The Bugatti Chiron is officially the world’s fastest car, after setting a world record for a production car by reaching a speed of 304.77 mph.
Supercar speeds over 300 mph
The 1,500 horsepower Chiron hypercar, which was adapted for higher speeds, is the first supercar to break the 300 mph barrier. And it’s no real surprise for speed freaks and Bugatti fans, as Bugatti, owned by Volkswagen, also broke the record back in 2005 with the Veyron model, which reached speeds of 254 mph. And in 2010 Bugatti’s Veyron Super Sport set yet another record hitting 268 mph.
The Chiron was driven by Andy Wallace and hit the super speeds on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany in August. And it’s not the standard Chiron you can buy from the Bugatti factory for a mere $3 million. This version was a souped-up model with a modified body and specialized tires.
Safety First
Safety is a huge concern when attempting these kinds of incredible speeds, and no car manufacturer wants to be associated with any negative impacts. Going these kinds of speeds is always risky, so the car was reinforced with a safety cage to protect Wallace and he also used a six-point racing harness and wore a fire suit and helmet. “An incredible speed. It’s inconceivable that a car would be capable of this,” Wallace is quoted as saying, and he adds, “But the Chiron was well prepared and I felt very safe –even in the high-speed ranges.”
This is it for Bugatti, says Company President
With this added victory under their belts, Bugatti president Stephen Winkelmann now says they will withdraw from further top speed competitions, in order to concentrate on other areas. “We have shown several times that we build the fastest cars in the world,” he said in a news release.
Never Late in a Bugatti!
And just to break it down –at 300 mph, the Bugatti is covering a mile every 12 seconds. Imagine that –you’d never be late again in one of these babies! “Our goal was to be the first manufacturer ever to reach the magic 300-mile-per-hour-mark,” adds Winkelmann, “We have now achieved this –making ourselves, the entire team and myself, incredibly proud.”
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