Austrian Police Seize $3.2 Million Bugatti Chiron for Speeding on Vienna's Ringstrasse
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector
A Bugatti Chiron worth more than €3 million (approximately $3.2 million) has been seized by Austrian authorities after the driver was caught speeding at more than double the legal limit through the heart of Vienna.
Local media outlet Heute reported that a 38-year-old Austrian man was behind the wheel of the multimillion-dollar hypercar when he was clocked at 119 km/h (approximately 76 mph) in a 50 km/h (31 mph) zone on Vienna's Ringstrasse, a prominent boulevard that loops around the city's historic district.
The high-speed infraction occurred near the Austrian Parliament building and was captured by a roadside speed trap. Vienna police acted swiftly, impounding the vehicle on the spot and immediately revoking the driver's license.
Under Austria's newly strengthened traffic laws targeting dangerous driving, authorities can confiscate vehicles in severe speeding cases, especially when speeds exceed limits by more than 60 km/h in urban areas. In this case, the Chiron was traveling nearly 2.5 times faster than permitted, making it a textbook candidate for impoundment.
What happens next remains uncertain. Austrian law does allow for the forfeiture and auctioning of vehicles used in extreme traffic violations. If sold by the state, the Bugatti Chiron—capable of reaching speeds over 260 mph—could fetch millions on the open market.
The incident highlights a growing trend in European cities where luxury and hypercars are under increased scrutiny for reckless driving and noise violations. It also serves as a stark reminder that even the world's fastest cars aren't immune to traffic enforcement.
Vienna police have not yet announced whether criminal charges will follow or if the vehicle will be returned to the owner.
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