Remember when Bugatti said it won't pursuit a new top speed record with the Chiron? Well, the French firm lied and built a bespoke Chiron that just smashed the 300 mph barrier. However, you won't be able to do the same in a production Chiron, as the new record holder is actually a prototype based on the Chiron Sport.

The Bugatti Chiron is the world's fastest "production" car

This benchmark is 43 mph higher than the Chiron's standard, electronically limited

The Chiron driven by test driver Andy Wallace clocked an astonishing 304.77 mph. This speed was achieved on Volkswagen Group's 12-mile Ehra-Lessien test track. This benchmark is 43 mph higher than the Chiron's standard, electronically limited top speed of 261 mph. It's also a whopping 26.9 mph higher than the previous record, set by Koenigsegg with an Agera RS in 2017.

From Bugatti's footage we can see that the Chiron had no issues in exceeding Koenigsegg's 277 mph top speed, but as the car moved toward 300 mph, the clock started climbing notably slower. After falling back for a fraction of second, the Chiron eventual hit 300 mph and had enough power and asphalt to go to 304.77 mph. This converts to 490.47 km/h, leaving the Chiron less than 10 km/h shy of the magical and astounding 500 km/h benchmark.

The top speed was verified by Germany’s Technical Inspection Association (TÜV), which means the record-breaking run has been officially confirmed.

The Bugatti Chiron can't claim the Guinness production car record

Sadly for Bugatti, the Chiron can't claim the Guinness world speed record for production cars. That's because the car that surpassed 300 mph is not a regular production vehicle, but a Chiron Sport with serious modifications; a car that won't be sold to the public.

Specifically, Bugatti teamed up with chassis experts Dallara to modify the Chiron Sport into a faster machine. A quick look at the car's profile and you'll notice that it's longer than usual. The extra 10 inches were added to the tail, in a move to improve aerodynamics the McLaren way. Bugatti also removed the rear wing and airbrake and added a recessed spoiler that supposedly reduces drag.

The exhaust pipe layout is very similar to the one seen on the unique Centodieci that Bugatti unveiled in August 2019. The vertically stacked dual exhausts might not seem to have an impact on the way the car performs, but Bugatti says that this layout shoots emissions farther from the rear, thus reducing the impact they have on drag and aerodynamics.

Inside the cabin, Bugatti removed the passenger seat, added various electronics to monitor performance, and installed a full roll cage.

Modifications continue under the hood, where the standard Chiron engine was replaced with the slightly more powerful unit from the Centodieci, a one-off, Chiron-based tribute to the iconic EB110. The slightly updated 8.0-liter W-16 engine generates 1,577 horsepower, 98 more than the regular Chiron.

The record vehicle is described as a "near-production prototype," but it's not very unlikely for Bugatti to actually build a few for customers. On the other hand, the black body with orange stripes is a tribute to the Veyron Super Sport and sparks rumors that an SS version of the Chiron could arrive in the future.

The Bugatti Chiron record car rides on bespoke tires

Bugatti commissioned special tires for the record car. Although the standard model already features high-speed Michelin rubber, the French firm chose to reinforce them in order to handle the higher speed. These tires were subjected to rigorous testing in the United States and prepared to survive speeds of up to 317 mph (511 km/h). Each tire was X-rayed to optimize the smallest details. Amazingly enough, these tires are still road legal.

The Bugatti Chiron reclaimed the top speed record for Bugatti

The modified Chiron reclaimed a record that Bugatti held from 2005 to 2007 and then from 2010 until 2017. The Veyron was the first Bugatti to be crowned the world's fastest car. It happened in 2005, when it hit a top speed of 253.81 mph, breaking a record set by the Koenigsegg CCR in 2004, at 241 mph. The Veyron's record was bested in 2007 by the SSC Ultimate Aero TT, a car that reached 256.18 mph. However, Bugatti reclaimed the title with the Veyron Super Sport, which set the benchmark at 258 mph.

The Veyron SS' record lasted from 2010 to 2017, the longest period since the McLaren F1 dominated the standings from the early 1990s until the mid-2000s. The Veyron SS was dethroned in 2017 by Koenigsegg. The Swedish firm set a new record with the Agera RS, which hit an amazing 277.87 mph, almost 20 mph more than the Veyron. Two years later and Bugatti wears the crown once again thanks to the Chiron and its 304.77 mph benchmark.

Top Speed Record from 2004 to 2019

Koenigsegg CCR

241 mph

2004

Bugatti Veyron

253.81 mph

2005

SSC Ultimate Aero TT

256.18

2007

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

258

2010

Koenigsegg Agera RS

277.87

2017

Bugatti Chiton

304.77

2019


The Bugatti Chiron beat SSC and Hennessey to the 300-mph mark

While Bugatti stated that it's not planning on setting new records, the folks over at SSC North America and Hennessey Performance announced plans to break the magical mark. SSC was planning on doing it with the Tuatara, while Hennessey promised to get there with the Venom F5. Koenigsegg was also expected to join in with the new Jesko supercar. All these carmakers claimed that their vehicles have the ability to hit 300 mph, but they have yet to test that and Bugatti beat both to the record.

On the other hand, the Bugatti Chiron isn't the first road car to exceed 300 mph. In 2018, a heavily modified first-generation Ford GT managed 300.4 mph at the Texas Mile. Just like the Chiron, the said GT doesn't qualify for the production car speed record.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Bugatti Chiron.

Read our full review on the 2018 Bugatti Chiron Sport.