Bugatti Concludes Record-Setting Era Following Chiron’s 300 MPH Milestone
Since the debut of the original Veyron in 2005, Bugatti has been a prominent name in discussions surrounding the fastest cars in the world. However, with the recent achievement of surpassing 300 miles per hour in a modified Chiron, the luxury automaker has decided to end its pursuit of speed records. Stephan Winkelmann, the brand’s president, confirmed this shift shortly after the impressive benchmark was established. It’s a fitting farewell for the automaker, exiting the arena while at the top.
In a statement praising the Chiron’s accomplishment of traveling 304.773 miles per hour, Winkelmann announced that this will be the last speed record attempt by Bugatti.
“This was indeed the final chapter for us,” Winkelmann stated. “We were the pioneers in reaching this extraordinary milestone, and our name will be etched in history forever. Moving forward, we will concentrate on different projects.”
Bugatti’s decision to step back allows other manufacturers such as Koenigsegg, Hennessey, and SSC to compete for top speed dominance. Each of these companies—Koenigsegg with its Jesko, Hennessey with the Venom F5, and SSC with the Tuatara—aims to exceed the 300 mph barrier, but none have achieved it to date.
The Chiron’s record was made possible through enhancements such as increased power, fortified tires, an upgraded safety cell, improved aerodynamics, and an elongated body. This record-setting run was executed by Le Mans champion and Bugatti’s test driver, Andy Wallace, who previously set a record of 243 mph in a McLaren F1 back in 1998.
The astounding feat was accomplished at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track, a 12-mile course with two lengthy straights and banked turns at each end. With Bugatti stepping away from high-speed endeavors, it remains to be seen what Volkswagen plans to pursue next in this space.
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