Bugatti Veyron Super Sports reclaims 'fastest car ever' record

The race for the world's fastest car intensified this week, as Bugatti launched a Super Sports version of its iconic Veyron hypercar designed to topple the Shelby SuperCars Ultimate Aero

Rory Reid

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Rory Reid

July 9, 2010 4:23 a.m. PT

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The arms race for the world's fastest car intensified this week, as Bugatti launched a Super Sports version of its iconic Veyron hypercar designed to topple the Shelby SuperCars Ultimate Aero.

The Aero has held the 253mph record since 2007, but this was smashed comprehensively when Bugatti test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel drove the Veyron Super Sports over two runs at 265.9mph and 269.8mph, for an average speed of 267.8mph. That, friends, is the fastest ever recorded in a production car.

What manner of witchcraft was used to achieved this performance, you ask? A bucketload more power, mostly. The car now produces 1,200bhp -- 199 more than the previous model. Its 8-litre, 16-cylinder engine hasn't been touched, but its four turbochargers have been upgraded and it's been fitted with larger intercoolers that allow cooler air into the engine, promoting a more thorough (read: explosive) combustion process.

The Veyron Super Sport also has carbon-fibre bodywork, which reduces its weight by around 300kg -- that's as much as 6.8 Kylie Minogues.

Sadly, it's unlikely many of us will ever get to drive a Veyron Super Sports. Bugatti will only build 30 examples, each of which will have a €1,650,000 (£1.4m) price tag. If you do have the cash lying around, it's unlikely you'll experience the full 268mph top speed anyway, as the car is electrically limited to 257.9mph to stop the tyres from disintegrating.

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sports will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August.

Click through our gallery above for more mouthwatering pics.

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The Super Sports set a new top speed record at Volkswagen's test track in Ehra-Lessien, Germany.

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The Super Sports model is 300kg lighter than the original. It's also 400 per cent more orange.

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At speeds up to 137mph, the rear spoiler system is completely retracted. In handling mode, used at higher speeds, the spoiler deploys for added downforce.

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Inside, this gauge tells the driver exactly how much horsepower is being produced by the engine.

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At high speeds, the car's nose is lowered to improve downforce and airflow to the rear spoiler.

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Bugatti will only build 30 Super Sports. If you ever see one, this is the most likely angle.

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Unlike most hyper-quick cars, the Veyron's interior is a picture of luxury.

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The sequential shifter lets you select higher gears by pushing forward, or lower gears by pulling back. Slide it to the left to select neutral, and pull back from that position for reverse.