When cars first hit the roads in the 1800s, the fastest models – such as Karl Benz’s Patent Motorwagen – could just about reach 10mph. On a good day, with a light driver. And a strong tailwind.
Fast forward less than 150 years and we’ve topped that to more than 300mph. Or to put into perspective, when Bertha Benz drove that Motorwagen 66 miles and became the first person to drive a car for any prolonged distance, she would have just about travelled at 4.4 metres per second. Andy Wallce – behind the wheel of a Bugatti Chiron – has hit a blistering 136 metres per second.
Reaching these extreme speeds is no easy feat. There are only a few places in the world where cars can safely hit their top speed. Yet still, manufacturers such as Bugatti, SSC, Hennessey, and Koenigsegg continue to battle for the title of the world’s fastest car.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the fastest production road cars, based on official manufacturer figures, tested on airfields or dedicated tracks.
Top speed: 330mph
Okay, so the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut hasn’t actually physically hit its top speed just yet, but the Swedish firm’s simulations confidently suggest it will achieve a staggering 330mph.
Driven by a searingly powerful twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, the Jesko Absolut is capable of producing 1280bhp, or 1600bhp when using E85 biofuel.
Koenigsegg says the car is inspired by fighter jets, and it’s not hard to see why.
All that power, partnered with an extra-slippery 0.278 drag coefficient and a nine-speed transmission, means it can hit 0-62mph in around 2.0sec and 0-100mph in 3.6sec.
If the Jesko can match its theoretical top speed and simulation results, it’ll be the undisputed fastest production car built so far.