Bugatti smashes 'open top' speed record

Just weeks after being stripped of its world’s fastest production car title, Bugatti has hit back by revealing this – the world’s fastest convertible.

It’s called the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse WRC and officially clocked 408.84km/h earlier this week in the hands of Chinese driver Anthony Liu.

Like the Veyron Super Sport, the Vitesse WRC uses an 8.0-litre W16 engine, but has been tweaked to produce 883kW/1500Nm.

To save occupants from losing their toupees at 400km/h, the Vitesse features a specially engineered ‘roof spoiler’ and windbreak to reduce buffeting in the cabin.

Bugatti will unveil the Vitesse at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month.

Just eight WRC – world record car – editions will be built.