Bugatti now holds the fastest car record

The land speed world record for a production car has been smashed by a Bugatti sports car.

In a flash of orange and black, the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport achieved an incredible average top speed of 267.8mph - far exceeding the expectations of Bugatti's engineering team.

Bugatti’s chief engineer Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber said: 'We took it that we would reach an average value of 264mph but the conditions today were perfect and allowed even more.'

It was accepted into the Guinness World Book of Records by officials.

The previous top speed for a production car had been 256.1mph which was set by a SSC Ultimate Aero in 2007.

Driven by Pierre-Henri Raphanel, the redesigned Veyron 16.4 Super Sport hit 265.9mph when driven against the wind and 269.8mph with the wind at a racetrack in Ehra-Lessien, Germany.

The production model of the car is able to generate 1,200-hp with a maximum torque of 1,500 Newton metres and a limited top speed of 258mph - to protect the tyres.

The twin-clutch, seven-speed gearbox allows for precision turning and braking and accelerating stability.

Overall control of the car has improved with the raised main-spring travel, stronger stabilisers and new shock absorbers.

The skin is made entirely of carbon-fibre composites to reduce its weight and body modifications include expanded and reshaped front air intakes and a re-shaped rear.

The new all-carbon fibre structure also provides maximum torsion rigidity, crucial when hitting extremely high speeds.

Four enlarged turbochargers and bigger intercoolers have been used to boost the power of the 16-cylinder engine

The first five Super Sports to come off the production line will constitute a special series with the same set-up as the land speed record car.

The Super Sport will begin production this autumn at Molsheim along with the Veyron and the Grand Sport.

The first five cars – known as the World Record Edition – are in a special black exposed carbon and orange finish and have already been sold.

The remaining production models will feature enlarged turbochargers and bigger intercoolers for the 16-cylinder engine.

Bugatti has sold 260 Veyron and 35 Grand Sport.