The Bugatti Veyron set its 253.81-mph top-speed record in 2005. German inspection officials recorded an average of 408.47 km/h on April 19, 2005, at Volkswagen Group’s Ehra-Lessien test track. This was the original Veyron 16.4, not the later, more powerful Super Sport variant.
The Veyron’s performance came from an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine producing 1,001 PS. It also used permanent all-wheel drive, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and specially developed Michelin PAX run-flat tires. At extreme speed, its suspension lowered the car and its rear wing helped provide stability and downforce.
A common mix-up is the 2010 record of the Veyron Super Sport, which reached 267.856 mph. That was a different version with 1,200 PS. The standard Veyron’s everyday top-speed setting was limited to about 213 mph; reaching 253.81 mph required activating a special top-speed mode and completing a safety checklist.