original version of 408.47 km/h (253.81 mph)during test sessions on the Ehra-Lessien  test track on 19 April 2005. This top speed was verified by  James May  on  Top Gear  in November 2006, again at Volkswagen Group's private  Ehra-Lessien  test track. Jeremy Clarkson, driving a Veyron from Italy to London, noted that at top speed