Automotive

Bugatti Chiron breaks 300-mph barrier for production cars

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Bugatti Chiron surpasses 300 mph barrier with a speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h)
Bugatti
The 300 mph barrier was broken by the Bugatti Chiron at the Volkswagen Group test track in Ehra-Lessien
Bugatti
Bugatti Chiron surpasses 300 mph barrier with a speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h)
Bugatti
The 300-mph barrier was surpassed with a "near production prototype derivative" of the Chiron
Bugatti
Bugatti has become the first manufacturer to break the 300-mile-per-hour barrier
Bugatti
The Bugatti Chiron surpasses 300 mph barrier with a speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h)
Bugatti
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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.

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13 comments
DavidCPovenski
"Under current FIA rules, two runs are required in opposite directions within one hour, over a timed mile and a new record mark must exceed the previous one by at least one percent to be validated. Records are set in either the flying kilometre or flying mile." - Wikipedia

It's not an official record, so first to 300 mph isn't quite a valid claim. I hope someone else does it the right way and let the mud slinging begin!
BlueOak
An impressive accomplishment!

But LOL, was there even a single token Frenchman representing this French brand, albiet owned by Volkswagen? Not even for appearances?
Username
When reporting on a new record it would make sense to mention the previous record.
McDesign
Super, super, super!
KaiserPingo
Really useful to all people on the planet and sooo environmentally forward thinking.
Well, its Germans so...
Richard Graham
Holy suspension and OIL, batman...who supplied the tires?
phissith
And the car break down right after the video. Haha!
David Hutchinson
Big Deal!!! So what if you can drive 300 mph. What's the practicality of 300 mph? Where can you drive 300 mph, 200 mph, 150 mph? It's a pissing match.
Phocks
Blue Bird 301.129 MPH 1935. I make the observation only and congratulate all involved in this informal record.
Douglas E Knapp
I agree you can't drive 490 very often but driving 200 is a daily thing here in Germany. An as to that comment about germans and environment? I have no idea what you are talking about. The Germans are very prograssevir about saving the Earth.