Approximating classifying spaces by smooth projective varieties

We prove that for every reductive algebraic group $H$ with centre of positive dimension and every integer $K$ there is a smooth and projective variety $X$ and an algebraic $H$-torsor $P \to X$ such that the classifying map $X \to \Bclass H$ induces an isomorphism in cohomology in degrees $\le K$. This is then applied to show that if $G$ is a connected non-special group there is a $G$-torsor $P \to X$ for which we do not have $[P]=[G][X]$ in the (completion of the) Grothendieck ring of varieties.