Bugatti sets land speed record

Bugatti is claiming a new production car top speed record with a combined two run average of 431.072km/h (267.91mph) with a new Veyron 16.4 Super Sport model – in the process smashing the 408.30km/h (253.76mph) set by a standard Veyron 16.4 in 2005 by 24km/h (14.9mph).It also betters the existing world record mark of 412.28km/h (256.23mph) established by low volume US car maker, Shelby SuperCars, with its Ultimate Aero on a closed 19km (12 mile) stretch of road in Nevada in 2007.

Confirming details of the attempt run under tight security at parent company Volkswagen’s 21km (13 mile) Ehra-Lessien test track in late June, Bugatti says the new Supersport set the record at the hands of its test driver, Pierre-Henri Raphanel and under the auspices of officials from the Guinness Book of Records.

In the first round of the attempt running in anti-clockwise direction against a prevailing wind the Super Sport hit 427.933km/h (265.96mph). It then went on to reach a wind assisted 434.211km/h (269.86mph) in a clockwise direction, giving the powered up Veyron 16.4 a combined average of 431.072km/h (267.91mph).

The new Super Sport, which Bugatti plans to produce in a limited run of no more than 30 units, is set to be the last hurrah for the Veyron 16.4, taking overall production of the flamboyant quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre 16-cylinder powered supercar up to 300 since its introduction in 2005.

Boasting lightweight carbon fibre body created using a new fibre construction and clear finish, the four-wheel drive Super Sport is claimed to weigh 50kg less than the standard Veyron 16.4 at 1840kg. Bugatti has also tweaked the Veyron 16.4’s engine, taking its peak power from 987bhp to 1183bhp. Torque also increases from 921lb ft to 1106lb ft.

Details provided by Bugatti claim the 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time remains at 2.5sec. However, the Super Sport’s 0-200km/h (0-124mph) and 0-300km/h (0-186mph) times are said to have been lowered to just 7.3sec and 15.0sec respectively.

The styling changes made to the Veyron 16.4 to bring it up to Sport Sport specification revolve around its need for added cooling and to control turbulence within the wheelarches at high speed. At the front, Bugatti has reworked the lower air ducts, bring them out closer to the sides where they continue up along the leading edge of the front wheel arches. They are complimented by new ducts behind the front wheelarches designed to relieve pressure build up.

The roof also sports two new NACA style ducts. They replace the Veyron 16.4’s traditional engine ducts set further back above the engine. Further aerodynamic modifications include a double diffusor at the rear incorporating a newly reworked double tailpipe.

Suspension upgrades, including firmer springs, larger diameter roll bars and uprated dampers, are also claimed to raise the Super Sport’s maximum lateral acceleration to 1.4g. Bugatti has produced 260 from a planned 300 examples of the Veyron 16.4 at its boutique assembly plant at Molsheim in France, some 249 of which have been delivered to customers.