Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ — The Car That Broke 300 mph
On September 2, 2019, a Modified Chiron Did Something Nobody Had Ever Done Before.
On September 2, 2019, a Modified Chiron Did Something Nobody Had Ever Done Before.
Speed records in the automotive world are common. Manufacturers chase them regularly. Most are forgotten within weeks.
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is different. What happened on a closed stretch of the Ehra-Lessien test track on September 2, 2019 was a genuine milestone — the first time a production-based road car had exceeded 300 miles per hour.
The number was 304.773 mph. 490.484 km/h.
How You Get to 300 mph
The Power Problem
The standard Chiron produces 1,500 horsepower. For the Super Sport 300+, Bugatti extracted 1,600 horsepower through revised turbocharger mapping and thermal management improvements. At 300 mph, aerodynamic drag increases with the square of velocity — the engine is not fighting road resistance. It is fighting the air itself.
The Aerodynamic Problem
The aerodynamic package was reworked entirely for minimal drag: extended rear bodywork (longtail), recalibrated rear wing, optimized underbody, minimized body panel gaps. The result was a drag coefficient reduction that made the difference between 280 mph and 300 mph — a gap that sounds small and represents an enormous engineering achievement.
The Tyre Problem
At 304 mph, each tyre completes approximately 4,100 rotations per minute. Michelin developed a bespoke tyre — the Pilot Sport Cup 2 in a specification never used on any other car. Each tyre was individually X-rayed before the attempt.
The Record Run
Andy Wallace, a Le Mans 24 Hours winner, drove the attempt at Ehra-Lessien’s 9-kilometre straight. The run lasted less than a minute. At 304 mph, the car covers 136 metres every second. There is no margin for anything.
304.773 mph. Independently verified. Bugatti had done what nobody had done before.
The Production Car
The production Chiron Super Sport 300+ is limited to 30 examples at €3.5 million (~$3.9 million). Electronically limited to 440 km/h (273 mph) — still faster than any other production car available to the public.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8.0L Quad-Turbo W16 |
| Power | 1,600hp |
| 0–100 km/h | 2.4 seconds |
| 0–300 km/h | 13.1 seconds |
| Limited top speed | 440 km/h (273 mph) |
| Record speed | 490.484 km/h (304.773 mph) |
| Production | 30 units |
| Price | ~$3.9 million |
The W16 Engine
A W16 is essentially two narrow-angle V8 engines joined at the crankshaft. Bugatti’s 8.0L W16 features four turbochargers. At full power, it consumes air at a rate that would empty a normal room in approximately 3 seconds.
What Happened Next — The Speed Wars
Bugatti’s record did not go unchallenged. SSC’s Tuatara claim was disputed. Koenigsegg’s Jesko Absolut simulations suggest 330+ mph capability. Hennessey’s Venom F5 has been tested at ~270 mph. The war continues.
But for September 2, 2019 — Bugatti stood alone at the top of everything humanity had ever built on four wheels.
The Chiron Super Sport 300+ in Bugatti’s Lineage
The 300+ represents the absolute peak of the W16 era. The Divo proved Bugatti could build for handling. The 300+ proved Bugatti could build for ultimate speed. Together, they define the full spectrum of the Chiron platform.
Now the Tourbillon (1,800hp, V16 hybrid) opens a completely new chapter. Its 276 mph top speed is lower than the 300+’s record, but its engineering represents a quantum leap in every other dimension.
On the collector market, the 30 Super Sport 300+ units are among the most desirable modern Bugattis, with values expected to climb steadily.
304 mph in a road car. Is this the ultimate human achievement on four wheels, or will the Jesko Absolut break 330? Tell us in the comments.
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