Bugatti Mistral sets new record for open-top cars with 282 mph top speed

The Bugatti Mistral has just set a new top speed record for the fastest open-top car. The W16 Mistral World Record Car clocked 453.91 km/h (282 mph) at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg in Germany.

Andy Wallace, Bugatti’s official test driver, set the record in a production Mistral, whose owner was also present at the time. The car accelerated to 200 km/h (124 mph) while entering the banking, before unleashing the full 1600 hp from the 8.0-liter W16 engine.

Here’s what Andy had to say about the achievement:

“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 Andy 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 air scoops 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.”

The Bugatti Mistral is the final model based on the Chiron platform and the only open-top hypercar based on this architecture. Only 99 units are being produced and deliveries are expected to begin soon.

Source: Bugatti