For speed enthusiasts, the Bugatti Mistral has now earned the prestigious title of the fastest open-top car ever made! Achieving an extraordinary speed on the ground, it shattered previous expectations.
Although Bugatti once declared that it had finished chasing records, the French automaker—now under the ownership of Croatian brand Rimac—proved otherwise. The Bugatti Mistral has set a new benchmark, just as the era of W16 engines in supercars comes to a close.
With models like the Bugatti Veyron and the Bugatti Chiron paving the way, the Bugatti Mistral represents the final chapter for this iconic engine. The Mistral serves as a Chiron open-roof, utilizing the powerful W16 engine that will soon disappear from future Bugatti models.
This phenomenal powerplant enabled the Bugatti Mistral to become the fastest open-top ever, reaching a staggering top speed of 453.91 km/h.
The Fastest Open-Roof Car
Bugatti initially made a conservative estimate about the Bugatti Mistral’s performance, predicting a top speed of 420 km/h (261 mph). Even this number was already higher than the 409 km/h (254.04 mph) achieved by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse back in 2013. Based on these early figures, the Mistral was expected to be 34 km/h (21 mph) faster than the Veyron Convertible. However, the reality exceeded expectations, with a much more impressive performance.
Bugatti Mistral’s Real-World Top Speed
The Bugatti Mistral, during a test on the Papenburg track in Germany, set a new record with an astonishing speed of 453.91 km/h (282 mph), solidifying its position as the fastest convertible car in the world. The achievement was made possible by Andy Wallace, Bugatti’s professional test driver and Le Mans winner. Wallace is no stranger to setting speed records, having reached 490 km/h (304.77 mph) in a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ in 2019.
Chiron Top Speed Comparison: Coupe vs. open-roof
While the Bugatti Mistral is unmatched among open-top vehicles, it is still around 35 km/h (22 mph) slower than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ coupe on which it is based.
Mechanical Specifications
The Bugatti Mistral, the world’s fastest open-roof, is powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine equipped with four turbochargers. This mechanical marvel generates 1,578 horsepower (1,600 PS) and 1,600 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The car features an all-wheel-drive system that ensures optimal performance. Bugatti will only produce 99 units of the Mistral, each priced at a hefty $5 million (SAR 18,750,000). The car’s design features eye-catching orange accents, a nod to previous record-setters like the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport and the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse.
