Bugatti returns to chasing speed records, through the eyes of Mate Rimac

Bugatti proved it still has an insatiable need for speed when the W16 Mistral became the world’s fastest convertible earlier this month. Not content with its latest achievement, Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac has set his sights higher, hinting that the brand could break the mythical 500 km/h (310 mph) barrier in the future. The problem is not if Bugatti can get there – and it is when.

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Following the W16 Mistral’s record-breaking performance at the Papenburg circuit in Germany, the team Top equipment Rimac spoke with Michelin engineers in depth. When asked about the swap, Rimac revealed his curiosity about the limits of Michelin’s custom tires, nonchalantly exploring how far their custom rubber could go.

More: Bugatti W16 Mistral sets top speed record for open-top car home at 282 mph

One of the more unusual questions was: “What is the maximum static load on the front and rear axles of Tourian tires at zero kilometers per hour?” Sounds like something you’d ask at a dinner party, right? Rimac justified his curiosity by claiming that “our most tech-savvy customers probably know why I asked that question.” Of course, man. We also pretend to understand.

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Speed ​​records are addictive

What’s more, Rimac doesn’t just stop at tire technical jargon. He raised a tantalizing prospect for the future: “Can we put ‘Five’ in front of the top speed record? Maybe next. Let’s see…”

Ambitious, but not unbelievably so, especially considering Bugatti’s track record. Back in 2019, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ had already reached a speed of 490.48 km/h (304.7 mph) on the Ehra-Lessien track. Of course, this is measured in one direction rather than the Guinness standard two-way average, but it’s safe to say Bugatti knows its way around pretty quickly.

Officially, the company has given up on speed record antics following this milestone, but the arrival of the Rimac seems to have reignited Bugatti’s desire for ridiculous speeds.

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Interestingly, the W16 Mistral’s latest feat isn’t a marketing stunt from Bugatti’s PR team, but the brainchild of the son of a particularly well-connected car collector. Apparently, the owner of three Veyron and Chiron world record cars asked Bugatti if they could repeat the magic with the W16 Mistral. Bugatti made a one-time delivery of $14 million and made a splash. Who says the super rich don’t have hobbies?

The new Bugatti Tourbillon may electronically limit top speed to 445 km/h (277 mph), but it could be capable of much more, especially if it gets a bespoke one-off upgrade. Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac said Bugatti customers currently spend an average of 500,000 euros ($530,000) on customization per vehicle, indicating there is enough demand to push the brand to continue to push boundaries.

Pushing the limits of tire technology

Rimac emphasized that such projects are as much about testing technology as they are about meeting the needs of wealthy customers: “These cars are of course for people who can afford them. Our great customers. But I think they’re also exploring the possibilities. We have people from Michelin here. We are pushing the limits of tire technology and pushing the limits of tires to a completely different level today than they were 30 years ago.”

MORE: Koenigsegg, Rimac and Hennessey bosses drive each other’s supercars

Although this is his first time behind the wheel of a Bugatti, Mate Rimac is no stranger to record-breaking feats. In his early days in the automotive industry, he set 5 world records in a modified BMW E30 and in 2023 set 27 world records in a Rimac Nevera.

In addition to Bugatti, other companies that can achieve the 500 km/h (310 mph) target with supercars include Koenigsegg and Hennessey.