? The Fastest Car In The World: Who Sits Where
1. Hennessey Venom GT: 270.49mph (435.3km/h)
The Hennessey Venom GT is the fastest car in the world
As
well as being the fastest car on the planet, the Hennessey Venom GT
holds the official Guinness World Record for the fastest production car
to accelerate from 0-300km/h (0-186mph), doing it in a staggering 13.63
seconds. It has an equivalently staggering price tag, costing around
$1million.
It features a 7.0 liter V8 twin turbo engine producing
1,244bhp. Just 29 Venom GTs have been built, another reason why the car
can’t make it into the Guinness record books. For a vehicle to class as a
‘production car’ under Guinness rules you have to make at least 30.
2. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: 267.8mph (430.9km/h)
The Veyron Super Sport broke the official record for the
world’s fastest production car on July 4 2010 at Volkswagen’s high-speed
Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany, with the time verified by officials
from Guinness World Records.
It averaged the speed during laps in
both directions of the oval track, as required by the Guinness rule
book. The car sold to customers is electrically limited to 258mph
(415km/h) to stop the tyres exploding — which has led to Bugatti’s
official title being disputed in the past. In April 2013, its Guinness
Record status was taken away because Guinness decided that the speed
limiter meant it had been ‘modified’, which is not allowed under their
definition of a ‘production car’.
At that point the Ultimate Aero
TT (then the world’s second fastest car) claimed the record. But just
days later Guinness did a bizarre U-turn and decided limiting the top
speed was not an actual modification as it “does not alter the
fundamental design of the car or its engine”.
Some may beg to
differ. But despite that, and despite the fact that the Hennessy Venom
GT has done over 270mph, the Veyron Super Sport’s official Guinness
title of being the fastest car in the world holds today. The Super Sport
does 0-60 in 2.4 seconds, has an 8.0 liter W16 engine producing
1,200bhp and costs an astonishing $2.4million.
3. Koenigsegg Agera R: 260mph (418km/h)
The Agera R is said to have a theoretical top speed of 273mph — but
this has never been demonstrated. It is supplied with tyres which can be
used at speeds up to 260mph (420 km/h).
The Swedish
manufacturer’s offering can do 0-62mph(100km/h) in 2.9 seconds, 0-200mph
in 17.68seconds and 0-300km/h in 14.53seconds — which was a record for
acceleration until the Hennessey Venom GT (below) did it in
just 13.63 seconds in early 2013. The Agera R has a 5.0 liter V8
twin-turbo engine producing 1,140bhp and costs a meagre $1.6million.
4. 9ff GT9-R: 257mph (413.6km/h)
The GT9-R is based on Porsche’s most successful car, the iconic 911.
It can do 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in 2.9 seconds and was designed
specifically to try and take the title of fastest car in the world.
It
made its claim for the record by boasting a 257mph top speed — only to
have the Bugatti Veyron come along and rain on its parade before it
could be officially verified. You’ve got to feel sorry for the guys who
made it. The GT9-R has a heavily modified 4.0 liter flat 6 engine that
produces up to 1,120 bhp. It costs from $695,000
5. SSC Ultimate Aero: 256.18mph (412.28km/h)
The SSC Ultimate Aero has twice been named the fastest car in the
world. On September 13, 2007, it clocked 256.18mph (412.28km/h) in West
Richland, Washington, US, and had the speed verified by Guinness in
October of that year.
At the time the Bugatti Veyron’s top
recorded speed was 253.7mph (408.3km/h) and the $695,000 Ultimate
Aero held the fastest car in the world title for two years and nine
months until Bugatti took the crown again when their Super Sport model
reached 267.86mph (431.072km/h).
In April 2013 the record was
given back to the SSC due to the controversy over the Veyron’s speed
limiter — but it only managed to hold on to it for a week before
Guinness decided that the speed limiter wasn’t a modification after all
and handed the record back to Bugatti.
The Ultimate Aero has a 6.8
liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 1,287bhp. SSC is set to release an
XT version of the Ultimate Aero which they say is capable of doing
273mph, before winding up the model’s production. It will be replaced by
the Tuatara, which SSC claim will have a top speed of 276mph.
6. Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse: 254.04mph (408.8km/h)
The $2million Grand Sport Vitesse was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva
Motor Show, and was built to set the record for the world’s fastest
roadster — which it did by reaching a top speed of 254mph.
It is
electrically limited to 233mph (375km/h) on the road, has an 8.0 liter
quad-turbo W16 engine producing 1,200bhp at 6,400rpm and can do 0-62mph
in 2.6seconds.
7. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo 248mph (399.1km/h)
The Saleen boasts a 7.0 liter twin-turbo aluminium V8 engine
producing 750horsepower. It was produced from 2005 to 2009 and cost from
$585,000. It does 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in 2.8seconds.
8. Koenigsegg CCX: 245 mph (394.3km/h)
Featuring an all-aluminium 4.7 liter twin-supercharged V8 engine
producing 806 horsepower, the Koenigsegg CCX can do O-62mph in
3.2seconds. Racing models of the CCX and CCXR, known as the Edition
models, are fitted with roll bars and have a more racy 4.8 liter engine
producing 1,004hp, allowing the car to do 0-62mph in 2.9seconds and
reach a claimed top speed of 249mph (400km/h).
The Koenigsegg CCXR
Trevita is the world’s most expensive street-legal car, costing
$4.85million. The normal version of the CCX starts at around $545,000.
9. McLaren F1: 243mph (391km/h)
The McLaren F1 has a 6.0 liter BMW S70/2 V12 engine producing
618horsepower. It can do 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in 3.2seconds. When the car
reached 243mph at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track in April 1998, it
was the fastest production car in the world at the time. Just 106
McLaren F1s were produced between 1992 and 1998.
10. Zenvo ST1: 233 mph (374.9km/h)
Danish firm Zenvo produces just three of these cars each year for
sale in the US — costing around $1.8million each (although you get a
free $50,000 watch included making it a, er, bargain). It has a 7.0
liter turbocharged and supercharged V8 engine producing 1,250hp. Just 15
are set to be produced in total. It does 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in 3.0
seconds.
11. Gumpert Apollo: 225 mph (362.1km/h)
Made in Germany, the Gumpert Apollo features a 4.2 liter twin-turbo
Audi V8 engine producing 641bhp in the base version and 789bhp in the
race version. It can do 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in 3.1 seconds.
12. Noble M600: 225mph (362.1km/h)
The Noble is built in Britain and features a 4.4 liter Volvo
twin-turbo V8 engine. It costs around $330,000 and can do 0-60mph
(0-97km/h) in 3.2seconds.
13. Aston Martin One-77: 220mph (354km/h)
In accordance with the name, just 77 Aston Martin One-77s were ever
produced, from 2009 to 2012. They sold for around $1.7million each.
Aston Martin had estimated the car’s top speed to be around 200mph but
it managed to go faster and reach 220mph in tests. It does 0-60mph in
around 3.5seconds, and has a 7.3 liter V12 engine producing
750horsepower.
14. Ascari A10 220mph (354km/h)
The Ascari A10 has a 4,941 cc BMW V8 engine producing 625bhp. It’s
made in Britain by Ascari Cars, backed by Dutch millionaire Klaas Zwart.
It was designed by former Formula One designer Paul Brown. It can do
0-60mph in 2.8 seconds.
15. Lamborghini Aventador: 220mph (354km/h)
The Aventador is the Italian manufacturer’s flagship model. It has a
6.5 liter V12 engine producing 690bhp and can do 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in
2.9seconds. Like other Lambos, it is named after a bull and began
production in 2011.
They cost around $380,000 each. In 2013
Lamborghini unveiled the Veneno, based on the Aventador’s engine but
producing 740bhp. Just three of them were set to be made, costing
$3.12million each.
16. Pagani Zonda Cinque: 217mph (349.2km/h)
Just five of the coupe version and 5 of the roaster version of the
Pagani Zonda Cinque were ever built. It has a 7.3 liter AMG V12 engine
producing 669bhp. Gear shifts on the car take less than 100
milliseconds, meaning it can do 0-62mph in 3.4seconds.
17. Ferrari Enzo: 217mph (349.2km/h)
There were 400 Enzos produced between 2002-2004. It features a 6.0
liter V12 engine producing 651 horsepower. It can do 0-60mph (0-97km/h)
in 3.14 seconds. They cost from $670,000.
18. Jaguar XJ220: 217mph (349.2km/h)
The XJ220 can do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and features a 3.5 liter
twin-turbo V6 engine. There were 281 made between 1992 and 1994. It’s
thought the XJ220 could have reached 223mph (359mph) on a straight road,
but tests were only carried out on Italy’s Nardo Ring high-speed test
track.
Future Contenders For The World’s Fastest Car Title
As
well as the forthcoming XT version of the SSC Ultimate Aero, which SSC
say will reach 273mph, two cars still being created are both set to vie
for the fastest car in the world crown once produced. If successful,
both would take the top spot…
Transtar Dagger GT: 315mph (507km/h) claimed
The Dagger GT is currently being developed by US firm TranStar Racing
with the sole purpose of being named the fastest car in the world. It’s
estimated the car will cost $1,000,000. It will be sold in six
different models, three for racing and breaking speed records and three
that are completely road legal. The Transtar Dagger GT-LS will be the
version used to try and break the land speed record (LS for ‘land
speed’). It will include a parachute to help it stop.
SSC Tuatara: 276mph (444 km/h) claimed
The Tuatara is also being developed in the US, by SSC North America
(which used to be ShelbySuperCars). They also hope to break the current
speed record, but will stand no chance if the Dagger GT lives up to its
hype. It will have four overhead camshaft twin-thrust turbochargers and
produce 1,350bhp with a 6.9liter V8 engine. Better be quick guys…
Fastest Car In The World: The Debate
When
compiling a list about what the fastest car in the world is, there are
always going to be people who don’t agree with the order. And it’s no
wonder with the prestige that comes with holding such a title. There
are two main problems:
How do you define ‘fastest car in the world’?
When people ask what the fastest car in the world is, they are generally talking about the fastest production car
in the world – not something that did an insanely fast speed but
happened to have a jet engine fitted to the back. For those who are
interested, the actual world land-speed record is held by the ThrustSSC,
a jet-propelled car-rocket which broke the speed of sound and reached
763mph (1,228km/h) while being driven by Brit Andy Green in America’s
Black Rock Desert on October 15 1997.
But the ThrustSSC is
obviously not a production car. The problem is…what is? Unfortunately,
there is no globally recognised and precise definition for what a
‘production car’ actually is. Obviously it should be something that is
unmodified after coming off the factory floor — and it should in theory
be able to be bought by the public (or in reality, the super rich).
But
there is no actual definition that says exactly how many cars have to
be built to allow a model to be classified as a production car. And
because cars that are vying for the title of fastest car in the world
are usually outrageously expensive to build, not many get made.
However,
if just one is made and sold, does that make it a production car?
Currently, nobody knows, and this problem is still being cleared up. The
car experts at one of the world’s best auto websites, Jalopnik,
recently quizzed Guinness World Records about this and were told that
Guinness are in the process of devising a proper definition that makes
this clear.
You can read the article by Jalopnik explaining this HERE.
How do you certify what is the fastest car in the world?
Because
the title of ‘fastest car in the world’ is so sought-after it has led
to a string of claims of glory (and counter claims) among the leading
contenders. And the problem is car makers don’t always use the same
people to certify their alleged records. Guinness World Records have
been used on several occasions, but not all.
This means when you
create a list of the fastest cars in the world, some entries are
certified (though not all by the same people) and some are claimed. You
also have to take into account that different weather conditions and
different tracks can produce different results.
And aerodynamic
tests can actually produce a theoretical top speed that is far different
to what a car reaches in reality. So, you kind of just have to go with
what evidence there is and decide for yourself what the fastest car in
the world actually is. It’s an interesting debate. Let us know what you
think on our Facebook page.