What's The Fastest Bugatti Ever Created?
Bugatti doesn’t just chase speed—it curates it. From elegant pre-war streamliners to W16 rockets, here’s a 32-slide, high-octane tour of the 30 fastest Bugatti models, ranked by verified or manufacturer-quoted top speed, with where notable records were set. Strap in, this is going to be a thrilling journey through automotive history.
Type 13 “Brescia” — 70+ MPH (The Seed Of Speed)
Lightweight, revvy, and victorious—Bugatti’s first great sports car pushed 70+ mph in an era when 40 mph was typical. The nimble chassis and advanced engineering helped cement Bugatti’s racing reputation, setting the foundation for a century of unmatched performance.
Andrew Bone, Wikimedia Commons
Type 43 Grand Sport — 100–112 MPH (First 100-MPH Production Car)
A road-going rocket of the late 1920s: over 100 mph—often cited at ~112 mph—thanks to a detuned, supercharged Type 35B engine. It was the world’s first road car to crack 100 mph, giving lucky owners bragging rights that few dared to match.
Type 41 Royale — ~99–100 MPH (Majesty At Speed)
Seven thousand pounds of imperial serenity—and still ~100 mph. The Royale, with its massive 12.7-liter straight-eight, was as much a royal statement as a machine. It offered unmatched elegance while effortlessly outrunning most luxury cars of its day.
Type 50S / Type 50 — ~100–115 MPH (Period Records Vary)
The big DOHC straight-eight “grand tourisme” Bugatti: sources put the Type 50 near 100–115 mph depending on body and gearing. The Type 50S racer added a performance edge, marrying comfort and cutting-edge speed for long-distance competition and prestige touring.
Thesupermat, Wikimedia Commons
Type 55 — ~112 MPH (Roadster)
Jean Bugatti’s first design combined elegance with a supercharged punch; period data places the Type 55 around 112 mph—blistering for a roadster. Known as a “supercar of the early 1930s,” it balanced artful styling with a genuinely thrilling top-end.
Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France, Wikimedia Commons
Type 35B — ~125–150 MPH (Period Variants)
The winningest Bugatti ever also flew on the straights; evolved 35B specs place Vmax between ~125 and 150 mph depending on trim. With victories across Europe, this machine wasn’t just fast—it was practically unstoppable, redefining racing dominance in the 1920s.
Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons
Type 57SC Atlantic — ~123–124 MPH
Jean Bugatti’s design zenith wasn’t slow: ~123–124 mph in the 57SC Atlantic was staggering for the 1930s. With its riveted dorsal seam and breathtaking curves, it blended speed with sculpture—arguably one of the earliest “supercars” in automotive history.
Thesupermat, Wikimedia Commons
Type 57 (Non-SC) — ~118–125 MPH (Variant-Dependent)
Beyond the Atlantic, “regular” Type 57 road cars could top ~120 mph when supercharged (57C/57SC). For the mid-1930s, this was groundbreaking, offering refined long-distance travel that still embarrassed many so-called sports cars of the time. Luxury never looked this fast.
Type 59 (Grand Prix) — ~155 MPH (Approx.)
The last great pre-war Bugatti GP car is recorded at about ≈155 mph—long, low, and razor-sharp. With its jewel-like straight-eight, wire wheels, and light frame, the Type 59 was as beautiful as it was brutally effective on the racetrack.
Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England, Wikimedia Commons
Type 252 (Prototype) — ~120–124 MPH (Reported)
Bugatti’s last pre-Renaissance prototype (1957–62) never reached production, but reports list ~120–124 mph potential from its advanced twin-cam 1.5-liter. Though it remained a one-off oddity, the Type 252 hinted at the innovation Bugatti would one day reclaim in the ’90s.
EB112 (Concept) — 186 MPH
A graceful Giugiaro-styled fastback sedan, the EB112 combined a V12 and AWD; Bugatti notes 300 km/h (186 mph) potential. Though never produced in numbers, it proved Bugatti could infuse even a luxury four-door with Autobahn-melting speed. A true “what if” masterpiece.
Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France, Wikimedia Commons
EB110 GT — ~212–213 MPH
The “civil” EB110 GT still hit ~212 mph in testing. Its carbon monocoque, quad-turbo V12, and all-wheel drive were decades ahead, making it a futuristic missile dressed as a grand tourer. For the early ’90s, it was outrageous.
EB110 Super Sport — ~221 MPH (Nardò)
The EB110 SS was a 1990s missile: official tests cite ~221 mph, with validation runs at Nardò. Shedding weight and adding power over the GT, it became a darling of wealthy thrill-seekers—including Michael Schumacher, who famously bought one.
Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France, Wikimedia Commons
Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport — 253 MPH (Closed Roof) / ~224 MPH (Open)
The targa-roofed Grand Sport could still do 253 mph with the roof in place; top-down, it managed ~224 mph. It was proof that Bugatti’s engineering genius didn’t stop at coupes—owners could enjoy mind-bending speeds with wind in their hair.
Veyron 16.4 (Coupe) — 253 MPH
The original W16 icon hit 253 mph at Ehra-Lessien in 2005, redefining what a “production car” could do. With 1,001 horsepower and effortless usability, it rewrote the rulebook for supercars, elevating Bugatti back to the forefront of the automotive world.
FaceMePLS, CC BY 2.0 Wikimedia Commons
Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse — 254.04 MPH (Roadster Record)
In 2013, the Grand Sport Vitesse set the world roadster record at 254 mph. Roof on or off, this convertible combined hair-raising speed with everyday luxury, showing that Bugatti’s engineering could push boundaries in ways few imagined possible.
Alexandre Prevot, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Veyron 16.4 Super Sport — 267.8 MPH (Ehra-Lessien Record)
In 2010, the Veyron Super Sport hit an average 267.8 mph at Ehra-Lessien. Guinness quibbled over limiters, but the feat was real—cementing Bugatti as the undisputed master of road-car velocity and showing the world what four turbos could really do.
Alexandre Prevot, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Chiron (Standard) — 261 MPH (Limited)
Standard Chirons are limited to 261 mph for tire safety, though more is possible. With 1,500 horsepower on tap, owners know their hypercar has untapped reserves, making the Chiron a rolling reminder of how much potential is left on the table.
Chiron Sport — 261 MPH (Limited)
Stiffer, lighter, sharper—same 261-mph limiter as the base Chiron, but with handling sharpened for enthusiasts. On track, it feels even more alive, proving that outright Vmax isn’t the only thing Bugatti engineers care about when perfecting performance machines.
La Voiture Noire — ~261 MPH (Estimated)
The dramatic one-off La Voiture Noire sits on Chiron running gear, with ~261 mph estimated top speed. Built for beauty and exclusivity as much as speed, it became a $12 million showpiece, combining artistry with Bugatti’s signature engineering excess.
Y.Leclercq©, Wikimedia Commons
Chiron Super Sport — 273 MPH (Manufacturer Top Speed)
The “longtail” Chiron SS is tuned for low-drag stability, quoted at 273 mph. With extended bodywork and aerodynamic refinement, it channels speed into stability—making this Bugatti as composed at 250+ mph as most cars are at highway pace.
Bugatti Mistral — 282 MPH (Fastest Roadster)
The W16 swan song is also the fastest open-top Bugatti, with reports pegging it at 282 mph. As the ultimate convertible farewell, it takes the record from the Vitesse, closing an era with a roaring, skyward salute.
Chiron Super Sport 300+ — 304.773 MPH (Verified)
On August 2, 2019, Andy Wallace smashed through the 300-mph barrier, hitting 304.773 mph at Ehra-Lessien. This milestone shattered long-held limits, securing Bugatti’s legacy as the first to breach 300 mph in a road-legal hypercar. Automotive history was made.
Liam Walker, Wikimedia Commons
Bugatti Bolide (Track-Only) — 311+ MPH (Claimed)
A pared-to-the-bone, aero-obsessed track special, the Bolide is Bugatti’s wildest W16 experiment. Simulations project 311+ mph, though it’s not road legal. It’s essentially a glimpse into Bugatti’s sci-fi future—lighter, sharper, and scarier than anything it has unleashed before.
Centodieci — 236 MPH (Limited)
Homage to the EB110 with Chiron underpinnings: the Centodieci is capped at 236 mph. With just 10 made, it prioritizes design nostalgia over chasing top speed, giving collectors a rare blend of history and cutting-edge technology in one striking machine.
Divo — 236 MPH (Limited)
The Divo is Bugatti’s downforce-loving beast, limited to 236 mph. It’s sharper in corners than a Chiron, trading headline top speed for road course dominance. Still, in the Bugatti world, “slowed down” still means faster than most Ferraris flat-out.
Alexander Migl, Wikimedia Commons
Chiron Profilée — 236 MPH (One-Off)
This one-off “fixed-tail” Chiron blended Pur Sport gearing with GT usability, capped at 236 mph. Auctioned as the last W16 one-off, it combined exclusivity with extreme pace—cementing itself as a collector’s dream car with an unforgettable backstory.
Pelicanactor, Wikimedia Commons
Chiron Pur Sport — 217–218 MPH (Limited)
With shorter gearing, a huge wing, and track-tuned tires, the Pur Sport tops out at ~218 mph. It’s deliberately less about outright speed, instead prioritizing razor-sharp acceleration and agility. Think of it as Bugatti’s corner-carving athlete in the Chiron lineup.
Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France, Wikimedia Commons
Bye-Bye, W16: What’s Next?
As Bugatti shifts into hybrid power, the legend of W16 speed runs is sealed. Whether the Tourbillon pursues Vmax or prioritizes driving feel, Bugatti will continue redefining performance benchmarks. The future may look different, but the thrill of excess will remain.
Matti Blume, Wikimedia Commons
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