Bugatti has built a reputation for outdoing itself with each new model. The Mistral is no exception, emphatically snatching the title of fastest open-top car from the Hennessey Venom GT Spyder. The Mistral reached an independently verified top speed of 282.04mph – eclipsing the previous record of 265.5mph.

For the record run, there was only one man for the job: Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Andy Wallace. Wallace’s résumé includes top-speed runs in icons such as the Bugatti Veyron, Chiron Super Sport 300+, and the McLaren F1 – often regarded as the genesis of the modern hypercar. Unlike previous Bugatti speed runs – including the controversial Chiron Super Sport 300+ in 2019 at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien proving grounds – the Mistral achieved its feat at the 7.6-mile ATP Automotive high-speed oval in Germany.

The Mistral shares its powerplant with the Chiron Super Sport: an 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 producing 1,578bhp and 1,180lb-ft (1,600Nm) of torque. When the Mistral was first introduced, Bugatti quoted a top speed of over 261mph – a figure that now seems modest.

What makes this run particularly special is that the record-setting Mistral is a customer car, sporting a livery inspired by previous record-holders: exposed carbon fibre with Jet Orange accents. Commissioning such a unique machine – one of just 99 to be built – comes at a price. Bugatti reported the Mistral’s original cost as €14 million (£11.6 million), but it’s safe to say its value has climbed significantly since.

The Mistral marks the end of Bugatti’s W16-powered lineage before the hybrid V16-powered Tourbillon takes the helm for the next generation of hypercars. Design-wise, it’s a “greatest hits” of the W16 Bugatti range, incorporating elements of the Bolide, Chiron, Divo, and La Voiture Noire – the most expensive new car ever sold – all woven into the Mistral’s striking roadster silhouette. Unlike previous open-top Bugattis, the Mistral has no roof panel and is always exposed to the elements.

Bugatti has also claimed a second, albeit unofficial, record with the Mistral. After its top-speed run, the car’s owner was treated to a passenger ride. While the exact speed wasn’t disclosed, Bugatti stated it was close to the 282mph achieved by Wallace and therefore the fastest passenger ride to date.

The Mistral’s 282.04mph top speed surpasses the 277.87mph of the Koenigsegg Agera RS, which holds the title of fastest production car. However, Bugatti has not challenged for the outright top-speed record, leaving the Koenigsegg to retain its crown. Even so, the Mistral has cemented its place in history as the fastest open-top car, exceeding its projected top speed by 21mph. With the Tourbillon’s claimed v-max of 276mph, one can only wonder if Bugatti is once again being conservative.