25 Fastest Cars on the Road

24. Pagani Zonda F

Pagina may not be Italy’s most famous performance car designer, but they consistently deliver impressive vehicles that push the limits of what automotive engineering can be. The Zonda F is a case in point: a carbon fiber body encloses an engine well aware of its racing heritage.

The clue is in the name: the “F” stands for Formula one legend Juan Manuel Fangio, and the car designed in his honor is held to his high standards. A state of the art exhaust system, alloy wheels, and advanced air intakes make this a performance vehicle that stands in a class by itself, with a heritage and reputation that just keep growing.

23. Lamborghini Aventador

Another mid-engine offering from Lamborghini, the Aventador first appeared in 2011 with the goal of taking its place as Lamborghini’s flagship model. With that lofty aim in mind, the Aventador was designed with ambition and grace.

The sleek body design stakes its own claim as a standard of beauty while recalling the best of Lamborghini’s past achievements. Under the hood, the new 700 PS 6.5 liter engine channels twelve pistons to produce top speeds of over 220 miles per hour. With a max torque of 508 foot-pounds, the acceleration is unrivaled it its class. The Aventador is a bold new adventure for Lamborghini, and one that will surely pay off in the long run.

22. Ferrari Enzo

A legend of a performance vehicle, Ferrari thought enough of the Enzo to literally put their name on it—for those of you who don’t know, the company was founded by a man named Enzo Ferrari. There’s a lot of pride on the line here, and Ferrari’s confidence was not misplaced.

The rear-mounted engine is a beast, delivering 8,2000 RPM and a stunning 3.14 seconds to 60 miles per hour. The state of the art breaking and steering system deliver unrivaled control even at speed or while cornering. The Ferrari Enzo has spawned a number of variants over the years, but even those advanced machines are aware of their debt to the original. Unsurprisingly, the Enzo also makes the list of the most expensive cars in the world.

21. McLaren P1

The Mclaren P1 makes for two “firsts” on this list: the first English car and the first hybrid. Originally designed as a concept car in 2012, the goal of the P1 was an unlikely marriage of high end performance with an environmentally sensitive plug-in hybrid design. And it delivers on both fronts, handily.

The rear-wheel drive design is built under a carbon-fiber body and McLaren’s patented MonoCage safety structure. A 7 speed dual clutch transmission controls the power from a McLaren Electric ECU Motor and a twin-turbo M838TQ V8 conventional engine. The state of the art computer controls balance these two powerhouses, making the McLaren P1 a powerful addition to the world of hybrids. Very few were ever made, but they each provided an unforgettable experience.

20. Aston Martin One-77

Another British entry, the Aston Martin One-77 is a two door design first unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, to much acclaim. A carefully guarded secret until the moment of its unveiling, the One-77 quite simply blew critics away.

It all starts under the hood: a 7.3 liter V12 and a 6-speed automated transmission are the perfect powerplants for the surrounding full carbon fiber monocoque chassis and handcrafted aluminum body. This is a glorious piece of British craftsmanship, and it showed in on-track performance. The One-77 surpassed its estimated top speed of 200 miles per hour by clocking in at 220+mph during a trail drive.

19. Ascari A10

The Ascari A10 is a collaborative effort: while British manufacturer Ascari Cars did the engineering and the construction, the A10 was the brainchild of Dutch millionaire Klaas Zwart. And this union produced a masterpiece: a 302 cubic inch BMW V8 produces 625 horsepower routed through a six-speed sequential manual gearbox. A carbon fiber chassis and professional racing spec roll-cage give the body power to match the engine. Combined with a state of the art fire suppression system, this is a machine for drivers seeking to push the limits.

And there are no thrills: no stereo, air conditioning, or anything else to add weight or distract from the pure experience of driving the A10 dream.

18. Lamborghini Veneno

A limited production supercar based on the Aventador design, the Veneno was built to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary with a engineering tribute to both its past accomplishments and its future aspirations. Built in both coupe and roadster editions, this mid-engine all wheel drive machine cuts through the air like a knife.

Indeed, the body design recalls a blade of some sort, or perhaps an arrowhead. With an electronically limited top speed of 220 miles per hour and a zero to sixty time of just 2.8 seconds, it’s almost a pity that only five of these machines were ever built. Almost a pity, however scarcity has elevated the Veneno from “achievement” into “legend”.

17. Gumpert Apollo

Gumpert is a lesser known German performance automobile designer, and that’s a bit of a shame: they are consistently behind some of the more innovate vehicles on the market. The Apollo is a case in point—first shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, this is a classy machine for a serious driver.

Twin gull wing doors define the body, while a 4.2 liter turbocharged V8 and a 7-speed sequential manual transmission work in harmony to offer incredible performance: a 223 mile per hour top speed, zero to sixty in 3.1 seconds, and seamless corning and banking capabilities. With the Apollo, Gumpert pushed the boundaries of what “street legal” could mean, and true fans of German performance cars are eternally grateful.

16. Bristol Fighter T

London -based Bristol Cars has a special place in our hearts due to their ability to combined top notch 21st century performance with body styles that recall the classic roadsters of yesteryear. The Bristol Fighter T is an excellent example-in-point. A forward mounted V10 engine inspired by the Dodge Viper yet modified to produce 525 horsepower lies hidden beneath the hood of a body designed by a former Formula One racing engineer and which in design recalls the best of the sport’s classic era.

The top speed of 210 miles per hour is enough to satisfy the most demanding driver, while the high tech suspension allows performance and handling regardless of velocity. Rumor has it that only 13 of these were ever made. Who knows, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find one.

15. Noble M600

British automotive engineer has a taste of classic craftsmanship: hand built, assembled by skilled tradesman, and with a deep love and pride imbued throughout. This is all apparent in the M600, which oozes the grace and class we so often associated with the best of the UK.

A twin turbocharged Volvo V8 combined with a lightweight steel and carbon fiber body lead to a stunning road or track performance: zero to sixty in 3.0 seconds, a top speed of 225 miles per hour, and handling characteristics that have notably exceeded some of its most powerful peers. As with so much handcrafted with pride, only a few examples were ever produced.

14. Jaguar XJ220

Jaguar defines the British supercar tradition, and the XJ220 is one of the highlights of that company’s long and venerable history of achievement. And it has the distinction of being a true bottom-up design, originally envisioned and drafted by Jaguar employees working in their spare time. There is no greater testament to the care that went into the XJ220 origins: a automobile borne solely out of love for the craft.

And this love went on to set a world record. In 1992 in on-track testing, an XJ220 hit a stop speed of 217.1 miles per hour, which at the time was the fastest speed ever recorded in a standard production car. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the XJ220 held the title until 1999.

13. Ferrari LaFerrari

The name sounds a bit silly, but there’s a lot going on here: “LaFerrari” means “The Ferrari”–ie, the definitive automobile by which the company shall be measured. And they’ve set the bar very high, indeed.

A carbon fiber monocoque structure developed by a legendary race car engineers is the perfect framework for the 6.3 liter V12 engine with a mild-hybrid unit: a first in company history. A 7-speed dual clutch transmission and real-wheel drive design make for off-the-line speed and handling to the tune of a top speed in excess of 220 miles an hour and a zero to sixty time of less than three seconds. This is, simple, one of the highest performing vehicles out there and with an auction price of over seven million dollars, also the century’s most expensive.

12. Pagani Huayra

Another exclusive build—fewer than 100 were ever made, the Pagani Hauyra is a hidden gem in the world of Italian supercars. Named after a Quechua god of the wind, it was named “Hypercar of the Year by Top Gear Magazine, and universally well reviewed elsewhere.

The twin-turbo engine was originally developed by Mercedes AMG specifically for the Hauyra project. With 6.5 liters producing 720 horsepower and 811 foot-pounds of torque, the state of the art suspension and the right performance tired (Pirellis are recommended) can send this machine to top speeds of 230 mph. Among the more notable features are active aerodynamics, which can raise and lower the hight of both the front and rear of the vehicle as needed.

11. Zenvo ST-1

Zenvo is a relative newcomer in the world of high performance vehicles or supercars, but this Danish company made a strong showing with their first vehicle, the ST-1. First produced in 2009, only 15 of these amazing machines have thus far been made.

Taking a cue from their British counterparts, the team and Zenvo hand-makes most of the parts that go into their vehicles. The few parts which are machine made are produced with a state of the art five-axis CNC router. The interior also offers state of the art amenities: keyless entry, satellite navigation, telescopic steering wheel adjustment, and leather racing seats.

Oh , did we mention the top speed of 233 miles per hour? No? Silly of us . . .

10. McLaren F1

The McLaren F1 has an impressive resume of both performance and of famous owners. The successor to the title of “world’s fastest production car” which it won from the redoubtable Jaguar XJ220, this is one of the more iconic high performance sports cars gracing the roads.

The body is sleek and styled with the class normally associated with British automobiles, the engine is capable of reaching over 240 miles per hour, and in either its street-legal or racecar variants the McLaren F1 holds a list of records a mile long. It’s also the car of choice of some of the most famous people around, including Elon Musk, Jay Leno, and the Sultan of Brunei.

9. Koenigsegg CCX

The first Swedish car on our list, the Koenigsegg CCX was the company’s foray into the international market, designed to meet global (read: US) street legal regulations and environmental standards for emissions. That having been said, the CCX refuses to sacrifice performance in meeting those goals.

This thing is light—a carbon fiber and kevlar body built around an all aluminum engine with a six-speed manual transmission directing 800 horsepower for a top speed of 245 miles per hour. The carbon fiber wheels are an industry first, and the various configurations make the CCX available for both private drivers and professional racing teams—and it has performed well in both capacities.

8. Saleen S7

Finally, an American car on the list, albeit one initially manufactured in the UK. The brainchild of company founder Steve Saleen, the design and production of the S7 drew on the most high tech tools available and some of the most advanced engineering in the automotive world.

Originally configured around an all almunim version of Ford’s 351 Windsor small block engine, the company redesigned the S7 for its own proprietary twin-turbo powerplant which offered greatly enhanced performance: 750 horsepower and speeds of up to 248 miles per hour. This also improved acceleration, allowing the S7 to move from zero to sixty in 2.8 seconds. Saleen is a company to watch, and the S7 the beginning of an impressive legacy.

7. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

The company’s slogan used to be “nothing passes a Bugatti”–and with the Veyron, they’ve proved it. The one of the fastest production auto out there at the time of this writing, the Veyron is a vision of the future for supercars and performance vehicles.

To put this car in perspective, let’s look at some numbers: 1,001 horsepower. 2.7 seconds from zero to sixty. A top speed of 252.9 miles per hour. The Grand Sport is the pinnacle of what a Bugatti can be, and the innovation and engineering behind this masterpiece shows in every detail. We’d tell you how much it costs, but it simply doesn’t matter: the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is completely sold out according to the company’s website.

6. 9ff GT9

The GT9 looks a lot like a Porsche 911, and with good reason—it is, in fact, a Porsche 911. What gives? It’s an interesting story.

9ff is a German company specializing in doing something most of us would consider insane: improving the performance of a Porsche automobiles by customizng them for either street-legal or racetrack use. And there’s method to their madness, as the GT9 does outperform a factory spec 911. From a standing start, the GT9 can reach sixty miles an hour in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of well over 250 miles per hour. Combined with a reinforced safety roll frame and advanced braking and handling, this is a machine built to move—stripped of anything that does not deliver top-flight performance.

5. Koenigsegg CCXR

Based on the Koenigsegg CCX we’ve already explored in this list, the CCXR takes the high performance sports vehicle in a new direction by embracing an ethos of environmental stewardship and green engineering. Powered by the same engine as its predecessor, the CCXR has been modified to accept E85 and E100 ethanol fuel as well as conventional fossil fuels.

A redesigned fuel injection system and high-powered superchargers keep performance up to spec, with the only tradeoff being a slight loss in fuel economy. Hardly a concern for anyone able to afford what Forbes magazine rated as one of the ten most beautiful cars of all time.

4. SSC Ultimate Aero

Formerly known as Shelby SuperCars, SSC North America, the Washington state based company first appeared in 1998 and has established themselves as a giant in the world of supercars. The SSC Ultimate Aero may be their greatest achievement to date.

A twin-turbocharged 6.9 liter 423.6 cubic inch V8 rear mounted engine are the basis for insane levels of performance. 1,004 foot-pounds of torque and top speed of 273 miles per hour are only the beginning—the Ultimate Aeor offers acceleration that will make any gear head drool. Production numbers are limited, but there’s more to come from this amazing series of automobiles.

3. Koenigsegg Agera R

Koenigsegg is a funny name to say and a bit tricky to type, but this company keeps producing vehicles that are worthy of inclusion in this top 25. The Agera R was first introduced in 2010, and almost immediately won Top Gear Magazine’s “Hypercar of the Year” award. A quick look at the spec sheet reveals why, at least in part.

A twin-turbocharged 5.0 liter V8 engine generates well over 900 horsepower and 810 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 RPM This gives the Agera some amazing handling traits, including zero to sixty in 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 267 miles per hour for a production model. The advanced aerodynamics of the carbon fiber and kevlar body let the Agera slice through the air like light, giving it performance traits that any hypercar fanatic or racing fan will appreciate for years to come.

2. Hennessey Venom GT

They say that everything’s bigger in Texas, and Houston-based Hennessey Performance Engineer is out to prove them right. Hennessey began as a tuning house, upgrading and improving sports cars and luxury vehicles for enhanced performance. The Venom GT is one of those.

Take a Lotus Exige. Reimagine almost everything about it from the frame to the windscreen to the headlights to the engine to the braking system to the windshield wipers. Develop the engineering to make that reimagining into a reality. If you’re the geniuses at Hennessey, you’ve just produced the Venom GT. With a top speed of 278 miles per hour, this is the ultimate expression of how out of the box thinking can improve even a classic machine.

1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Here we are, folks. The final entry into our list and the dream car of many a speed demon, the Bugatti Veyron super-sport is the fastest production car on the road Priced at $2.4 million dollars, every inch of the body shows that this is designed for performance.

Faster and more powerful than the previously discussed Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the Super Sport is a record setter in all respects. With an engine producing 1,200 horsepower and a reworked aerodynamics package, the Super Sport pushes above and beyond its predecessors for a top speed of 267.86 miles per hour—so fast that the engine is electronically limited in order to prevent the tires from disintegrating at speed.

This is the car that holds all the records. This is the legend. This is Bugatti.

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