Three decades ago, a 1000-hp production car would have sounded like something sent back from a distant future. That all changed in the 2000s when the legendary Bugatti Veyron exceeded the magic 1000 hp number.
Since then, other manufacturers have found different ways to build supercars that can make over 1,000 hp, and now we have a fast-growing number of them. Of course, electrification has played a key role, as most of the 1,000-hp cars we have today are either electric or hybrids, but there are still a few gas-powered cars that can. Without further ado, let’s explore ten fantastic cars that make over 1,000 hp.
10 McLaren Speedtail – 1,035 Hp
Over the last decade, McLaren has established itself as one of the top European sports car manufacturers. Of all the McLaren supercars introduced over the last decade, the Speedtail is arguably the best.
There’s a lot to love about the Speedtail. For one, it’s drop-dead gorgeous and has a jet-inspired interior with a central driving position. It also comes with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with an electric motor, resulting in a power output of 1,035 hp. With only 106 examples built, the Speedtail is one of the rarest British cars ever made.
9 Zenvo ST1 – 1,089 Hp
Zenvo Automotive absolutely shocked the auto industry in 2009. This tiny Danish automaker had only been in business for five years, but it still managed to create one of the most exciting supercars of the 2000s — the ST1.
The ST1 impressed everyone thanks to its fantastic design, carbon-fiber fiber construction, and, of course, its insane power. Equipped with a 7.0-liter twin-charged LS7 engine generating 1,089 hp, giving it superb performance.
8 SSC Ultimate Aero TT – 1,287 Hp
In the early 2000s, new American automaker SSC introduced the Ultimate Aero with the intention of breaking the production car speed record. The Ultimate Aero was easily the fastest American car ever built at the time, but it still couldn’t beat the Bugatti Veyron’s record.
So in 2007, SSC developed a turbocharged version of the car – the Ultimate Aero TT. Equipped with a 6.3-liter twin-turbo V8 blurting out 1,180 hp initially and 1,287 hp after 2009, the Ultimate Aero TT claimed the production car speed record.
7 Koenigsegg Regera – 1,500 Hp
Koenigsegg may be among the youngest automakers, but the supercars it has built over the last two decades prove that the Swedish marque is miles ahead of its competitors. The Regera shows that perfectly. ‘Regera’ means ‘to reign’ in Swedish, which suits the car perfectly.
The Regera is an important car for Koenigsegg, as it was the manufacturer’s first plug-in hybrid supercar. It comes with a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood aided by two electric motors to produce a total of 1,500 hp.
6 Bugatti Chiron -1,500 Hp
We already mentioned how the Bugatti Veyron was among the first-ever production cars to have over 1,000 hp. As such, Bugatti had to ensure that the Veyron’s successor was even more powerful, which is exactly what the Chiron turned out to be when it debuted in 2016.
Like the Veyron, the Chiron comes with a monstrous 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine. It produces up to 1,500 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, giving the Chiron insane performance figures.
5 SSC Tuatara – 1,750 Hp
After the massive success of the Ultimate Aero, SSC wanted to build a worthy successor. After almost a decade of development, the American marque introduced the fantastic Tuatara in 2020.
Like its predecessor, the Tuatara is all about breaking speed records. It is extremely lightweight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, has the lowest drag coefficient in its class, and it’s equipped with a proprietary 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 generating up to 1,750 hp.
4 Hennessey Venom F5 – 1,817 hp
After decades of tuning cars, Hennessey finally decided to start making its own supercars in 2017. The Venom GT was Hennessey’s first production car, and although it was great, many gearheads brushed it off since it was largely based on the Lotus Exige.
In 2020, Hennessey decided to build a successor for the Venom GT, resulting in the Venom F5. Unlike its predecessor, the Venom F5 was built by Hennessey from the ground up and comes with a proprietary 7.4-liter twin-turbo V8 blurting out 1,817 hp.
3 Rimac Nevera – 1,888 Hp
Mate Rimac is a Croatian entrepreneur who has always had a dream of building some of the best European supercars, so he established Rimac Automobili in 2009 to do just that. Just a decade later, Rimac’s dreams were achieved when the company introduced the awe-inspiring Nevera.
The Nevera is one of the most exciting electric cars we have today. It is powered by a quad-motor system producing just under 1,900 hp, giving it a sub-two-second 0-60 and a top speed of 256 mph. Rimac recently merged with Bugatti, and gearheads can’t wait to see what the new partnership brings.
2 Lotus Evija – 1,973 Hp
Lotus used to be one of the most respected British automakers, but it has largely flown under the radar over the last few years. As the demand for electric cars exploded, Lotus saw an opportunity and developed its first-ever electric supercar — the Evija.
The Evija was built in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering and comes with a quad-motor powertrain generating 1,973 hp.
1 Aspark Owl – 1,984 Hp
In 2017, little-known Japanese manufacturer Aspark caused a huge wave of excitement across the auto industry when it unveiled the Owl at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Owl wowed everyone with its gorgeous low-slung design featuring dihedral doors and a massive rear wing. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful Japanese cars.
The Owl’s powertrain was even more impressive. It has four electric motors that combine to produce a crazy 1,984 hp. Only 50 examples will be built, each costing almost $3 million.