Only one automobile in the entire world has a certified top speed record that exceeds 300 mph.
The 1894 Benz Velo, which could reach a peak speed of only 12 mph, was the first mass-produced vehicle to be measured at a speed. Since then, there aren’t many confirmed records, however in or around 1950, the Jaguar XK120 achieved a production car speed record of 124.6 mph (not to be confused with the tuned prototype that managed to hit 133 mph) After this, conducting one’s own top speed test for car periodicals became become a fad. Even the legendary McLaren F1 was tested by Car & Driver, and in 2005, the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 established the first official speed record that was confirmed by German inspection officials. Only a small number of vehicles have come close to breaking the record since the official contest between manufacturers began at that same moment. The top 10 fastest automobiles in the world are covered in this list, which is arranged in order of speed.
10 – MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL: 250 MPH
The McLaren Speedtail, one of the newest vehicles on our list, was unveiled in 2019 and is regarded as the famous F1’s spiritual successor. But the main reason for that is that it has a three-seat configuration with the driver’s seat in the middle. The Speedtail, in contrast to the other vehicles on this list, is a hybrid vehicle that combines an electric motor with a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 gasoline engine. According to McLaren, the Speedtail can reach 250 mph, making it the company’s fastest car to date. The British company has not, however, shown evidence that the Speedtail is indeed capable of such speeds.
| Engine: | twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 hybrid |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,035 horsepower |
| Torque: | 848 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.5 seconds (estimate) |
| Top speed: | 250 mph (claimed) |
| Price: | $2.2 million |
| Production: | 106 |
9 – BUGATTI VEYRON: 253.8 MPH
The regular Veyron, the fourth Bugatti on our list, was the first mass-produced vehicle to achieve 250 mph. And it did it in 2005 when it ended McLaren’s illustrious record set in the F1 that year. On April 19, 2005, the Veyron, powered by an early 8.0-liter W-16, reached a peak speed of 253.8 mph. Its record lasted for two years until being broken by the SuperSport model and subsequently by the Chiron, its replacement. The only Bugatti on our list with fewer than 1,000 horsepower is this one. The W-16 engine that powered the first Veyron produces 987 horsepower and 922 pound-feet of torque.
| Engine: | quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 987 horsepower |
| Torque: | 922 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.8 seconds |
| Top speed: | 254 horsepower |
| Price: | $1.7 million |
| Production: | 178 |
8 – SSC ULTIMATE AERO: 256 MPH
The Bugatti Veyron’s record was momentarily broken by the Ultimate Aero. Prior to the arrival of the Veyron Super Sport to retrieve it. SSC used a twin-turbo variant of the vehicle to establish its record in 2007. Somewhere in West Richland, The Ultimate Aero reached a high speed of 256.1 mph, and it kept that record until 2010. After numerous limited-edition iterations, the Ultimate Aero was terminated in 2013. However, SSC is now developing the Tuatara, a new competitor for the title of fastest production automobile in the world. SSC raised power to 1,300 hp at the end of manufacturing, but the record vehicle had 1,183 horsepower and 1,094 pound-feet of torque. Additionally, a 6.9-liter engine was substituted for the original 6.3-liter V-8.
| Engine: | twin-turbo, 6.3-liter V-8 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,183 horsepower |
| Torque: | 1,094 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.7 seconds |
| Top speed: | 256 mph |
| Price: | $600,000 |
| Production: | unknown |
7 – KOENIGSEGG AGERA R: 260 MPH
Although the Agera RS is maybe the quickest vehicle of its class, the Agera R isn’t far behind. The iconic 5.0-liter V-8 engine from the business, which was used in the Agera R from 2011 to 2014, produced up to 1,124 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. Although the Agera RS ultimately broke these records, the Swedish company utilized this vehicle to set a number of production car records in 2011. The Agera R was almost as quick as the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport at 260 mph, although not breaking any records for highest speed. It is the second Koenigsegg to crack our top 10 thanks to this benchmark, which puts it in fifth position overall.
| Engine: | twin-turbo, 5.0-liter V-8 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,124 horsepower |
| Torque: | 885 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.7 seconds |
| Top speed: | 260 mph |
| Price: | $2 million |
| Production: | 18 |
6 – BUGATTI CHIRON: 261 MPH
One of the four Bugattis that made our list was the basic Chiron. The quad-turbo W-16 engine was carried over into the Chiron, which was unveiled in 2016 to replace the Veyron. However, output was increased to 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. The Chiron’s maximum speed is governed at 261 mph, which is a little slower than the Veyron Super Sport. However, the Chiron Super Sport tops the list with a speed of almost 300 mph, so we know there is plenty of power available.
| Engine: | quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,479 horsepower |
| Torque: | 1,180 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.6 seconds |
| Top speed: | 261 mph |
| Price: | $3 million |
| Production: | up to 500 |
5 – BUGATTI VEYRON SUPER SPORT: 268 MPH
Despite being 16 years old as of 2021, the Bugatti Veyron is still one of the quickest supercars ever produced. The Veyron’s peak speed of 267.8 mph actually ranks it in fourth place according to the record set by Bugatti in 2010. This standard was reached using a Veyron Super Sport variant that was strengthened. To commemorate the occasion, Bugatti produced a limited run of 30 automobiles known as the World Record Edition; however, these cars are only capable of 258 mph in order to protect the tires. The 8.0-liter W-16 engine of the Super Sport was also the Veyron’s most potent variant, producing 1,184 horsepower—197 more than the standard model.
| Engine: | quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,184 |
| Torque: | 1,106 |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.6 seconds |
| Top speed: | 268 |
| Price: | $2.7 million |
| Production: | 30 |
4 – HENNESSEY VENOM GT: 270 MPH
2011 saw the release of the Venom GT, which was produced up until 2017. Despite the apparent length of the run, only 13 vehicles were produced. The heavily modified Venom GT, which is based on the Lotus Exige, has a twin-turbo, 7.0-liter V-8 engine under the hood. The engine produces up to 1,244 horsepower and 1,155 pound-feet of torque and is based on General Motors’ LS7 V-8. In February 2014, the Venom GT attained its peak speed of 270.4 mph on the shuttle landing strip at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Despite exceeding the world record at the time, Hennessey’s single-direction run prevented it from being entered into the Guinness Book of Records. Additionally, the 13-car manufacturing run restriction was against Guinness Book of World Records.
| Engine: | twin-turbo, 7.0-liter V-8 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,244 horsepower |
| Torque: | 1,155 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.7 seconds |
| Top speed: | 270 mph |
| Price: | $1.2 million |
| Production: | 13 |
3 – KOENIGSEGG AGERA RS: 278 MPH
When Koenigsegg reached an average speed of 277.9 mph in November 2017, the Agera RS, the most potent model of the Agera, overtook it as the fastest automobile in the world. Although the record was broken in less than two years, the Agera RS still holds other records, including those for 0 to 200 mph acceleration, 200 mph braking, and 0 to 200 mph and back to complete stop. Koenigsegg, unlike Bugatti, did not create a limited-edition Agera RS to commemorate the record, although there were only 25 made overall.
| Engine: | twin-turbo, 5.0-liter V-8 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,341 horsepower |
| Torque: | 1,160 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.6 seconds |
| Top speed: | 278 mph |
| Price: | $2.5 million |
| Production: | 25 |
2 – BUGATTI CHIRON SUPER SPORT 300+: 304 MPH
With a peak speed of about 261 mph, the ordinary Bugatti Chiron is already one of the fastest vehicles in the world. However, the French company wanted to break the existing record, so it developed a vehicle that was even more powerful. The Centodieci’s engine was modified by Bugatti to have 1,578 horsepower (99 more than the Chiron’s regular rating), longer gear ratios in the transmission, and a reworked aerodynamic package that lengthens the car by approximately 10 inches. On August 2, the modified vehicle reached a peak speed of 304.7 mph. To commemorate the occasion, Bugatti is producing the Chiron Super Sport 300+, a commercial version based on the prototype. There are only 30 of these cars in existence, which is enough for the Guinness Book of Records to certify the speed record.
| Engine: | quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower: | 1,578 horsepower |
| Torque: | 1,180 pound-feet |
| 0-60 mph: | 2.6 seconds |
| Top speed: | 304 mph |
| Price: | $3.8 million |
| Production: | 30 |
1 – SSC TUATARA: 316 MPH
Top speed records sometimes generate discussion, particularly when it comes to surpassing the 300 mph barrier, which was formerly a mystic and outright impossibility. The SSC Tuatara allegedly reached a top speed of 331 mph in October of 2020, making it by far the fastest automobile in the world at the time. Within hours, individuals had begun pointing out inconsistencies in the films, and sure enough, what would have been a record-breaking performance was just impossible to verify. SSC made a second attempt to demonstrate that the SSC Tuatara is the world’s fastest vehicle. The Koenigsegg Agera RS was knocked out of second place and the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ became the world’s fastest vehicle as a result of that second effort, which sadly wasn’t as successful as the first. Why then did I rank the Tuatara higher than the Bugatti? Due to the amusing twist plus, let’s be honest, the fact that I would be awesome if the Tuatara actually broke the record. The Tuatara is officially out of place until that time, though.
| Engine | 5.9-Liter Flat-Plane Crank V-8 |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1,750 Horsepower |
| Torque | 1,280 Pound-Feet |
| 0-60 MPH | 2.5 Seconds (est) |
| Top Speed | 286 MPH (316 unverified) |
| Price | $1.6 Million |
| Production | 100 |