Bugatti Is Back Chasing Speed Records, As Mate Rimac Eyes 310 MPH Mark

Bugatti proved it still has an insatiable need for speed when the W16 Mistral became the world’s fastest open-top car earlier this month. Not content with the latest feather in its cap, Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has already set his sights on even loftier goals, hinting at a future where the brand might crack the mythical 500 km/h (310 mph) barrier. The question isn’t if Bugatti can get there—it’s when.

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Following the W16 Mistral’s record-breaking run at the Papenburg track in Germany, the team over at Top Gear caught Rimac deep in conversation with Michelin’s engineers. When asked about the exchange, Rimac revealed his curiosity about the limits of Michelin’s bespoke tires, casually probing just how far their bespoke rubber could go.

More: Bugatti W16 Mistral Takes Top Speed Record For Open-Top Cars Home After 282 MPH Run

Among the more unusual queries: “What’s the maximum static load at zero kilometers per hour on the front and rear axle of the Turian tire?” It sounds like the sort of thing you’d ask at a dinner party, right? Rimac justified his curiosity by claiming that “our most technical customers might know why I’m asking that.” Sure, Mate. We’ll pretend to understand too.

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Speed Records Are Addictive

More importantly, Rimac didn’t just leave it at technical tire jargon. He teased a tantalizing prospect for the future: “Can we put the ‘five’ in front of the top speed record? Maybe next. Let’s see…”

Ambitious, but not unbelievable, especially considering Bugatti’s track record. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ already hit 490.48 km/h (304.7 mph) at Ehra-Lessien back in 2019. Granted, it was measured in one direction rather than the Guinness-standard two-direction average, but it’s safe to say Bugatti knows its way around fast.

Officially, the company had stepped away from speed-record antics after that milestone—but Rimac’s arrival appears to have reignited Bugatti’s lust for ludicrous velocity.

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Interestingly, the W16 Mistral’s latest feat wasn’t a marketing stunt conjured by Bugatti’s PR team but the brainchild of a particularly well-connected car collector’s son. Apparently, the owner of all three Veyron and Chiron World Record Cars asked Bugatti if they could repeat the magic with the W16 Mistral. A $14 million one-off later, Bugatti delivered—with a flourish. Who says the ultra-rich don’t have hobbies?

The all-new Bugatti Tourbillon may be electronically capped at a top speed of 445 km/h (277 mph), but it’s likely capable of much more, particularly if it undergoes a bespoke, one-off upgrade. According to CEO Mate Rimac, Bugatti customers are currently spending an average of €500,000 ($530,000) on customizations per car, which suggests there’s plenty of demand to keep the brand pushing boundaries.

Pushing the Limits of Tire Tech

Rimac emphasized that projects like these are as much about testing technology as they are about indulging wealthy clients: “These kinds of cars are of course for people who can afford it. Great customers of ours. But I think they’re also to explore what’s possible. We have the guys from Michelin here. We are pushing the tire technology, the limits of tires higher. Tires today compared to 30 years ago are a completely different level.”

More: Koenigsegg, Rimac, And Hennessey Bosses Drive Each Other’s Hypercars

While this was his first time with Bugatti, Mate Rimac is no stranger to the world of record-breaking feats. In the early days of his involvement with the automotive industry, he set five world records with his modified BMW E30, followed by 27 more with the Rimac Nevera in 2023.

Besides Bugatti, other companies that could pursue the 500 km/h (310 mph) target with their hypercars include Koenigsegg and Hennessey.