If you love speed and have a deep bank account, you might be looking for the fastest car possible. But which is the fastest car in the world right now?
These days, there are plenty of cars that break the 250mph barrier, and some that even reach 300mph. Reaching these insane top speeds requires incredible engineering, including gigantic engines, aerodynamic tricks, and electric assist.
Fastest Cars in the World
1. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – Over 310mph (Theoretical)
Koenigsegg is really good at building crazy hypercars, and the Jesko Absolut is said to be their craziest creation yet. It’s powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 1,600hp in racing mode and accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 2.5 seconds.
The Swedish brand also says that the car will exceed 310mph, but there’s a caveat: the Jesko Absolut has never reached this top speed in real life. These predictions are based on computer simulations, so only time will tell if it can actually live up to these expectations.
2. Bugatti Chiron Super Sports 300+ – 304mph
Anyone who grew up in the 2000s would probably associate the fastest car in the world with the legendary Bugatti Veyron. The spirit of this car continues in the Bugatti Chiron Super Sports 300+, a mega machine with an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged engine that produces 1,600 horsepower and, as the name suggests, can reach speeds of over 300mph.
More specifically, it was capable of 304mph when the French company unleashed it on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. However, the Chiron 300+ only ever traveled in one direction, so no official world records are held. To break the record, you need to do it twice in the opposite direction, but for some reason Bugatti decided to do this. With the Chiron’s successor coming soon, perhaps this car will be even faster.
3. SSC Tuatara – 295mph
The Bugatti Chiron’s complex W16 engine is very impressive, but sometimes it’s hard to beat a giant V8 with a few turbos. The SSC Tuatara (Too-ah-ta-ra) has a twin-turbocharged V8 that produces up to 1,750hp when running on ethanol, although there is some debate about its official top speed.
In October 2020, SSC claimed that the Tuatara had in fact reached a speed of 331mph, making it the fastest car in the world, but later admitted that a GPS error had incorrectly reported this speed. During testing in early 2022, the car reached a real top speed of 295mph, which is by no means slow.
4. Hennessey Venom F5 – 272mph (currently)
Recently, the top speed race has been dominated by Americans, and in fourth place is another American supercar. The Hennessey Venom F5 is powered by a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that delivers 1,817hp and 1,617Nm of torque.
That’s enough to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 2.6 seconds, and for now, a top speed of 272mph. Hennessey wants to get more out of the F5, and is aiming for a top speed of over 300mph by 2024.
5. Rimac Nevera – 256mph
Electric cars accelerate instantly thanks to the torque of their electric motors, but the added weight of the battery can limit their top speed. That’s not the case with the Rimac Nevera.
This ballistic EV hypercar has four electric motors producing 1,914hp and 2,300Nm of torque. That’s enough to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in just 1.9 seconds, on to a top speed of 256mph. It’s built almost entirely from carbon fiber to keep weight down, but this is no stripped-down drag racer. The interior is a very nice place, and still has all the luxuries you’d expect from a £2 million car.
6. McLaren Speedtail – 250mph
McLaren didn’t develop the Speedtail to chase world records, but with a top speed of 250 mph, it’s the fastest road car the company has ever built.
That’s faster than his last three-seater, the legendary McLaren F1. The super-sleek body has no wings to cause drag, and it looks like it came straight out of a futuristic cyberpunk movie. Imagine carrying two friends at that speed…
7. Koenigsegg Regera – 250mph
The Speedtail is rivaled by the second Swedish brand car on this list, the Koenigsegg Regera. It is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine and an electric motor, producing a combined 1,500hp.
Unlike the other cars on this list, the Regera can accelerate from 0 to 250 mph in a single gear. Yes, whether you’re driving at 30 mph or trying to reach a top speed of 250 mph (on a closed track, not the M1), it always stays in the same gear. Seems a little crazy.
8. Aston Martin Valkyrie – 250mph
Based on its looks, you might not think the Aston Martin Valkyrie is good for driving. It has the look of a full-fledged Le Mans race car, but you can actually drive it on public roads too.
Behind the driver is a 6.5-liter hybrid V12 engine producing 1,160 horsepower, capable of propelling this F1-inspired street racer from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Not really surprising considering it weighs just over a ton.
9. Pagani Huayra – 238mph
The Pagani Huayra is a great looking car. It’s more than just a pin-up, with every last detail carefully crafted. It’s powered by an AMG-derived twin-turbocharged V12 engine that produces 730hp and 1,000Nm of torque, enough for a top speed of 238mph.
The Huayra is made mostly from carbon fiber to keep weight down and stiffness down. It’s covered in active aerodynamics that allow it to glide through the air more easily.
10. Lamborghini Revuelto – 217mph
In a world of downsizing and supercharging, the crazy people at Lamborghini have opted for a naturally aspirated V12 engine for their new flagship Revuelto. But that doesn’t mean it runs completely unsupported – it also has three electric motors to boost performance.
Specifically, it gets a total of 1,015hp, which is more than the highest power output of any road-going Lamborghini to date. Acceleration from 0 to 60mph occurs in 2.5 seconds and the top speed is 217mph.
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