Bugatti has yet to reveal the Chiron’s official unlimited top speed, with all models sold topping out at 420 km/h in the most aggressive mode. But the company’s test driver says there is likely just one thing that would stop the Chiron from crossing the magical 300 mph (or, for us, 483 km/h): tyres.
Test driver Andy Wallace told the folks over at Popular Mechanics that a delimited Chiron on the current production tyres would probably do a little more than 280 mph (450 km/h). This, of course, would see the W16-powered Chiron surpassing the 431 km/h record achieved by the Veyron Supersport way back in 2010.
“Wallace says at the moment, there is no tyre that can withstand the g-loading at 300 mph, but he predicts Michelin engineers will sign off on a top speed with the current production tyre slightly north of 280 mph,” wrote Popular Mechanics.
The Chiron employs an 8,0-litre engine with as many as four turbochargers. Peak power output stands at 1 119 kW, while maximum torque is a claimed 1 600 N.m.
Interestingly, Hennessey earlier this week confirmed that it will soon reveal its all-new hypercar, making no bones about the fact that the new model will “take direct aim at the new Bugatti Chiron” for the title of the world’s fastest production series super sports car.
The US company says the Venom F5 will boast its “own unique chassis and design, which will help elevate its performance to speeds approaching 300 mph”.
The race, then, is well and truly on…
