Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse sets world record for fastest open-top car

Thu, 11 Apr 2013

Bugatti has come back from losing its "World's Fastest Production Car" title with a new superlative to add to the Veyron's trophy case: World's Fastest Open-Top Production Car. That's right, if you can't beat 'em, take the roof off and join them.

The record of 408.84 kilometers per hour, or 254.04 miles per hour, was set by a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse driven by Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu at Volkswagen Group's proving grounds in Ehra-Lessian, Germany. The speed was measured and verified by the German Technical Inspection and Certification Association, or TÜV.

That last point is important to note, as the kerfuffle over the closed-roof Veyron's record involved the Guinness World Records organization, which both sanctioned the car's world record run back in 2010 and then stripped Bugatti of the title after it was learned the car used to set the record had its speed-limited removed. Also, whereas Guinness calculates a car's speed based on the average of two runs in opposite directions, Bugatti doesn't say what criteria TÜV used to verify and calculate the convertible's speed.

So what we're really saying is that Bugatti claims to have the world's fastest open-top production car, but that claim remains unsubstantiated by what many consider to be the only authority on world records, Guinness World Records.

As for the particular Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse that hit 254.04 mph, the special black-and-orange model will be on display at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month, and Bugatti plans to sell eight World Record Editions just like it for the princely sum each of 1,990,000 euro, or about $2.61 million dollars

408.84 km/h: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse sets world speed record for open-top production sports cars

- Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse officially the fastest roadster in the world
- Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu at the wheel of the record-breaking Bugatti
- The world record vehicle celebrates its world premiere at the Shanghai Motor

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Wolfsburg/Molsheim, 11 April 2013 – The world's fastest roadster is a Bugatti. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has set the world speed record for open-top production sports cars at the Volkswagen Group's proving grounds in Ehra-Lessien where T"UV, the renowned independent German organisation for Technical Inspection and Certification, has officially confirmed that a top speed of 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph) was achieved. The Vitesse was driven by the Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu. The World Record Car will be unveiled to the world for the first time at the Shanghai Motor Show 2013 in April.

It is now official: the world's fastest roadster is a Bugatti. Following the spectacular record-breaking drive of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport in 2010, during which the coup'e achieved a top speed of 431.072 km/h, witnessed and officially confirmed by the renowned independent German organisation for Technical Inspection and Certification T"UV, an impressive speed that remains unparalleled to this day, Bugatti has added yet another milestone. The open top version of the 1,200 PS sports car, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, now also officially holds the world record. In the presence of T"UV, the open-top super car reached a maximum speed of 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph) at the Volkswagen Group's proving grounds in Ehra-Lessien, making it the fastest open-top production sports car in the world.

"When we introduced the Vitesse, we established the top speed for open-top driving to be 375 km/h. Still, we could not let go of the idea of reaching the 400 km/h mark with this car as well. The fact that we have succeeded in reaching 408.84 km/h is a thrill for me, and it reaffirms once again that Bugatti is the leader when it comes to technology in the international automotive industry", said Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S.
The Vitesse was driven by the Chinese entrepreneur and passionate race driver Anthony Liu. After achieving the world record in the Vitesse, the 29-year old described his experience: "This was a very exciting moment. In our training sessions we exceeded 400 km/h but the fact that I could surpass this unbelievable speed once again and even higher has made me very proud. 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."

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has been on the market since the spring of 2012. Its power comes from an 8 litre W16 engine, which pours 1,200 PS and a torque of 1,500 Nm at 3,000 to 5,000 rpm to the road. Its high performance handling can be attributed to a racing chassis which together with extremely fast-acting shock absorbers and reinforced anti-roll bars guarantees exact control of both the four-wheel- drive system and the entire vehicle. Other factors that enable such performance at the upper limits include a standard carbon monocoque with high torsional rigidity and an outer shell made entirely of carbon fibre. Keeping wind noise and air turbulence to a minimum in the vehicle's interior is a particular concern with open-top vehicles. In the Vitesse, a specially developed roof spoiler along with an intricately designed windbreak guarantees calm open-top driving; indeed these were preconditions for reaching the record-breaking speed of 408.84 km/h.

For the record-breaking drive, the Vitesse received a powerful dual-colour scheme in black and orange, perfectly translating its inner qualities into its exterior appearance.

This special Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse will be available in a World Record Car (WRC) Edition, which is limited to eight vehicles. The price per vehicle is 1.99 million euros (plus tax).

The World Record Car will be unveiled to the world for the first time at the Shanghai Motor Show 2013 April 21-29.

By John Neff