How does it feel to build the fastest car in the world? That’s one question the team behind the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, who held the Guinness World Record in 2010, can answer without stuttering.
That title was taken away in the first quarter of 2013. But in that process, the decision-makers almost disqualified the Bugatti Veyron because of a broken rule. The particular car used to set the record ran the test with a deactivated speed limiter. This changed the straight off-the-showroom status of the vehicle. But after a series of deliberations, the decision makers finalized that it didn’t matter.
Or perhaps you can ask the engineers behind the current King of speed (the supercar that dethroned the Veyron) what it means to build the fastest car in the world? Their answer may be slightly different from that of the team behind the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Whatever their answers may be, there is one thing in common – prestige and honor. It’s impossible to take it away from the cars that once held the title.
That’s why Bugatti has tried to strike back with the Chiron and the Divo. But how fast that 1500 hp piece of fiery fury goes is a mystery that is yet to be officially debunked. As Bugatti tries to reclaim its lost glory, other companies such as Lamborghini are shattering track records with hyper performance cars such as the Lamborghini Performante.
But we are not talking about track performance here. We are talking about straight line performance. So, in this article, we would be showing one supercar which outruns the Bugatti Veyron and 19 other cars that can’t stand its speed. So make sure you read on.
20 SSC Ultimate Aero; 256 Mph
The SSC Ultimate Aero is a supercar produced by SSC NA from 2006-2013. Shelby SuperCars was the former name of the company. According to Guinness World Records, one time in 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero held the title of the fastest supercar in the globe. The car had a top speed of 256.18 mph until the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport came out in 2010.
The car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.78 seconds, which is slower than the Bugatti Veyron’s 0-60 mph in 2.46 seconds This is thanks to the Veyron’s AWD drivetrain. It has a supercharged 6L engine that generates 787 hp at 6600 rpm and a torque of 736 lb.ft at 5800 rpm.
19 Rimac C Two; 256mph
If you’re looking for a powerful and clean electric GT hypercar, then the Rimac C Two will be the perfect fit for the description. In 2018, the Croatian based hypercar unveiled the car at the Geneva Motor show. From the name Rimac C Two, you may deduce that the car is the second car produced by the Croatian manufacturer after the first one, Rimac C One.
Croatian Born-Austrian, Adriano Mudri is the designer of the car’s exterior design. The manufacturer plans to produce 150 cars with a starting price of $2,053,808. According to Jalopnik, the car claims to have a top speed of 256 mph, and a large battery pack completing two laps of the Nurburgring with a slight drop in performance.
18 9ff GT9; 254mph
A great way to produce a supercar is to take a dynamic car and modify it further. That’s the case of the 9ff GT9. The Germany car-tuning firm took the prominent Porsche 911, which is a perfect example of speed and style, and customized it further to a tailored outcome.
This move made the 9ff GT9 a super-fast car that accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, hitting a maximum speed of 254 mph. The car has a 4L flat-six engine that generates 738 hp. According to Motor1, the 9ff GT9 is a mid-engine car, which gives it excellent weight distribution as a sports car.
17 Aston Martin Valkyrie; 250mph
Designed by Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing team, the Aston Martin Valkyrie AKA Nebula is a unique car in a class of its own. This speed demon will give the Mercedes AMG Project One and the McLaren Speedtail a run for their money, thanks to its maximum speed of 250 mph.
According to Car and Driver, the Aston Martin Valkyrie is a mid-engine car powered by a 6.5 liter Cosworth V12 engine that outputs 1,130 hp. It combines with a 7-speed Ricardo dual-clutch transmission to offer exemplary performance. Adrian Newey, the CTO of Red Bull Racing team, designed the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The car has a maximum speed of 250 mph.
16 Lotec Sirius; 250mph
The Lotec Sirius is another speed machine on this list that can’t outrun the Bugatti Veyron. The German motor company, Lotec, released the car at the start of the millennium. This car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds, hitting a maximum speed of 250 mph.
The powertrain of the Sirius varies, depending on the turbo boost. The car’s engine produces 1,000 horsepower at 6300 rpm and a torque of 1000 NM. According to Jalopnik, the Sirius uses twin turbochargers and it releases a massive amount of power. Mr. Kurt Lotterschmid, the owner of the German motor company, designed the car.
15 Dauer 962 Le Mans; 250mph
Dauer is one of the most successful companies to produce 962 road cars. The company partnered with Porsche with the mission to create a strong contender for the 1994 24 hours of LeMans. According to Motor1, Dauer engineers showed up with both a road version and race version of the Porsche 962 during the 24-hour race. The car went on to win the Le Mans event while holding the title of becoming the first GT1 supercar to come first in the Le Mans.
For a couple of years, the speed demon was the fastest production car at 250 mph, until the title was snatched away by the SSC Ultimate Aero.
14 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo; 248mph
Ask any speed or performance aficionado, and he will tell you that the Saleen S7 is a pure motor legend, thanks to its crazy performance, exotic styling, and excellent tuning potential to say the least. In 2005, the manufacturer launched the car, for a production spree that lasted nine years.
According to Car and Driver, The Saleen S7 was the first mid-engine supercar produced by the US. Today, this car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds. The Saleen is an upgraded version of the original S7. From the name, you can deduce that the main difference between the two models is the twin-turbochargers present in the S7 Twin turbo.
13 Porsche 9ff TR 1000; 243.4mph
According to Motor1, in 2009, the Porsche 9ff TR 1000 hit a maximum speed of 243.4 mph at the ATP automotive testing circuit in Papenburg, Germany. This record made the Porsche 9ff TR 1000 the fastest Porsche 911 in the world at that time, until the 9ff GT9 (earlier listed in this article) snatched the title.
The car comes with a flat-six engine with big turbochargers, sports camshafts, crankshaft, improved intercooler, titanium con rods, a high-performance exhaust system, a revised ECU, and a sports air filter. The car’s engine outputs 1,000 hp, 7,800 rpm and torque of 1040 NM which allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.
12 Koenigsegg CCR; 242mph
Over a decade ago, Koenigsegg made a mark in the automotive industry. It held the record for the fastest production car, when in 2005, the CCR reached a top speed of 242 mph at Italy’s Nardo Ring, according to Motor1.
The Koenigsegg CCR has impressive features, but it wasn’t enough to keep the model in the record books for a long time. The CCR was shortly outshined by the CCX. Shortly after, the new champ was also outshined by the very aggressive Koenigsegg Agera.
11 Ferrari Enzo ZXX EVOLUTION; 242mph
In 1998, supercar manufacturers were in the rush to beat the 200 mph speed barrier. Ferrari in particular, took this to heart and ensured that they did everything to produce supercars that wouldn’t be just as fast, but exceed the barrier that was at hand.
It was this quest that led to the company’s production of the F40. The F40 was a success because it was able to beat the 200mph barrier with a top speed of 201 mph. Today, Ferrari has three production cars whose top speeds exceed 200 mph. Out of the three-cars, the Ferrari Enzo ZXX Evolution is the fastest with a maximum speed of 242 mph, according to Motor1.
10 TVR Cerbera Speed 12; 240 mph
There’s a reason why this model has speed in its name. And it’s safe to call this model a riot because it uses an absurdly powerful V12 engine. The TVR is a high-performance concept car that made it to production in 1997.
It was known as the project 7/12, and it uses a 7.7-liter 12-cylinder engine, according to Motor 1. The engine can deliver over 800 horsepower. It also sends torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Even though it has a top speed of 240 mph, it can’t come close to the Veyron.
9 Pagani Huayra BC; 238mph
In 2016, this model was produced to replace its predecessor the Pagani Zonda that uses an AMG sourced bi-turbo V12 engine. The BC model is a supercar that uses a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine – not so much different mechanically from the previous one. The engine delivers up to 750 horsepower and a torque of 811 lb-ft according to Jalopnik. It also has a revised seven-speed single-clutch gearbox.
The gearbox powers the rear wheels via the lighter body shell, an electronic differential, and suspension update. It’s apparent that this dynamo defines a beast considering that it has a top speed of 238 mph. Nevertheless, it’s no match for the Veyron.
8 Zenvo TS1 GT; 233mph
If you’re familiar with the Zenvo model, you’ll notice that it’s a successor of the Zenvo ST1. It’s easy for anyone to conclude that the TS1 is an imitation of the ST1 since the swap of letter positions is one of the apparent differences.
Well, both models were produced by the Danish Company Zenvo. The TS1, in particular, was handcrafted by a team of genius workers. The car offers a maximum speed of 233 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds.
7 Pagani Huayra Roadster; 230mph
No sane person would take a good look at the Pagani Huayra and not be mesmerized; that is if you’re a motorhead. This comes as no surprise anyway, judging from the fact that the Pagani Roadster, apart from the mesmerizing looks, is fitted with a twin turbo six-liter V12 engine.
The engine delivers 730 horsepower and a torque of about 768 lb-ft. Even though the model has a top speed of 230 mph, its struggle for traction makes it incompetent in front of the Bugatti Veyron.
6 Bristol Fighter T; 225mph
Are you a fighter? If your answer is yes, you’ve found yourself the suitable car – quite literally. Bristol produced different versions of the Fighter but the T model stands out. Speaking of the T, the T in the name signifies the turbocharged version.
Car enthusiasts hate sluggish cars, and the company saw that problem and produced a solution. The T model has an improved drag coefficient of 0.27. According to Jalopnik, the Fighter uses a modified V10 engine that produces 1,012 horsepower and a torque of 1,036 lb-ft. To crown it up, it has a top speed of 225 mph.
5 Noble M600; 225mph
If you’re asked to write a list of British supercars, it’s normal for you to mention brands like McLaren, Jaguar, and Aston Martin. You’re right. But there’s one car manufacturer that deserves some accolades like Noble Automotive.
Noble might not be a familiar name, but the company has produced a remarkable car which is the Noble M600. A Volvo-sourced, mid-mounted, 4.4-liter V8 engine powers the Noble M600. The engine produces 650 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds according to Jalopnik. And that proper power cranks the car up to a top speed of 225 mph.
4 Gumpert Apollo; 223.9mph
The Gumpert Apollo is one of the worst looking cars produced in the world. However, it’s only fair that this car is given a chance since it makes up for its looks with speed. The speed of the Apollo is nothing compared to the Veyron, but giving credit where it is deserved, it uses a 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 789 horsepower, according to Car and Driver.
It accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds and hits a top speed of 223.9 mph. The Apollo actually held the record as the fastest production car for two years before the Veyron took its spot. These alone imply that the Apollo is a fantastic car regardless.
3 Lamborghini Veneno; 221mph
Most times in life, you get what you pay for – and the Veneno is one of the most expensive cars in the world. Oh yes! Only the wealthy can spare about $4.5 million to purchase this supercar.
According to Car and Driver, this venomous supercar matches superbikes in terms of performance. It uses a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces 740 horsepower at 8,400 rpm and a torque of 507 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm. The Lambo Veneno accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds and hits a top speed of 221 mph.
2 Aston Martin One – 77; 220mph
Aston Martin graced us with the Aston Martin One- 77, one of the most exquisite and luxurious vehicles in history. It’s a two-seater two-door flagship sports car. The first place the supercar appeared was the Paris Motor Show in 2008. However, the supercar was covered with a tailored skirt throughout the show. In 2009, the supercar was fully revealed at Geneva Motor Show.
It uses a 7.3-liter V12 engine that delivers 750 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and a torque of 553 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm via a 6-speed automated manual transmission. The Aston- 77 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 220 mph.
All these 19 supercars you’ve read of have no serious grunt to match the Bugatti Veyron’s top speed. And unlike what you think, the car that outshone the Veyron was not a German masterpiece like it, but a Swedish monster built by a rather younger company.
1 Outruns The Veyron – The Koenigsegg Agera RS; 278mph
Before now, it was almost impossible to compile a list of fast cars without mentioning the Bugatti Veyron as the number one on the list. However, The Koenigsegg Agera RS came in March 2011 to give the Veyron a tough competition. According to Car and Driver, the Swedish based supercar took the title from the Veyron, thanks to its maximum speed of 278 mph.
After achieving this feat, the car got the title as the actual speed king of the road. In July 2017, the Swedish manufacturer ceased the production of the machine. Nevertheless, it is the fastest car record car that still stands according to Guinness World Records.
Sources: CBSnews, Motor1, Jalopnik, Car and Driver