The Bugatti Mistral, a stunning roadster powered by a quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, reached an extraordinary top speed of 454 km/h, surpassing the 2016 record set by the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder at 427.4 km/h.
The speed run took place at the Automotive Testing facility in Papenburg, Germany, with Bugatti’s test driver Andy Wallace at the helm. Entering the straightaway at 200 km/h from the banking, Wallace pushed the Mistral to its limit, achieving a remarkable speed on the 4.0-kilometer track. While longer stretches like the Ehra-Lessien test track could have provided even more room to push the Mistral further, the Papenburg facility proved sufficient for this historic feat.
The Mistral, named after the powerful wind of southern France, is an engineering masterpiece. It shares its DNA with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the first road-legal car to break the 482 km/h barrier in 2019. Powered by a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W-16 engine, the Mistral produces a staggering 1,578hp—100 more than the standard Chiron—and delivers power to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Mistral’s design pays homage to Bugatti’s rich legacy while incorporating elements from exclusive models. Vertical headlamps echo the one-of-a-kind La Voiture Noire, and the rear light design draws inspiration from the track-focused Bolide. Aerodynamic refinements ensure that the Mistral maintains stability and precision at high speeds.
Bugatti is limiting production of the Mistral to just 99 units, each priced at $5 million (around RM23 million). This exclusivity and the car’s unparalleled performance cement its status as a collector’s dream.
With the Mistral’s record-breaking performance, Bugatti concludes the Chiron era on a high note as it prepares for its next chapter with the Tourbillon. Now under the Rimac umbrella, Bugatti continues to set new benchmarks in the hypercar world, blending cutting-edge technology with timeless luxury and performance.
This achievement not only underscores Bugatti’s engineering prowess but also serves as a fitting farewell to one of the most iconic internal combustion engines in automotive history.
