Chasing the title of “World’s Fastest Car” is serious business. The science and engineering that comes together in the fastest cars on Earth is nothing short of amazing. Power, precision, and control are all on display in the cars that have made our list of the top seven fastest cars on the planet, according to automotive experts. When these powerful machines are realized through human talent and ingenuity, they can be absolutely awe-inspiring.
Combining the disciplines of mathematics, engineering, and physics has allowed car designers to continually create automobiles that push the line of what is possible in terms of speed and power. When you exit the freeway and start down a quiet residential road, does it seem like the speed limit is unbearably slow? The sudden drop-off from 70 mph to 30 mph in just a few seconds may seem daunting for drivers. One recent study sheds light on why judging a significant swing in speeds can be such a challenge for our brain. Study authors conclude that that it’s more difficult to correctly judge your own velocity after traveling at a fast speed for an extended period of time. NFL referees, for example, might experience this problem while watching footage in slow motion after focusing so strongly on a fast-paced play.
Military research into speed and motion has also resulted in remarkable feats of engineering. The U.S. Air Force has successfully recovered a reusable hypersonic rocket sled for the first time – after it traveled more than five times the speed of sound! The 846th Test Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico was able to retrieve the vehicle after it recorded a speed of 6,400 feet per second — or Mach 5.8. The achievement at the 11-mile-long Holloman High Speed Test Track marks a historic event for the team’s Hypersonic Sled Recovery effort.
It can be tough to truly rank the world’s fastest cars because the system in place for “official” speed trials can be difficult to execute correctly. For example, the ThrustSSC, a jet-powered car, holds the record for the fastest land vehicle ever, reaching an incredible 766 mph (1,233 km/h) in 1997. Even when top speeds are “unofficial” the world’s fastest cars are the embodiment of astonishing speed. Here’s a look at the consensus fastest cars in the world, after reviewing 10 expert websites. Let us know which are your favorite supercars in the comments below!
The List: Top 7 Fastest Cars Most Recommended By Experts
1. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – Top Speed: 330 mph
Broadly lauded as one of the world’s fastest cars, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut has projected top speeds in excess of 300 mph. This marvel of engineering is an advanced prototype of the Jesko model. Top Speed raves, “Just when you thought the Jesko was the ultimate machine from the Swedish automaker, it decided to come up with a hyper version of the supercar with the ‘Absolut’ suffix. The Jesko Absolut was revealed in 2020, and the company worked on its aerodynamics and high-speed road behavior to make it ‘unbelievably fast.’ It boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.278, courtesy of changes like an extended rear hood, covered rear wheels, and a lowered suspension.”
Sixt praises the sporty ride, noting “it was born to defy gravity and beat the Bugatti Chiron, and it’s the fastest Koenigsegg. With a 5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it has 1,600 hp (100 more than the ‘classic’ Jesko). And Christian von Koenigsegg is probably not finished surprising us.”
“Although the Chiron Super Sport 300+ is technically the world’s fastest car, Koenigsegg says that its Jesko Absolut is faster (although the company has yet to put those claims to pavement). With 1,600 hp and 1,106 lb-ft of torque from a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 and a slippery body that still offers significant downforce, the $2.8-million Swedish monster has the credentials for a high-speed run,” exclaims Motor1.com.
2. Bugatti Bolide – Top Speed: 311 MPH
The Bugatti Bolide seems like speed given form. Even the body design looks like something out of a cyberpunk movie. Motor1.com says, “The track-only Bugatti Bolide is the wildest creation to ever come out of Molsheim, which is certainly saying something… The top speed, even with the track-focused aerodynamics, exceeds the Chiron too, at 311 mph to 304.”
Hotcars describes, “The standard Bugatti Veyron was the first production car to break the 250-mph barrier in 2005. Last 2019, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ was the first production car to surpass 300 mph. After proving its top speed capabilities on the road, Bugatti is now aiming for a higher record, but this time with the track-only Bugatti Bolide.
Top Speed elaborates, “The weight of a car can make a huge difference when it comes to track times, which is one of the big reasons that the Bugatti Bolide is able to reach speeds of over 300 MPH. Engineers made sure to incorporate as many modern materials as possible to get the dry weight down to 2,734 pounds.”
3. SP Automotive Chaos – Top Speed: 310+ MPH
This Greek Supercar is a chariot fit for the gods of Olympus. Rather than a design from a massive team of corporate engineers, Automotive Chaos is the passion project of an invested and dedicated team. “8.1 seconds is all this hypercar takes to blast down the strip through the quarter-mile. The amount of horsepower that the V-10 pumps out will make you think you are on a rocket ship rather than inside the cockpit of a car,” according to Top Speed.
Motor1.com asserts, “The little-known SP Automotive Chaos arrived on the scene late last year promising 3,000 hp from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V10 engine with a hybrid assist. While we’ve yet to see any of these cars on the road yet, the company says its new hypercar will be able to hit a top speed of over 310 mph.”
Hotcars evaluates, “The Spyros Panopoulos Group (SP Group) is a Greek design and manufacturing company that dabbles in the aviation, aerospace, naval, medical, and automotive industries. Last 2022, SP Automotive revealed that they will build 100 units of the Chaos – a revolutionary ‘ultracar’ made from aerospace materials and built using 3D printing technology.”
4. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ – Top speed: 304 MPH
Bugatti’s Chiron sets the standard for verified speed. With an official speed test behind it, newer designs are often benchmarked against the Chiron’s performance. Road & Track writes: “With a verified top speed of 304 mph, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ is currently the fastest production car ever built. Thanks to a small power bump from the quad-turbo W-16 engine and some wild elongated bodywork, it was able to demolish the Koenigsegg Agera’s record by nearly 30 mph.”
Adds travel bloggers at Sixt: “What is the fastest car in the world? At least the fastest car with a proven track record? It’s the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+! An even more muscular version of the original Bugatti Chiron, the Super Sport 300+ is the first supercar to exceed 300 mph.”
Robb Report explains how this Bugatti supercar came to be: “In 2019, pilot Andy Wallace railed a tweaked-version of the 1,600 hp, 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged Chiron Super Sport around the Ehra-Lessien track. The modifications included lengthening the body by 10 inches, lowering it and giving it a new rear aero kit, as well as a new exhaust setup.”
5. SSC Tuatara – Top Speed: 282.9 mph
The SSC Tuatara broke world records in 2021 with an amazing speed trial. In its official trials, however, it has not yet reached top speed. This remarkable car has already made strong achievements on the raceway. Automo Blog comments, “On October 10th, 2020, the SSC Tuatara managed to claim the title of the world’s fastest production vehicle by clocking an average run of 316.11 mph, also claiming the title for the first production car to break the 500 kph barrier. But that record wasn’t official, apparently, so they went back and did another run in January 2021, this time officially grabbing the record at 282.9 mph.”
Luxe Digital adds, “SSC has confirmed that the Tuatara managed to hit 295.0 mph in 2022. The company brought in Racelogic to separately confirm the speed. And they don’t think that was close to the vehicle’s true top speed. Maybe the SSC Tuatara will hit 331 mph after all. Only time will tell.”
“The American SSC Tuatara (Too-ah-ta-ra in case you’re struggling) comes in [near the top] on this list, with a pretty respectable 286 mph top speed. That said, it’s not without a little controversy. You see, SSC claimed the Tuatara actually managed 316 mph in October 2020 to make it the world’s fastest car — but later admitted to a GPS error that depicted that speed wrongly,” details carwow.
6. Koenigsegg Agera RS – Top Speed: 277.87 mph
The second Koenigsegg model on our list is a roaring beast of a car. This gleaming monster also has one of the most eye-catching body designs of any of the cars on this list. Luxe Digital compliments, “The Koenigsegg Agera RS was designed to be seen and to be heard, a supercar that took the challenge of beating world records into its hands with a sleek design to match. A boundary-pushing beast of a vehicle that manages to successfully tick all the boxes, it’s a strong contender for one of the world’s most impressive cars.”
Automo Blog assures, “There were only 25 examples of the Agera RS produced. Powered by a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8, the ‘normal’ Agera RS produces 1,160 horsepower (on regular pump gasoline, mind you). However, 11 lucky owners were able to (theoretically) hit the top speed of 277 due to checking the ‘1MW’ special package when ordering theirs, which increases the ponies to 1,341.”
Sixt articulates, “The Swedish brand is back on the list with another extraordinary supercar. Equipped with the same engine, it has about 500 horsepower less. But that doesn’t stop it from performing, going from 0 to 250 mph in 36.44 seconds. Amazing.”
7. Hennessey Venom F5 – Top Speed: 270 mph
The Hennessey Venom F5 looks like it could be featured in the “Fast & Furious.” This car is said to take conventional engine design and add tremendous turbo-charged power. “The Venom F5 is not a Lotus Elise modified out of all recognition; instead, it’s a bespoke, carbon-bodied hypercar with an in-house platform and a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V8 claimed to put out more than 1,800PS. Yet it weighs about the same as a Ford Focus, so performance should be pretty unhinged,” writes the folks at heycar.
“Sometimes you really can’t beat a good old-fashioned V8 with a couple of turbos strapped to it, and the Hennessey Venom F5 proves this. The 6.6-litre twin-turbo lump puts out 1,817hp and 1,617Nm of torque, enough to launch it from 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds,” relates carwow.
Adds Luxe Digital: “Under the hood of the Venom F5 is an American-made twin-turbocharged engine, the result? Nearly 2,000 horsepower. This gives the Venom F5 precisely what it needs to reach a top speed of 301 mph. Its acceleration is equally impressive, as it can accelerate from 0-60mph in less than two seconds.”
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