1,000 hp and 407 km/h: 15 years since the speed record of the Bugatti Veyron

It seems like yesterday. Yet 15 years have already passed since the Bugatti Veyron broke the legendary 400 km/h top speed barrier for a production car. The Veyron managed to reach 407 km/h, setting a record that made it a true icon.

Let’s remember that to achieve such a milestone, the Bugatti Veyron relied on engineering solutions never seen before. For example, its 8-litre W16 engine with four turbochargers, one for each of its four W-configured cylinder banks, delivered 1,000 CV and a peak torque of 1,250 Nm. Today these are not figures that surprise as much, since they are easily achieved with the help of electrification.

With this engine, the Veyron could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, and reach double that speed in just 7.3 seconds. And, most importantly, it fulfilled one of the goals for which it was designed: reaching the magic figure of 400 km/h.

To do so, the Veyron completely changed its aerodynamic configuration, first from 220 km/h, and then again upon reaching 380 km/h. As you can imagine, the effect of the hydraulically operated spoilers and diffuser constantly worked to keep the car glued to the ground and prevent it from lifting off.

The magic “key” to 400 km/h

The driver tasked with setting that record, Uwe Novacki, is 71 years old today. He recalls with nostalgia the privilege it was in 2005 to become the first to break the 400 km/h barrier with the Veyron. In fact, 15 years later, very few can still boast of having been behind the wheel of a car above that speed.

“To reach that speed, during the attempts you have to stay focused and anticipate the road and what the car may do. Any irregularity on the asphalt, or any movement of the steering wheel, can have dramatic consequences”

What many don’t know is that reaching that speed required many attempts; it wasn’t achieved on the first try. Nor do many know that, to reach 400 km/h, the driver had to operate a second key inside the vehicle, the so-called “Speed Key”, which configured all the car’s settings for the record.

In the first attempts, they barely managed to reach 380 km/h. Until the German organisation TÜV SÜD was finally able to certify a top speed of 408 km/h, although in some of the runs the speedometers even registered 411 km/h.

Subsequently, the Veyron set new records: 431 km/h with the 1,200 CV Super Sport version in 2010, and 408.84 km/h with the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse in 2013, a new record for a roadster. In 2019, Bugatti joined the race for speed again with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, setting a record of 490.484 km/h.

Today, the new goal of surpassing 500 km/h also seems unreachable. But there is already someone well positioned to achieve it, such as the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolute. But that is another story.

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