Bugattis Chiron Super Sport Top Speed Record Revealed

Bugatti officially recorded the Chiron Super Sport’s staggering 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) top speed in July 2019 with test driver Andy Wallace at the wheel. This monumental run, achieved on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track, cemented the hypercar’s place as the first series-production car to break the mythical 300-mph barrier.

Picture this: a ribbon of black asphalt cutting through the German countryside, a low hum that builds into a mechanical scream, and a blur of blue and carbon fiber so fast it seems to warp reality itself. This wasn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie. This was a Tuesday in August 2022, when a Bugatti test driver named Andy Wallace gently lifted off the throttle of a Chiron Super Sport 300+, having just touched a number that redefined the very concept of a production car.

For years, the quest for speed has been a primal automotive pursuit. We’ve watched records tumble, from the roaring classics of the 60s to the digital-age hypercars of today. But the number 304.773 mph… that’s different. It’s not just fast. It’s a velocity that belongs more to the realm of landing aircraft than to something you could, theoretically, drive home. When Bugatti announced they had recorded this top speed with the Chiron Super Sport, it wasn’t just a new line in a record book. It was a statement of human and engineering ambition.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on that historic run. We’ll go beyond the headline number to explore the car, the driver, the track, and the incredible symphony of physics and technology that made it possible. This is the story of when a machine built for the road briefly kissed the edge of the impossible.

Key Takeaways

• Record Set in 2019: The official top speed run occurred during development testing.
• Speed of 304.773 mph: This verified figure made it the first series-production car over 300 mph.
• Conducted at Ehra-Lessien: Bugatti used its own high-speed test track in Germany for safety.
• Driven by Andy Wallace: A Le Mans-winning factory test pilot was behind the wheel.
• Required Specific Conditions: Ideal weather and a long, straight track were essential for the attempt.
• Production Version is Limited: The record validated the limited-run Chiron Super Sport 300+ model.

The Stage Is Set: Bugatti’s Quest for the 300 MPH Crown

To understand the significance of the Chiron Super Sport’s top speed record, you have to look at the legacy it carries. Bugatti isn’t just a car company; it’s a custodian of a speed dynasty. The modern chapter began with the Veyron, which in 2005 stunned the world by being the first production car to break the 250 mph barrier, officially hitting 253.81 mph. It was a monumental achievement that seemed untouchable.

Then came the Chiron in 2016. With its monstrous 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine, it was the natural heir. But even with over 1,500 horsepower, Bugatti initially electronically limited it to 261 mph. Why? Because the engineering challenges beyond that point aren’t linear; they’re exponential. The company wasn’t interested in just a fleeting, unstable peak. They were methodically working towards something greater: the mythical 300 mph mark for a production car.

The Birth of the Super Sport 300+

The standard Chiron was a masterpiece, but the 300 mph goal required a purpose-built weapon. Enter the Chiron Super Sport 300+. This wasn’t a simple tune-up. Engineers embarked on a total re-optimization of the car for a single, brutal purpose: slicing through the air at unimaginable speed. Every component was scrutinized under the lens of aerodynamics, cooling, and stability.

A Legacy of Speed to Uphold

The pressure was immense. Rivals were circling, and the automotive world was watching. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport top speed attempt wasn’t just about bragging rights; it was about proving that in an age of electrification and automation, the extreme pinnacle of internal combustion engineering could still achieve the unthinkable. The stage was no longer a proving ground; it was a place to make history.

The Machine: Engineering the 300+ MPH Missile

So, what does it take to build a car that can survive 300 mph? Let’s pop the hood—figuratively, of course, because at these speeds, everything is sealed shut. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is a lesson in focused engineering.

At its heart lay the evolutionary W16, now massaged to produce 1,600 horsepower. But the real magic happened around the engine. The body was stretched by nearly 10 inches compared to a standard Chiron, primarily to manage airflow at the rear. The team developed a revolutionary “longtail” design, inspired by Le Mans race cars, which dramatically reduced aerodynamic drag at the highest velocities.

Aerodynamics: More Than Just Slippery

Think of air at 300 mph not as a breeze, but as a thick, unyielding fluid. The car’s new profile, with its elongated tail and optimized underbody, allowed this fluid to flow smoothly off the car, preventing lift and instability. The rear diffuser and redesigned exhaust system—which exits through the bumper rather than the tailpipe—worked together to suck the car onto the road. This wasn’t about generating downforce for corners; it was about creating stability for a straight line measured in miles.

Tires: The Critical Contact Patch

Perhaps the most nerve-wracking component was the tires. In partnership with Michelin, Bugatti developed the Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires specifically for this run. At 304 mph, each tire is rotating over 4,100 times per minute. The centrifugal force is so immense it wants to expand the tire’s diameter by nearly an inch. Michelin had to engineer a tire that could withstand this force, manage immense heat, and maintain a perfect contact patch. A single flaw would be catastrophic. They were so specialized that Bugatti recommended they be changed after every high-speed run, a testament to the incredible stresses involved.

The Venue: Where Do You Test a 300 MPH Car?

You can’t just open Google Maps and find a road suitable for a Bugatti top speed record attempt. The requirements are absurdly specific. You need a perfectly straight, perfectly flat, perfectly smooth surface that’s several miles long. You need controlled, safe conditions. For Bugatti, there was only one choice: the Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany.

This facility is a secretive, hallowed ground for Volkswagen Group (Bugatti’s parent company). Its centerpiece is a 5.4-mile straight, famously banked at the ends like a NASCAR oval, allowing a car to enter at high speed, stabilize for the record run in the center, and then safely decelerate. The surface is meticulously maintained, and the entire area is private and secure, allowing the team to control for variables like wind and temperature.

Why a Track and Not a Salt Flat?

You might wonder why they didn’t use the Bonneville Salt Flats, a traditional record-setting venue. The answer is control and surface consistency. Salt provides variable traction and can be uneven. Ehra-Lessien’s paved surface offered the predictable, high-grip environment essential for managing 1,600 horsepower and ensuring the car remained perfectly stable. It was the ultimate laboratory for this extreme experiment.

The Record Run: A Minute of Mayhem

August 2, 2022. The conditions were ideal. The team, led by legendary Bugatti pilot Andy Wallace, was ready. Wallace is no stranger to speed, having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and held production car records before. But this was different.

The run followed a precise protocol. Wallace would accelerate onto the banked oval, building immense speed before entering the long straight. In the measured kilometer, the car would hit its peak. Data from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for such records, would be the official arbiter. They require two runs in opposite directions within an hour, with the average taken as the official record. This cancels out any slight advantage from wind or incline.

Inside the Cockpit at 300+ MPH

What’s it like? Wallace described it as an exercise in intense focus. The world narrows to the strip of tarmac ahead. The noise is a deafening mix of engine roar, turbo whistle, and wind. The steering requires minute, precise corrections; any sudden movement could be disastrous. He noted that the car felt “planted” and stable, a credit to its aerodynamic design. The moment the digital speedometer flickered past 490 km/h (304 mph), he knew history had been made. The Chiron Super Sport’s top speed was recorded by the FIA’s equipment as 490.484 km/h, or 304.773 mph.

The Data That Made It Official

This wasn’t a reading from the car’s dashboard. The FIA uses its own calibrated, high-precision GPS data-logging systems to measure the speed over the required distance. The table below breaks down the critical numbers from that historic day.

Metric	Recorded Data	Notes
Official Top Speed (Average)	490.484 km/h / 304.773 mph	Average of two FIA-measured runs.
Peak Speed Recorded	490.484 km/h / 304.773 mph	Speed achieved in the measured kilometer.
Engine Power	1,600 PS (1,578 hp)	From the 8.0L quad-turbo W16.
Test Driver	Andy Wallace	Legendary Le Mans winner and Bugatti pilot.
Venue	Ehra-Lessien Test Track	5.4-mile straight, Volkswagen Group facility.
Governing Body	Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)	Officially ratified the record.

Beyond the Number: What the Record Truly Means

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport top speed record is more than a trophy. It’s a benchmark that touches on physics, economics, and human aspiration. Let’s break down its real-world implications.

First, it demonstrated a mastery of hyper-system engineering. It’s not about one incredible part, but about thousands of parts—from the bolt holding a wing mirror to the software managing the turbochargers—all working in flawless harmony under the most extreme stress imaginable. It pushed materials science forward, particularly in tire and carbon-fiber composite technology.

The Practical Reality for Owners

Here’s a fascinating twist: the car that set the record, the “300+” prototype, was slightly different from the customer Chiron Super Sport models sold. The record car had minimal interior trim and a modified safety cage. The production Super Sport, while mechanically identical in its powertrain and aero, is electronically limited to 273 mph. Why? Because the conditions to safely approach 300 mph—the specific tires, the perfect track, the ideal weather—simply don’t exist on public roads, and Bugatti is fanatical about safety. The record proved the car’s ultimate capability, while the limiter ensures a customer can enjoy the car’s immense performance in the real world.

A Closing Chapter and an Open Future

This record likely marks the zenith of the internal combustion hypercar. With Bugatti itself moving towards hybrid powertrains (like in the Bolide and the V16 hybrid successor to the Chiron), the 304.773 mph run stands as a magnificent finale for the W16 era. It answered a question that had lingered for a generation: “Can a road car reach 300 mph?” Bugatti, with meticulous preparation, said yes.

The Legacy and Lasting Impact of the Record

Years later, the ripple effects of that day at Ehra-Lessien are still felt. The Bugatti top speed record solidified the brand’s position at the absolute peak of automotive engineering. It created an instant legend, making the 30-unit run of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ one of the most coveted modern collector cars.

More importantly, it inspired a new wave of “hypercar wars.” While no production car has yet officially surpassed it, the record has become a target, pushing competitors to explore new technologies in hybrid and electric powertrains to potentially challenge it. It raised the bar for what we consider possible, proving that with enough resources, ingenuity, and courage, barriers are meant to be broken.

For enthusiasts, it gave us a number to marvel at—a data point that translates the abstract idea of “fast” into something tangible. It’s a story of a machine, a driver, and a team that looked at the laws of physics and, for just a moment, asked them to step aside.

Conclusion: The Sound of a Barrier Breaking

The story of when the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport’s top speed was recorded is a masterclass in focused ambition. It wasn’t an accident or a lucky run. It was the culmination of a century of heritage, years of targeted development, and a perfect alignment of machine, man, and venue.

That blue blur streaking down the German test track captured more than a record; it captured a moment in time where automotive engineering achieved a pure, almost absurd, goal. The number 304.773 mph is now permanently etched in history. It serves as a reminder that even in a world of practical transportation, there is still room for the extraordinary—for machines that exist not just to take us from A to B, but to take our breath away and expand our understanding of what is possible on four wheels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the top speed of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport?

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport achieved a verified top speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h). This record was set in 2019 with a pre-production prototype, making it one of the fastest production cars ever built.

Who drove the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport for the top speed record?

The record-breaking run was piloted by Bugatti’s official test and development driver, Andy Wallace. A former Le Mans winner, Wallace is an experienced high-speed driver trusted to push the car to its absolute limits on the track.

Where was the Chiron Super Sport’s top speed recorded?

The speed record was captured on the famous Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany. This high-speed oval, owned by the Volkswagen Group, provides the long, straight, and secure environment necessary for such extreme velocity testing.

How did the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport achieve this top speed?

It reached its record speed thanks to a heavily modified 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine producing 1,600 horsepower, a lengthened body for better aerodynamics, and specialized high-speed tires. The car was also in a unique “Top Speed” mode that optimized all systems for maximum velocity.

Is the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport top speed record still the fastest?

While it was the record for a production car, it has since been surpassed. The current record is held by the Bugatti Bolide, a track-only hypercar, and other limited-run models like the SSC Tuatara and Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut have also claimed higher speeds.

Why is the Bugatti top speed record such a big achievement?

Reaching over 300 mph is a monumental engineering challenge, requiring breakthroughs in powertrain, aerodynamics, tire technology, and stability. Each incremental increase in speed demands exponentially more power and control, making this record a landmark in automotive history.