Bugatti has once again etched its name in automotive history, as the W16 Mistral achieves a new world record for the fastest open-top car, reaching an astonishing speed of 453.91 km/h (281 mph). The record-breaking run took place on November 9 at the ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg track in Germany, with Bugatti’s official test driver and Le Mans champion, Andy Wallace, at the wheel.
This impressive feat further cements the W16 Mistral’s place in Bugatti’s legacy of speed, following in the tire tracks of the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse’s 253 mph (408.84 km/h) run in 2013 and the Chiron Super Sport 300+’s closed-cockpit record of 304 mph (490.48 km/h) set in 2019.
The event was attended by key figures from Bugatti Rimac, including CEO Mate Rimac, and the proud owner of the W16 Mistral, a collector from Punjab, India. The bespoke $14.8 million Mistral, featuring a striking black carbon fiber body with bold “Jet Orange” accents, is a nod to Bugatti’s illustrious history of record-breaking models. The owner also had the chance to experience the car’s unmatched performance firsthand, joining Wallace for a high-speed run on the track.
This latest milestone adds to *The Singh Collection*, an exclusive lineup of Bugatti’s most iconic record-breaking vehicles, further elevating the Mistral’s status as a true engineering marvel. With the W16 Mistral’s remarkable 281 mph achievement, Bugatti continues to push the boundaries of automotive performance and design.
