It’s an endurance sport. It’s a spectator thrill. The fastest cars in the world offer something for everyone. The fact that they keep getting faster excites each of us as we watch fast-beyond-words machines vie for that most longed-after title: the fastest car in the world.
These cars are lighter, sleeker, and more powerful than any that have come before. Now boasting top speeds far beyond the old ‘golden threshold’ of 300 mph (480 kph), the newest hypercars and supercars are works of art in motion. We’ve capped our ranking at the eleven absolute fastest, and added a bonus section with the upcoming machines we’re most excited about.
Some of these names will look familiar, as they’ve held titles ranging from the most expensive car to the fastest before. Others are newcomers – but certainly worth remembering.
A word on how to read this list. Most top-speed figures here are manufacturer claims or simulations; very few cars have ever been run flat out under independent timing. That’s what makes the Yangwang U9 Xtreme so significant: at 308.4 mph (496.22 kph), it is the fastest verified production car in the world, and the first electric car ever to hold that outright record. Wherever a figure has been independently measured, we say so.
The Rimac Nevera R, one of three all-electric hypercars on our list, is another sign of the changing times. We have a dedicated ranking of the best luxury electric cars if you want to see more options in that category.
Want to dig deeper into the world of dream machines? Don’t miss our guide to the most expensive Ferraris ever sold.
The 11 fastest cars in the world
| # | Car | Top speed |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Czinger 21C | 253 mph (407 kph) |
| 10 | Rimac Nevera R | 268 mph (431 kph) |
| 9 | Aspark Owl SP600 | 272.6 mph (438.7 kph) |
| 8 | Bugatti Tourbillon | 276 mph (445 kph) |
| 7 | Bugatti Mistral | 282 mph (453.91 kph) |
| 6 | SSC Tuatara | 295 mph (475 kph) |
| 5 | Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ | 304.77 mph (490.48 kph) |
| 4 | Yangwang U9 Xtreme | 308.4 mph (496.22 kph)* |
| 3 | Bugatti Bolide | 310+ mph (500+ kph) |
| 2 | Hennessey Venom F5 | 310.7+ mph (500+ kph) |
| 1 | Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut | 330 mph (531 kph) |
*Verified — the fastest top speed independently measured on this list.
Check below the ranking our methodology to select and rank the fastest cars in the world, and the answers to our readers’ most frequently asked questions.
11. Czinger 21C
Unlike supercars that stick to traditional methods and designs, the Czinger 21C was built for the 21st century. A car propelling itself far into the future in every way possible, its lap-record-shattering performance is just one of the many things it boasts of.
Carbon fiber construction, a bespoke hybrid powertrain, extreme downforce, and 3D-printed structural components ensure this car knows its stuff both inside and out. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged V8 paired with electric motors, with a tandem ‘jet fighter’ seating layout that places driver and passenger one behind the other.
In its high-downforce trim the 21C is a track weapon; in the streamlined V Max configuration, it stretches its legs to a claimed 253 mph. Either way, this is a car powered on both electricity and gas.
| Top speed | 253 mph / 407 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 1.9 seconds |
| Price | $2 million |
| Website | www.czinger.com |
10. Rimac Nevera R
The original Rimac Nevera proved an electric hypercar could humble the establishment. The Nevera R sharpens every edge. Croatia’s Rimac extracted 2,107 horsepower from its four-motor powertrain, reworked the active aerodynamics, and sent the car out to rewrite its own record book.
It worked. In a single day, the Nevera R set two dozen independently verified performance records, including a top speed of 268 mph (431 kph) that made it, at the time, the fastest production EV on earth. It will reach 60 mph in 1.66 seconds – quick enough to leave most of this list staring at its taillights off the line.
Just 40 will be built, priced from around $2.5 million. “A Nevera is extremely powerful and charged by lightning,” the company likes to say. The R simply turns up the storm.
| Top speed | 268 mph / 431 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 1.66 seconds |
| Price | $2.5 million |
| Website | www.rimac-automobili.com |
9. Aspark Owl SP600
Japan’s Aspark set out to prove an electric car could be both brutally quick and genuinely fast – and the Owl SP600 delivers on both counts. It holds a Guinness World Record as the fastest battery-powered car, reaching 272.6 mph (438.7 kph) on the same Papenburg track where the heavyweights run.
Beneath its impossibly low carbon-fiber body sit four motors producing roughly 2,000 horsepower, enough to dispatch 0-60 mph in a scarcely believable 1.72 seconds. Aspark partnered with Italian coachbuilder Manifattura Automobili Torino to hand-build the cars, blending Japanese ambition with Turinese craftsmanship.
Only 50 will be made, each priced around $3.2 million. The Owl is proof that the electric speed race is now a genuine contest – and that the contenders are arriving from every corner of the map.
| Top speed | 272.6 mph / 438.7 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 1.72 seconds |
| Price | $3.2 million |
| Website | www.asparkcompany.com |
8. Bugatti Tourbillon
With the W16 retired, Bugatti needed a new heart – and the Tourbillon is built around it. An all-new 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V16, developed with Cosworth, pairs with three electric motors for a combined 1,800 horsepower. It is the most significant reinvention of Bugatti since the Veyron.
The name is borrowed from haute horology, and the obsession shows: a billet aluminum and titanium dashboard, analog instruments built like a Swiss movement, and a fixed steering hub the displays float around. This is a hypercar that wants to be admired standing still as much as at speed.
And the speed is there. Limited to 236 mph in everyday driving, the Tourbillon unlocks 276 mph (445 kph) with its dedicated Speed Key. Just 250 will be built, each starting at around $4.1 million – the new benchmark for what Bugatti believes a flagship should be.
| Top speed | 276 mph / 445 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 2 seconds |
| Price | $4.1 million |
| Website | www.bugatti.com |
7. Bugatti Mistral
If the fastest cars in the world are usually sealed-roof missiles, the Bugatti W16 Mistral makes the case for doing it with the top down. Piloted by Le Mans winner Andy Wallace, the Mistral reached a verified 282 mph (453.91 kph) – officially the fastest open-top car ever built.
The Mistral is Bugatti’s farewell to the legendary 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16, the engine that carried the Veyron and Chiron through two decades of records. Here it delivers 1,578 horsepower into a body sculpted specifically for roadster aerodynamics, with a windshield and roofline engineered to keep the air honest at well over 250 mph.
Only 99 were made, each starting at $5 million, and every one was spoken for before the covers came off. It’s a fitting send-off: the last, and fastest, of an iconic breed.
| Top speed | 282 mph / 453.91 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 2.4 seconds |
| Price | $5 million |
| Website | www.bugatti.com |
6. SSC Tuatara
Shelby SuperCars is no stranger to speed. In 2007, the SSC Ultimate Aero held the title of the world’s fastest production car. At that time, hitting 300 mph seemed like nothing more than fantasy. Today, SSC wants to transform that dream into reality.
The Tuatara pairs a body featuring an insanely low 0.279 coefficient of drag with a twin-turbocharged 1,750 horsepower V8, on a platform priced at $1.9 million. Although there was a brief moment where the world was led to believe the SSC Tuatara hit an astonishing 331 mph, that claim turned out to be false.
Don’t give up hope just yet though. SSC confirmed that the Tuatara managed to hit 295.0 mph (474.8 kph), with Racelogic brought in to separately verify the run. And the company doesn’t believe that was close to the vehicle’s true top speed.
Maybe the SSC Tuatara will hit 331 mph after all. Only time will tell.
| Top speed | 295 mph / 475 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 2.5 seconds |
| Price | $1.9 million |
| Website | www.sscnorthamerica.com |
5. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
Bugatti has been a storied name in luxury hypercars for years, naturally. The intensely upgraded quad-turbocharged W16 that powers the Chiron added some brawn to the beauty – with the result that Bugatti holds not one, not two, but three places in our ranking of the fastest cars in the world.
While it may no longer be the absolute fastest car out there (we’ll get to that envied title in a minute), the Chiron Super Sport 300+ has a claim to fame that will be chronicled in history books and awed conversations for years to come: it was the very first car to cross the then-unheard-of barrier of 300 mph (or 483 kph).
It still represents a flawless balance between form and function, aerodynamics, and aesthetics. With an acceleration from 0-100 kilometers per hour (0-60 mph) in 2.4 seconds, this Bugatti certainly has speed and style, all at the same time.
| Top speed | 304.77 mph / 490.48 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 2.4 seconds |
| Price | $3.89 million |
| Website | www.bugatti.com |
4. Yangwang U9 Xtreme
Here is the number that rewrites the record books. On a closed test track in Papenburg, Germany, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme reached 308.4 mph (496.22 kph) – and unlike almost everything else on this list, that figure was independently measured, not simulated. It is the fastest verified production car in the world, and the first all-electric one to claim that crown outright.
The Xtreme is the flagship of Yangwang, the luxury arm of Chinese giant BYD. Four electric motors combine for more than 3,000 horsepower, fed by a 1,200-volt platform – the first of its kind in a production car. The same machine has also lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes, a barrier no electric road car had broken before.
You won’t see many on the road: production is capped at 30 cars worldwide. But its message lands louder than the numbers alone suggest – the old hierarchy of hypercar speed no longer belongs to Europe by default.
| Top speed | 308.4 mph / 496.22 kph (verified) |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 1.8 seconds |
| Price | Limited to 30 units (price undisclosed) |
| Website | www.byd.com |
3. Bugatti Bolide
After the success of the Chiron Super Sport, Bugatti went back to the drawing board. The innovative, historic auto house needed to one-up itself; but how can one do that when the Super Sport 300+ was already, seemingly, perfection on wheels?
The answer? Simple.
Enter: an 8.0L W-16 motor. 1,825 horsepower. A stunning 1,364 lb-ft of torque.
Clearly, this car is going places.
Bugatti’s Bolide is a lightweight hypercar that showcases the true extent of Bugatti’s range in terms of beauty, power, and innovation. Using the same bespoke engine from the storied Chiron line, but with more turbos to amplify the effect, the Bolide shows the world what the W-16 motor is truly capable of.
It’s also light, futuristic (powder blue paint sits sparingly on its exposed carbon-fiber frame), and tiny: the Bolide stands just 39.2 inches off the ground. Its claimed top speed exceeds 310 mph (500 kph); it can do 0-60 mph (0-100 kph) in 2.17 seconds.
| Top speed | 310 mph / 500 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 2.17 seconds |
| Price | $4.7 million |
| Website | www.bugatti.com |
2. Hennessey Venom F5
In John Hennessey’s record-breaking lineup comes the Venom F5. The name is a reference to the very fastest type of tornado – a natural force that the Hennessey emulates with its immense power and incredible speed.
Under the hood of the Venom F5 is an American-made twin-turbocharged V8; the result? Nearly 2,000 horsepower. This gives the Venom F5 precisely what it needs for its claimed top speed of 311 mph (500 kph). Its acceleration is equally impressive, as it can accelerate from 0-100 kph (0-60 mph) in less than two seconds.
Built to help Hennessey smash a world record it had previously broken with the Venom GT, the F5 was amped up in style, exclusivity, price, and speed. Only 24 were made. The sticker price was $1.6 million. The bright yellow carbon-fiber shell? Instantly iconic.
| Top speed | 311 mph / 500 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | < 2 seconds |
| Price | $1.6 million |
| Website | www.hennesseyspecialvehicles.com |
1. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
Thus far, it may seem the race for the fastest car has been mostly between two auto manufacturers: Bugatti and Hennessey. That makes sense. They’re both impeccably pedigreed houses, producing incredible cars just packed with raw power.
But! That doesn’t mean they’ve got this race.
Introducing: the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – a hypercar that ups the ante by an astonishing thirty miles per hour. When anyone wonders what car holds the highest top speed of all, this is the answer.
Swedish auto manufacturer Koenigsegg built this vehicle to set a new world record. They updated the engine from their other popular supercar, the Agera RS; they invested in more precise handling; and they made this car lighter and more aerodynamic for optimal performance.
This car isn’t just about speed, though. There’s pleasure built in as well, with the kind of climate control, infotainment, and head and leg room that usually gets glossed over when it comes to the fastest cars in the world.
The Jesko Absolut’s top speed is rated at 330 mph (or 531 kph). That figure comes from extensive simulation rather than an all-out run, so it remains a claim awaiting its day at the track – but with that engineering behind it, the result is sure to be impressive.
| Top speed | 330 mph / 531 kph |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 2.6 seconds |
| Price | $3.4 million |
| Website | www.koenigsegg.com |
Bonus: The Devel Sixteen, the 347 mph claim still waiting for proof
No conversation about the world’s fastest cars is complete without the Devel Sixteen – the machine that has loomed over the discussion for years with a claim almost too large to believe. Its makers say it will reach 347 mph (550+ kph), which would put it clear of everything in our ranking. The catch: that number has never been independently verified, and the full-power V16 car has yet to reach customers.
The promised specification is the stuff of legend – an 81mm quad-turbocharged 12.3L V16 said to produce 5,007 horsepower, with a claimed 0-60 mph time of 1.8 seconds. A tamer V8 version has been built and run, but the headline-grabbing flagship remains in development.
We keep it here, in the bonus column rather than the ranking, for a simple reason: until someone straps a verified timing box to the car and runs it flat out, the Devel Sixteen is a spectacular promise, not a proven record. We’ll move it the moment that changes.
| Top speed | 347 mph / 550 kph (claimed, unverified) |
|---|---|
| 0-60 mph | 1.8 seconds (claimed) |
| Price | Inquire |
| Website | www.develmotors.com |
Bonus: The fastest meta cars
Fastest car in GTA 5
It may only be available in the virtual world, but it’s one that’s kept its record for a while. The Ocelot Pariah is the fastest car in the GTA 5 world, with top speeds of 136.00 mph or 218.87 kph. But it’s also one you’ll have to work pretty hard to afford, with an in-game price tag of $1,420,000. It’s undeniably the best choice for gamers, allowing you to see any other GTA car only in your rearview mirror.
Fastest car in Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is a top game for all kinds of fast car lovers, but the fastest car in the game, the Koenigsegg Jesko, requires a little extra patience and/or game credits. In fact, you’ll need approximately 2.8 million credits if you’re looking to drive the Koenigsegg Jesko for free. Doing so unlocks seriously high speeds of 310 mph or 498.897 kph after you’ve ticked off all of the upgrades.
Bonus: The fastest non-street legal cars in the world
Our list of the fastest cars in the world focused on cars you could buy and drive. But to be complete, we need to mention two other very special vehicles: the Thrust SSC and the Bloodhound LSR.
Thrust SSC: 763 mph (1,228 km/h)
The Thrust supersonic car is a British jet car developed by Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers, and Jeremy Bliss specifically to break the world speed record. It currently holds the world land speed record with a top speed of 763 mph (1,228 km/h), registered on October 15, 1997. It is also the first land vehicle to officially break the sound barrier.
Two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines power the Thrust SSC, which weighs nearly 10 tons.
Bloodhound LSR: 1,000 mph (1,609 km/h) - target
20 years after its predecessor, the Bloodhound Land Speed Record (LSR) announced its intention to break the world land speed record with a top speed target of 1,000 mph / 1,609 km/h. The car has been in development since 2008 and is powered by a combination of a jet engine and a rocket engine.
While still in development, the car has already achieved a top speed of 628 mph (1,011 km/h) on 16 November 2019 in South Africa. The British engineering team behind the project plans to break the world speed record.
Bonus: The upcoming fastest cars we’re most excited about
Want to look into the crystal ball showing the future of the world’s fastest cars? Here are the ones to keep your eyes peeled for:
- Zenvo Aurora Tur – Denmark’s Zenvo crowns its comeback with an 1,850-horsepower V12 hybrid that revs to 9,000 rpm, paired with a claimed top speed of 280 mph (450 kph). Only 50 will be built.
- Koenigsegg Gemera – The Swedish marque’s four-seat hyper-GT proves space and speed can coexist, with up to 2,300 horsepower from a twin-turbo V8 and three electric motors. Practicality has never been this fast.
- Koenigsegg CC850 – A modern homage to the CC8S that launched the marque, the CC850 channels 1,385 horsepower through a remarkable transmission that shifts as either a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic.
Honorable mentions: The cars that just didn’t make the cut
300 mph is a very, very difficult milestone to hit. While the cars we’ve profiled here came close to or surpassed that target, that doesn’t mean cars with slightly slower speeds aren’t performing phenomenally.
These speedy supercars certainly merit honorable mention…and we wouldn’t be surprised if these manufacturers rise to the top for a dramatic upset in a future ranking:
- Aston Martin DBS Superleggera: 211 mph (340 km/h)
- Ferrari 812 Superfast: 211 mph (340 km/h)
- McLaren 720S: 212 mph (341 km/h)
- Lamborghini Aventador SVJ: 217 mph (349 km/h)
- Saleen S7 Twin Turbo: 248 mph (399 km/h)
- McLaren Speedtail: 250 mph (400 km/h)
- W Motors Fenyr Supersport: 250 mph (400 km/h) claimed top speed
- Bugatti Chiron: 261 mph (420 km/h)
- Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: 268 mph (431 km/h)
Conclusion: The fastest cars in the world right now
Here are the fastest cars in the world right now:
- Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut: 330 mph (531 kph)
- Hennessey Venom F5: 310.7+ mph (500+ kph)
- Bugatti Bolide: 310+ mph (500+ kph)
- Yangwang U9 Xtreme: 308.4 mph (496.22 kph) — verified
- Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+: 304.77 mph (490.48 kph)
- SSC Tuatara: 295 mph (475 kph)
- Bugatti Mistral: 282 mph (453.91 kph) — verified
- Bugatti Tourbillon: 276 mph (445 kph)
- Aspark Owl SP600: 272.6 mph (438.7 kph) — verified
- Rimac Nevera R: 268 mph (431 kph) — verified
- Czinger 21C: 253 mph (407 kph)
Methodology: How we select, test, and rank the best options on the market
In order to paint a comprehensive, accurate, and fair picture of the fastest cars in the world, we researched the cars available now and over recent years from the best names in the auto industry. We then ranked each car after carefully reading the specifications and the manufacturer’s claims, weighing independently verified runs above simulated figures, and reading reviews from top automotive critics.
Frequently asked questions about the fastest cars in the world
Frequently asked questions about the fastest cars in the world
What is the #1 fastest car in the world today?
The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut holds the highest claimed top speed at 330 mph / 531 kph, though that figure is simulated rather than independently run. The fastest verified production car is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, which reached 308.4 mph / 496.22 kph on a German test track.
How much is the fastest car in the world?
The fastest verified production car, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, is limited to 30 units worldwide with its price undisclosed. The car with the highest claimed top speed, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, starts at around $3.4 million.
Which is the fastest commercially produced car in the world?
The fastest verified production car in the world is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, which hit 308.4 mph / 496.22 kph — the first electric car to hold the outright production-car speed record.
What are the 5 fastest cars in the world?
The five fastest cars in the world are the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, the Hennessey Venom F5, the Bugatti Bolide, the Yangwang U9 Xtreme, and the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. It’s an elite group of hypercars that represent some of the most creative engineering in the worldwide automotive industry.
Products featured here are independently selected by our editors. If you buy through our retail links we may earn an affiliate commission — it never changes the price you pay, and it never decides our verdicts. Read our earnings disclaimer.
