Bugatti has revealed the apotheosis of Veyron. You've heard that a few times before, agreed, but the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport just gone into the Guinness Book of Records (GBoR) as the fastest production car on Mother Earth.
Bugatti chief test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel maxed the Super Sport at a face-peeling 269.8mph at Volkswagen's Ehra-Lessian high-speed bowl, with GBoR reps present. A second record run was set at 265.9mph, resulting in a 267.8mph official speed - a production car record.
Fancy a go yourself? Well you can (almost), because the car will go on sale shortly. The first five made will be designated 'World Record Edition', painted the black and orange hues you see here, and specified exactly as per the record breaking car. Sadly they've all been sold already.
The remaining cars will be limited to just 258mph - 10mph shy of the record-breaking car - to make sure the tyres don't explode. They won't get the orange bits, but can be ordered with lacquered exposed carbon bodywork.
Changes are quite comprehensive, but the headline is its 1,184bhp output, raised from 1,001bhp by augmenting the four turbos strapped to the 16.4-litre engine. The intercoolers are bigger, and fed by extra vents on the roof.
The shock absorbers are new and the spring rates changed for better high-speed stability, the kerb weight is reduced with more extensive use of carbon fibre, and the front and rear ends are redesigned for better airflow.
The Veyron Super Sport will debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August. How much it costs and how many will be made is anyone's guess.
Mark Nichol - 5 Jul 2010