Why are some folks so obsessed with speed? Because it gets the blood pumping, certainly. Because the adrenaline fills your body and brain and makes you feels every second. Time loses its meaning, no future, no past, you are just in the moment, being as close to flying as you can get. In the past, we have talked about driving fast cars around town, and shared our perspective on that. Now we simply need to talk about top speed.
What is the fastest car in the world?
Top speed is the ultimate ranking factor. We will not be talking about the concept of flying at high speeds, but about the machines we use for that. The ones that keep us awake at night. Ready to learn about the top ten fastest cars in the world? Sit tight and relax please.
Hennessey Venom GT – 278 mph
With an astonishing verified top speed of 270.49 mph, and a maximal estimated top speed of 278 mph, Hennessey Venom GT has highest top speed in the world. You decide whether that makes it the fastest car altogether.
It can accelerate from 0-200 miles in just 14.51 seconds. Think about that! Moreover, back in 2013, the Texan-built super-car set the Guinness World Record by reaching an incredible 186mph mark in just 13.63 seconds.
Venom GT is also one of the most exclusive cars in the world. It only has 13 custom build units. The model will be succeeded by Venom F5. The carmaker also promises that the new Venom will sweep you off your feet with a new level of hyper-car performance and a top speed that exceeds 300mph. How is that for impressive?
Koenigsegg Agera R – 273 mph
This Swedish car maker has been making the rounds for quite some time. The specific super-car model has a 1,124bhp twin-turbocharged v8 engine. To put that into perspective, it can blur scenery by accelerating to 186mph in only 21.19 seconds. Feels like you need to get some astronaut training to withstand that.
Agera R is referred to as Thor’s Hammer, and not without a reason. Since its introduction in 2011, this hyper-car has maintained its status as one of the fastest cars on the planet. Agera R won’t stop accelerating until it reaches its top speed of 273 mph.
With that said, speed is not the only remarkable thing about the model. Such performance requires a lot of safety measures and new tech. It has a fuel-sensor technology, which protects the engine by keeping fuel quality levels in control and reducing power. The company has bragged about a more efficient engine, but at this stage, what does that even mean?
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport – 268 mph
This super-car looks like it could have been delivered from another planet, doesn’t it? Featuring a quad-turbo W16 engine, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.4 seconds. It became the first production car to exceed 250 mph.
In 2010, Veyron Super Sport held the Guinness Book of World Record title as the fastest production car in the world achieving a top speed of 267.81 mph. But only briefly.
In 2013, the Guinness officials disqualified Veyron for breaking the ‘no modifications rule by removing the vehicle’s speed limiter. After some time, Guinness Book of World Record decided that the speed limit removal didn’t affect any mechanical abilities of Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
Ever since there’s been a lot of debate about whether this super-car is the fastest in the world or not. What’s your verdict? Even if not the fastest, it is one of the most expensive you could have bought if you wanted. Which reminds me – supercars do not always need to be super expensive. Check out our post on McLaren 12C to learn more about that! It has a similar performance for a fraction of the price.
SSC Ultimate Aero XT – 257 mph
This car’s unique design can make you raise your eyebrows for sure. With a Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp it can accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds. In March 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero was tested by Guinness World Records. As a result, the vehicle held the world’s fastest car title from March 2007 to July 2010.
9ff GT9-R – 257 mph
In terms of raw speed, the 9ff GT9-R ties with SSC Ultimate Aero. But since it takes 2.9 seconds to reach 60mph (or 0.2 seconds more) it gets the 5th place in our list. This German car can reach a speed of 257 mph and go from 0-190 miles in less than 16 seconds. Now, THAT’S amazing!
Though looking a bit like a Porsche (because it kind of is), GT9-R makers offer drivers the option of customizing their car, thus making each model one of a kind.
Featuring a 4.0 Liter flat-6 Twin-Turbo Engine with 1120 hp, 9ff GT9-R is made for the sole purpose of speed. Sadly, that comes at the price of comfort. The interior is stripped making it feather-light to help a driver get the most out of this super-car.
SALEEN S7 – 248 mph
Saleen has been a poster supercar brand for a while now. This specific hand-built model features a V8 7000 cc engine and can reach 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds. Back in the 2000’s that was very impressive. Saleen S7 interior design combines race quality with luxury. It is also made out of carbon fiber to make it as light as possible.
KOENIGSEGG CCX – 245 mph
Agera R’s brother also deserves to be on the top 10 fastest cars in the world list. Koenigsegg CCX is capable of reaching a speed of 265 miles per hour and can go from 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds. The design of this car is performance oriented.
Its 90 Degree V8 806 HP engine is remarkable not only for its speed. Actually, this engine’s emissions are considered to be some of the safest in the world nowadays.
MCLAREN F1- 240 mph
McLaren continues to stand firm behind its well-deserved reputation. The F1, just like previous entry on our list, can reach 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds with a V12 6.0 L engine. It also has a unique design with three seats. Even though the production of this high-performance car ended in 1998, F1 remains one of the fastest production cars ever made. And as an extra perk, McLaren still maintains extensive support and service network for this model.
ZENVO ST1 – 233 mph
Zenvo ST1 was the first incarnation of the Danish Zenvo brand. With a twin-charged 7.0 L V 8 engine, this hyper-car can reach a speed of 233 mph, and go from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. In order to reduce its weight and enhance speed, the majority of Zenvo ST 1’s body is made out of carbon fiber.
Pagani Huayra – 230 mph
We will finish this list with Pagani Huayra. One thing is certain about Italians – they know a thing or two about design. Well, this one has performance to match it!
With a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 Engine borrowed from Mercedes-Benz, Pagani Huayra can reach 60mph in 3.0 seconds. The Huayra name comes from the legendary Incan god of wind, Huayra-Tata. Seems fitting, right?
Are super-cars worth owning?
Now that we have covered some amazing cars, wanting them is only natural. People dream about these beasts all their lives. However, to own one may not actually be that amazing. We mentioned that it is barely legal to drive them around, and you cannot push them to their limit anyway. At least not outside of a racetrack. The other drawback is that super-cars require super maintenance. The harder you drive them the bigger the wear and tear. Another expense to consider is shipping your sports car. When you want to go across the country for vacation, for example to Florida, and you are more than 200 miles away you will need to transport the beast, which comes at a price because it will require enclosed car carrier.
So, you might consider one of these top ten fastest cars in the world, but don’t forget to consider all the costs. Owning and maintaining such a powerhouse requires a large budget. Everything comes at a price, and often means sacrifices. So, what are you ready to sacrifice in order to drive one of the fastest cars in the world?
