Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse World Record

By Ganesh

Updated: Tuesday, February 4, 2014, 15:10 [IST]

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is a familiar name now, thanks to its record breaking production car top speed of 431 km/h, which it has retained for more than two years, during which it has also once lost it and regained it. But its convertible version, the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, is just as capable and also holds a top speed world record.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is the fastest convertible production car in the world. The record was set early in April, 2013. The top speed recorded was 408.84 km/h, only about 20 km/h slower than the coupe. Achieving such speeds in an open top car only goes to prove the engineering and designing capability of the automaker. Bugatti has released an official video of the record breaking run. Check out official images and video in the gallery below.

The record run of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Vitesse was set at VW Group's top secret Ehra-Lessien test track.

Ehra-Lessien test track measures 19 km in total, which consists of a 9 km long straight.

The record was set by Chinese driver Anthony Liu, who clocked clocked 408.84 km/h or 255.53 mph.

The record breaking vehicle is done in the same two-tone orange and black colour as the Veyron Super Sport.

Only eight ‘Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition' vehicles will be made.

Each vehicle will cost a $2.6 million or INR 14,11,51,098.

The Grand Sport Vitesse is powered by the same 8.0 liter W16 quad-turbo engine that delivers the same tarmac shattering 1200 HP and 1500 Nm of torque. A 7-speed DSG gearbox transfers power to all four wheels.

Performance figures: 0-100 km/h in 2.6 seconds
0-200 km/h in 7.1 seconds
0-300 km/h in 16 seconds.

0-100-0 km/h in 5.9 seconds
0-200-0 in 12.9 seconds.
0-300-0, in 23.9 seconds.

"When we introduced the Vitesse, we established the top speed for open-top driving to be 375 km/h," said Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. "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."

Driver Anthony Liu stated "Even at such high speeds it remained 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."