Editing Bugatti Veyron (section)

=== Top speed ===
German inspection officials recorded an average top speed of the original version at {{convert|408.47|km/h|abbr=on}}<ref name="speed">{{cite web|url=http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron-16.4/technology/speed.html |title=''400 and Beyond'' |publisher=bugatti.com |date=19 April 2005 |access-date=28 April 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902084715/http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron-16.4/technology/speed.html |archive-date=2 September 2011  }}</ref> during test sessions on Volkswagen Group's private [[Ehra-Lessien]] test track on 19 April 2005.

This top speed was almost matched by [[James May]] on ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' in November 2006, at the Ehra-Lessien test track, at {{convert|407.5|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="speed"/> May noted that at top speed the engine consumes {{convert|45000|L|impgal|abbr=on}} of air per minute (as much as a human breathes in four days). Back in the ''Top Gear'' studio, co-presenter [[Jeremy Clarkson]] commented that most sports cars felt like they were shaking apart at their top speed, and asked May if that was the case with the Veyron at {{convert|407|km/h|abbr=on}}. May responded that the Veyron was very controlled, and only wobbled slightly when the air brake deployed.<ref name="TGVeyron">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0PgyPWE3o | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/LO0PgyPWE3o| archive-date=2021-11-02 | url-status=live|title= Top Gear : James May's Bugatti Veyron Top Speed Test – Top Gear – BBC autos |publisher=Top Gear |date=16 December 2008 |access-date=5 August 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In regular use, the ability to reach the above absolute top speed is locked out. The car's normal top speed is listed as {{convert|343|km/h|abbr=on}}. Also, when the car reaches {{convert|220|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, hydraulics lower the car until it has a ground clearance of about {{convert|9|cm|in|abbr=on}}. At the same time, the wing and spoiler deploy. In this ''handling mode'', the wing provides {{convert|3425|N|lbf|0|abbr=}} of downforce, holding the car to the road.<ref name="pop-sci-nov06-72.73"/>

To reach the car's absolute top speed, its ''top speed mode'' must be entered while the vehicle is at rest. For this, the driver must use a special top speed key in a keyhole to the left of their seat, which triggers a checklist to establish whether the car and its driver are ready to attempt to reach {{convert|407|km/h|abbr=on}}. If so, the rear spoiler retracts, the front air diffusers shut, and normal {{convert|12.5|cm|abbr=on}} ground clearance drops to {{convert|6.5|cm|abbr=on}}.