Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse takes speed record

Posted 11th April, 2013 in Bugatti | Leave a comment

Bugatti’s epic Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse has been recognised as the world’s fastest open-top production sports car after reaching 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph) at Ehra-Lessien.

Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu, who was chosen to pilot the Veyron for the record attempt, said: “This was a very exciting moment. The car is even at such high speeds incredibly comfortable and stable. With an open top, you can really experience the sound of the engine and yet even at higher speeds I did not get compromised by the wind at all.”

Using the same 8.0-litre W16 engine from the 431 km/h (267 mph) Super Sport – complete with four upgraded turbochargers, the Vitesse enjoys a colossal 895 kW (1,200 hp) and 1,500 Nm of torque, rather than the usual 746 kW (1,001 hp) and 1,250 Nm seen in the regular Grand Sport.

To mark the achievement, a special black and orange-themed World Record Car (WRC) Edition will be produced. Limited to just eight vehicles, the price has been set at €1.99 million – plus taxes.