Bugatti promised it was done chasing speed records, but with the end of the W-16 engine era, it seems the legendary marque couldn’t resist one final feat. In a stunning performance, the Bugatti Mistral has become the fastest open-top production car in history, reaching an astonishing 282 mph (453.9 km/h) on the Papenburg test track in Germany. The quad-turbo 8.0-liter W-16 engine roared to life one last time, delivering a memorable swan song for the iconic powerplant.
Originally, Bugatti had estimated the Mistral’s top speed at a remarkable 261 mph. However, with Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace behind the wheel, the hypercar eclipsed that number by 21 mph, smashing the previous open-top record set by Hennessey’s Venom GT Spyder at 265.6 mph in 2016. Wallace, known for setting Bugatti’s 304.77 mph record in the Chiron Super Sport 300+ in 2019, handled the Mistral flawlessly as it rocketed to the record-breaking mark.
The Record Car, with its unique Jet Orange accents reminiscent of the Veyron’s past record-setting models, made its mark as a one-of-a-kind piece. Only 99 units of the Mistral will be produced, and its owner also boasts an impressive collection of Bugatti’s other record-breaking models, making this latest achievement a perfect addition to their garage.
Bugatti’s choice of the Papenburg track rather than Volkswagen Group’s Ehra-Lessien test facility highlights the shifting dynamics of Bugatti Rimac, where Mate Rimac’s group holds a 55% stake, with Porsche owning 45%. The Papenburg success marks a significant shift, especially as the hypercar industry waits on bold claims from Hennessey and Koenigsegg about achieving the 300-mph milestone in their respective models.
As other manufacturers race for the elusive 300-mph mark, Bugatti’s Mistral currently reigns as the undisputed open-top speed king, a fitting farewell to the W-16 engine that shaped an era of high-performance excellence.
