Bugatti Demonstrates Ambition to Surpass 500 km/h Barrier
Recently, Bugatti once again showcased its capabilities by making the W16 Mistral the world’s fastest convertible earlier this month. Unsatisfied with this milestone, Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has set even higher goals, hinting at the brand’s future ambition to break the legendary 500 km/h top speed barrier. The question isn’t whether Bugatti can achieve this but rather when it will happen.
Following the W16 Mistral’s record-breaking achievement at the Papenburg test track in Germany, Rimac was spotted deep in discussion with Michelin engineers. When asked about their exchange, Rimac revealed his curiosity about the limits of Michelin’s custom-designed tires, exploring how far these specially crafted tires could go.
During this conversation, Mate Rimac expressed his keen interest in the strength of Michelin’s new bespoke tires. More importantly, he hinted at Bugatti’s ambitious goal to break speed records, aiming for a top speed exceeding 500 km/h.
This ambition isn’t far-fetched when considering Bugatti’s track record. In 2019, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached a top speed of 490.48 km/h at Ehra-Lessien. Though this speed was measured in a single direction rather than the two-way average required by Guinness World Records, it solidified Bugatti’s prowess.
Interestingly, the W16 Mistral’s latest achievement wasn’t a planned marketing stunt by Bugatti’s PR team. Instead, it originated from the son of a prominent car collector with close ties to the brand. This collector, who owns three record-setting Veyron and Chiron models, wondered if Bugatti could recreate that magic with the W16 Mistral. The result? A one-of-a-kind car worth $14 million with an impressive achievement.
The Bugatti Tourbillon, although electronically limited to a top speed of 445 km/h, could potentially exceed this with exclusive, customized upgrades. According to CEO Mate Rimac, Bugatti customers currently spend an average of €500,000 on bespoke customizations per vehicle, indicating strong demand for pushing boundaries further.
While this is Mate Rimac’s first foray with Bugatti, he is no stranger to record-breaking feats. Early in his automotive career, he set five world records with a modified BMW E30, followed by 27 more records with the Rimac Nevera in 2023. Beyond Bugatti, other manufacturers like Koenigsegg and Hennessey are also vying to reach the 500 km/h (310 mph) milestone with their hypercars.
