Since the birth of the automobile, manufacturers have been trying to make the quickest cars they can. Here’s a rundown of the fastest cars on the planet right now.
Speed has fascinated humankind for as long as people have been on the planet. From the invention of the wheel to supersonic aircraft, going more quickly means being able to do more things, more efficiently, while also offering advantages over those who must travel more slowly.
This principle very much applies to cars, with manufacturers seeking constantly seeking to make the world’s fastest car ever. And while speed limits and other road users mean there is little practical application for really fast cars in day-to-day life, human nature means engineers, designers and drivers alike are always keen to see just how much faster a car can be made to go.
To be a contender for the title of the world’s fastest car, a vehicle will clearly need a hugely powerful engine, or several electric motors and a big battery pack. Aerodynamics play a huge role, too, as cutting through the air and overcoming its friction can make all the difference as speeds increase. How light a car is also impacts its top speed, while a car’s tyres (and their ability to withstand huge rotational forces) play a big part, too.
Below you will find a comprehensive list of the quickest cars in the world, many of which carwow has been lucky enough to drive. You can also take a look at the fastest cars that are available on carwow, too, all of which you can with great offers from trusted dealers.
The fastest cars in the world right now are:
- Bugatti Chiron Supersport 300+
- SSC Tuatara
- Hennessey Venom F5
- Rimac Nevera
- McLaren Speedtail
- Koenigsegg Regera
- Aston Martin Valkyrie
- Pagani Huayra
- Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
- Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
1. Bugatti Chiron Supersport 300+
Top speed: 304mph
0-60mph: 2.2 seconds
Those who grew up in the 2000s will probably associate the fastest car in the world with the legendary Bugatti Veyron. Well that car’s spirit has been carried over to the Bugatti Chiron Supersport 300+, an 8.0-litre quad turbocharged 1,600hp mega machine which will do, as the name suggests, over 300mph.
Specifically, it did 304mph when the French firm unleashed it at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. The Chiron 300+ doesn’t hold the official world record though, as it only did the run in one direction. To break the record you have to do it twice in opposite directions, which Bugatti decided not to do for some reason.
2. SSC Tuatara
Top speed: 295mph
0-60mph: 2.5 seconds
While the Bugatti Chiron’s complicated W16 engine is mightily impressive, sometimes you just can’t beat a whopping great V8 with a couple of turbos strapped to it. The SSC Tuatara (Too-ah-ta-ra) has a twin-turbocharged V8 which puts out up to 1,750hp when it’s running on ethanol, however there is some controversy around the official top speed.
You see, SSC claimed the Tuatara actually managed 316mph in October 2020 to make it the world’s fastest car — but later admitted to a GPS error that depicted that speed wrongly. Tests in early 2023 saw the car hit an actual top speed of 295mph, not exactly slow.
3. Hennessey Venom F5
Top speed: 272mph (for now)
0-60mph: 2.6 seconds
The folks in the USA are smashing the top speed game recently, with third place going to another all-American supercar. The Hennessey Venom F5 has a 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with 1,817hp and 1,617Nm of torque.
That’s enough to launch it from 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds, and it’ll go onto a top speed of 272mph – for now. Hennessey want’s to get even more out of the F5, with the firm targeting a top speed of over 300mph.
4. Rimac Nevera
Top speed: 258mph
0-60mph: 1.9 seconds
Electric cars offer instant acceleration thanks to the torque from their electric motors, however the added weight of the batteries can limit them in terms of top speed. This isn’t the case for the Rimac Nevera though.
This ballistic EV hypercar has four electric motors, producing a whopping 1,914hp and 2,300Nm of torque. That’s enough to launch it from 0-60mph in just 1.9 seconds, and it can go on to a top speed of 258mph. It’s made almost entirely out of carbon fibre to keep the weight down, but this isn’t just some stripped-out drag racer. The interior is a lovely place to be and you still get all the luxuries you’d expect of a car that costs £2 million.
5. McLaren Speedtail
Top speed: 250mph
0-60mph: 2.5 seconds
McLaren didn’t design the Speedtail to chase world records, but, with a 250mph top speed, it’s the fastest road car it has ever built.
That’s faster than its last three-seat car — the legendary McLaren F1. Its super-slippery bodywork lacks and drag-inducing wings and means it looks like something ripped straight from a futuristic cyberpunk film. Just think about carrying two of your mates at that speed…
6. Koenigsegg Regera
Top speed: 250mph
0-60mph: 2.8 seconds
Matching the Speedtail is the Koenigsegg Regera. This Swedish speed machine comes with a twin-turbo V8 engine and an electric motor that produce a total of 1,500hp.
Unlike any other car on this list, the Regera can go from 0-250mph using just ONE gear. Yep, no matter if you’re cruising at 30mph or aiming to hit its 250mph top speed (on a closed course, not the M1) you’ll be in the same gear. Seems a little bonkers.
7. Aston Martin Valkyrie
Top speed: 250mph
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