Hi, I live in Garmisch Partenkirchen Germany, which is at the southern end of the autobahn connecting Munich with the Alps and which is almost completely speed limit free for that entire section. So I am very familiar with the top speed capabilities of the car. I am not aware of any differences in gearing in the German versus UK version, and it does not hit the 231kph (143mph) top speed in 5th. Redline in 5th is about 10 KPH short of the 231 limited top speed. And 6th still has a lot of strong acceleration left after shifting at the redline in 5th. The limiter is very annoying because it hits the limiter very easily (231kph) and then briefly "shuts down", causing the car to slow a few kph and then ignites again back to the shutoff. This causes a really annoying surge/shutdown over and over. It is very difficult to keep the car at top speed by trying to feather the pedal just below 231 so you don't hit the cut-off and get the dreaded little shutdown. Especially on a curve at 231KPH. The car hits this very quickly and easily, so there is definitely alot left, although given the very short gearing it would be limited by the redline in any event. If the limiter were like the Rev limiters I've had in other cars which are simply electronic limiters at a certain rpm and didn't shut the power off briefly, just prevent it from going higher, it would not be so annoying. But the constant surge/shutdown, surge/shutdown is terrible. Bob