Bugatti Chiron Breaks 300 mph Record

A mildly modified Bugatti Chiron hypercar has become the first near-production car to break the 300 mph speed barrier.

Yesterday the car (pictured below) clocked a top speed of 304.8 mph (490.5 kph) on Volkswagen AG’s Ehra-Lessian test track in Germany.

The standard Chiron is electronically limited to a top speed of 261 mph. The record-breaking version features a special safety cell, aerodynamic enhancements and a taller seventh gear, Autocar reports.

Output of the car’s quad-turbocharged, 16-cylinder engine also was tweaked to make 1,578 hp, 99 hp more than the version in the standard Chiron.

The test car, which was piloted by veteran driver Andy Wallace, rode on specially built and X-rayed Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires. At 300 mph, the tires were turning at 68 revolutions per second. The car itself was simultaneously generating nearly 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs) of lift and downforce, Autocar notes.

Bugatti President Stefan Winkelmann says the company will now retire—at least for now—in its quest to set new speed records and refocus on other areas of vehicle performance.

Click HERE to watch the official video of the run.