Bugatti Chiron hits 304mph

https://www.motor1.com/news/368343/bugatti-chiron-reaches-304-mph/

Ignoring machines like the Thrust SSC and Bloodhound SSC since they're more like planes, and say you had an endless, flat road - what's the theoretically highest top speed that could be ever achieved with a conventionally shaped car, before physics prevented any more progress?

More power simply equals more speed, regardless of aerodynamics. I'd suggest the biggest limiting factor is the composition of tyres.

I'm going to dig out the specs of the Chiron on that note actually and run the numbers. I recently did it for the McLaren F1 and have decided the 243.1mph claimed was fabricated. It just makes no sense. It's actually quite a complex story when you look into the five prototypes that were used in different road tests. They were all so different. Officially it only made 221mph due to gearing. Increasing the rpms allowed for 230mph (confirmed by my calculator) but the 243 would need well over 750bhp.

I'll get back on the Chiron in a bit

This Chiron was tuned from 1479bhp to 1579bhp and had some aerodynamic alterations. I reduced CD to 0.34 to 0.36. Also, 7th gear was increased. I changed the ratio from 0.55 to 0.5. Here are the numbers.

Speed (mph) Time (seconds)
10 0.4
20 0.8
30 1.3
40 1.7
50 2.1
60 2.5
70 3.0
80 3.5
90 3.9
100 4.4
110 4.9
120 5.4
130 6.0
140 6.6
150 7.3
160 8.0
170 8.7
180 9.7
190 10.7
200 11.7
210 12.8
220 14.3
230 15.9
240 17.7
250 19.6


1/4 Mile Time: 9.16
1/4 Mile Terminal: 174.9
0-400m Time: 9.13
0-400m Terminal: 174.5
1km Time: 15.68
1km Terminal: 228.6
1/2 Mile Time: 13.72
1/2 Mile Terminal: 216.3
1 Mile Time: 21.27
1 Mile Terminal: 256.5


Top Speed (mph): 300.1
Top Speed (rpm): 6789
Top Speed (gear): 7th

Interesting- the Chiron gets to 100 in about half the time of my Coupe. By the time my Coupe has done a quarter mile at about 110mph, the Chiron has done half a mile and is doing over 210

I therefore calculate that the Chiron is about twice as good as a Coupe.....

Then you're coupe is a bargin Nigel. How does £750,000 sound as an offer? You may have to wait till I get paid next Friday mind.

Hmm - bit of a cheeky offer - you’ll need to let me think about it....