Speed has long fascinated car manufacturers, and many continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with modern motoring. These 10 cars are some of the fastest you can buy today.
Horsepower may have lost its primacy in recent years, but the fact remains that these quickest cars can do crazy things on the open road and at the track.
1. Bugatti Veyron
When the Bugatti Veyron first hit the streets in 2005, it became the fastest car on earth. It cost a fortune, generated mind-blowing power and accelerated from a dead stop to 258mph in just three seconds. It was also a beautiful machine, meticulously crafted and boasting a host of impressive technology.
When driving one, you can feel the adrenaline rush from the growl of the engine and the lurch forward as it powers through corners at electrifying speeds. Even though the top speed craze has died down and manufacturers have stopped chasing new records, these vehicles will always be known as the world's fastest cars.
The latest variant of the Veyron is the Chiron Pur Sang, a bold evolution that doesn’t shy away from flaunting its incredible capability. The quad-turbo W16 produces a staggering 1,001 horsepower and propels the supercar to a mind-blowing top speed of 218 mph. This is the fastest production car ever made and a car that will take your breath away every time you drive it.
2. McLaren Speedtail
The McLaren Speedtail is a remarkable car that's not only built to break world records, but also to be a joy to drive. It's the fastest car that you can buy today and it is capable of traveling at more than 250mph.
Its top speed is more than nine miles per hour faster than the previous record holder, the Woking-based manufacturer's last three-seater, the McLaren F1. Its long, slippery body features no wings and has been designed to be as aerodynamic as possible.
Its hybrid powertrain combines a twin-turbo V8 engine with an electric motor to produce an impressive 1,035 horsepower. The two power sources effortlessly propel the hypercar forward while a cutting-edge transmission system transfers the immense energy to the rear wheels. McLaren claims the Speedtail can accelerate from 0-186mph in just 12.8 seconds, which is nearly four seconds faster than its current flagship, the P1.
3. Koenigsegg Regera
Until recently, the fastest car in the world was the Koenigsegg Regera. The Swedish company’s first hypercar was capable of reaching 241 miles per hour, eclipsing every other vehicle on the road. However, the Regera’s top speed record has since been beaten by Rimac’s C_Two.
The Regera uses a hybrid powertrain that combines 1,100 horsepower from the twin-turbocharged V8 with 700 hp from an electric motor. It also has a single-speed fixed-gear transmission and active aerodynamics with an adjustable rear wing.
YouTuber Mr JWW spent some time behind the wheel of a Regera and created a video that explores the car in detail. He was impressed with the speed and acceleration, as well as the handling capabilities. However, he didn’t like the exterior styling or lack of a traditional gearbox.
He also noted that a lack of downshifting can cause you to feel like you are continuously pressing on the accelerator when driving at high speeds. Other than that, he enjoyed the interior and how comfortable the seats were.
4. Aston Martin Valkyrie
The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the fastest car in the world, according to its own claims. This insanely fast hybrid hypercar packs a staggering 1,000 horsepower from its 6.5-liter V12 and 155-hp electric motor. It is the brand’s first-ever hypercar and it looks bonkers. The Valkyrie is a track-focused monster that is also street legal. Alex Hirschi of Supercar Blondie has been taking the Aston Martin Valkyrie on a passenger lap at Homestead Miami Speedway.
Adrian Newey’s promise that the Valkyrie AMR Pro would be as fast around a circuit as an LMP1 car has been met with open skepticism by anyone with a deep understanding of race-car physics. But having experienced the Valkyrie myself from its vestigial passenger seat, I can confirm that it is ferociously quick.
But it’s not just about raw pace, though. The Valkyrie is impressively driveable given the fundamental limitation of wearing road-legal rubber. Its Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires do a good job of persuading the Aston Martin to turn and delivering traction when needed.
5. Toyota Corolla GR
The Toyota Corolla GR is not only the fastest car in the world, it also has the best engine in any hatchback on sale. Its 300-hp, three-cylinder turbocharged engine is a tiny monster that can lay claim to legitimate motorsports pedigree and delivers ferocious power with surprising little turbo lag.
Toyota's unique all-wheel drive system is designed to put that power down, and it works like a charm. The Corolla is able to easily match the 0-60 time of its bigger competition and offers a more user-friendly cabin than the extroverted Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R hatchbacks.
However, those hatchbacks have more polish and advanced tech than the GR Corolla. And the GR Corolla is not without its faults, especially in terms of the infotainment interface and voice controls. Despite this, the Toyota has a rough-and-ready appeal that should appeal to hardcore enthusiasts. Use our payment estimator to get a quote on this or any other vehicle.
6. Hennessey Verado
Hennessey is a Texas-based tuning company that has re-engineered a wide range of cars since 1991. Its dyno-tested and street-legal modifications offer unparalleled driving thrills. Founded by professional racer John Hennessey, the Hennessey business comprises Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE), Tuner School, and the Lonestar Motorsports Park.
The Hennessey Verado, based on the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray, is one of the fastest cars in the world. Its muscular blower vaults the exotic sports car to supercar power levels.
The Hennessey Venom GT Spyder set a new record for the world's fastest convertible with its 265 mph run at the Kennedy Space Center in 2014. Its open-top design and Hennessey's advanced twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V8 engine, which produces 1,817 horsepower, make it easy to surpass 300 mph.
7. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
Swedish hypercar maker Koenigsegg made a name for itself with the Agera RS, which was able to hit 278 mph. Now the company has a new car, called the Jesko Absolut, that has its sights set on breaking 300 mph.
It's a sleeker, stealthier interpretation of the track-focused Jesko with tweaks to reduce drag and increase high-speed stability. For instance, the rear spoiler has been replaced with fins inspired by F-15 fighter jets to clean up air flow and improve handling at high speeds.
During a test drive, Jack got the chance to take the Absolut out on a race track and see what it could do. From a standstill, the car accelerates to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, which makes it faster than both the Bugatti Bolide and the Arash AF10. But the real test will be when the Absolut finds a nice stretch of open road where it can demonstrate its top speed of 330 mph.
8. Devel Sixteen
Almost as soon as Devel Motors started making wild claims about their so-far-hypothetical supercar’s 5,007 horsepower V16 engine back in 2015, videos of said engine maxing out on the dyno circulated around the internet. Since then, little has been heard of the futuristic-looking supercar, which aims to one-up Hennessey and Bugatti (and more than a few other well-established manufacturers).
But that doesn’t mean the Devel Sixteen isn’t capable of going supersonic. After all, the car has already been clocked at 253 mph by Defining Extreme Vehicles.
Of course, it’s a bit tricky to say whether the Devel Sixteen can top 300 mph – that will depend on track conditions and driving skills. But regardless, its insane power and performance make it an obvious candidate for the world’s fastest production car! It’s just a matter of when we’ll see the thing in action. And we can’t wait to see it! Hopefully sooner rather than later.
9. Rimac C_Two
With performance numbers so preposterous that we may need a new word for them, the Croatian firm Rimac has created an electric hypercar called C_Two. Powering each wheel is an electric motor capable of delivering 1,914 horsepower.
That means it can blast off from a standstill in 2.7 seconds and hit 310mph. Rimac also claims its aerodynamics are more efficient than any other car on the market, with its front diffuser and rear spoiler adjusting for every driving situation.
The snazzy bodywork isn’t all show either, with the 440-pound battery pack integrated into the chassis allowing for a 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution. The carbon-fiber monocoque is stiff enough to withstand 1,000G of deceleration, too.
The suspension has been extensively calibrated with years of research, simulations and physical testing. The result is a car that can deliver revolutionary acceleration and focused handling, as well as long-distance comfort and 550km of range. It’s also got Level 4 autonomous capabilities, thanks to eight cameras, a lidar, six radar emitters and twelve ultrasonic sensors. Plus, 72 ECUs and processors that combine for a computing power that’s equal to 22 Macbook Pros.
