugatti Bolide.
The record-breaking run took place on the 12.3 km oval track at the ATP Automotive Testing Facility in Papenburg, Germany, instead of Ehra-Lessien where Bugatti has historically ran their record-breaking top-speed runs.
That’s because following Volkswagen’s sale of Bugatti and the formation of a new joint venture with Rimac, the French hypercar maker no longer had access to Ehra-Lessien, which remained under Volkswagen’s ownership.
The Papenburg track presented a unique challenge. Its four-kilometre straights are half the length of those at Ehra-Lessien, meaning the Bugatti Mistral had to maintain a much higher speed of 200 km/h coming out of the banked corners to achieve the top-speed run with Bugatti official test driver, Andy Wallace behind the wheel.
“Throughout the testing programme 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. 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 air scoops next to my ear – it made the achievement incredibly emotional,” Andy said.
The Bugatti Mistral is a limited-production Bugatti model, with only 99 units produced. It shares underpinnings with the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, featuring a bespoke roadster body. Each Mistral costs a cool USD $5 million (approx. RM22 million).
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“A record like this pushes the boundaries of automotive innovation and requires immense focus, dedication, and teamwork to realise. It’s a true testament to the passion that everyone at Bugatti has for making history,” Andy added.
Adding to the uniqueness of this achievement, the owner of the record-breaking Mistral was present to witness the event. This marked the first time in Bugatti’s history that a customer had attended such an occasion.
Furthermore, to commemorate the momentous day, the owner was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a high-speed run in the Bugatti Mistral alongside Andy Wallace, reaching speeds that set what Bugatti claims is an unofficial record for the fastest-ever passenger ride.
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