News has just come through that Bugatti has broken the production car speed record with a timed run of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) by the Bugatti Chiron at the Volkswagen Group test track in Ehra-Lessien.
No more details are available at this stage, other than the obvious fact that Bugatti has become the first manufacturer to break the 300-miles-per-hour barrier.
The speed was achieved with a "near production prototype derivative" of the hyper sports car, and once we have some more details, we'll be updating our feature article The fastest cars in history: 1946 to now.
"What a record! We're overjoyed to be the first manufacturer ever to have achieved a speed of more than 300 miles per hour,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. "It’s a milestone for eternity. I would like to thank the whole team and driver Andy Wallace for this outstanding performance."
Source: Bugatti
Update: Bugatti has now released a video of the record run, which you can see below.
"An incredible speed," says Bugatti test driver Andy Wallace. "It’s inconceivable that a car would be capable of this. But the Chiron was well prepared and I felt very safe – even in these high speed ranges."
After warming up over one lap, Wallace – who was held firm by six-point safety belts and protected by an additional safety cell – accelerated out of the north curve of the Ehra-Lessien test track to roar his way to the top speed along the 8.8-km (5.46-mi) straight. The record run was recorded by a sealed GPS box.
