For a lot of people, the most important thing they look for in a car is something sensible like low running costs, reliability, or safety, but if you’re a bit of a speed freak, you may be wondering just how fast you can go in a road-legal car.
Well if you have a very healthy bank balance and access to a private runway, of course, there are quite a few cars that will break the 250mph barrier and even some that can touch 300mph. Let’s take a closer look at these engineering marvels.
1. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – over 310mph (in theory)
Koenigsegg has been making some of the world’s most insane hypercars for decades now, and the Jesko Absolut is the craziest yet. It uses a 1,600hp twin-turbocharged V8 engine, and it’ll do 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds.
The Swedish firm says that the Absolut will do over 310 mph; however, there is a caveat because the car hasn’t done it in real life yet. This figure is based on a computer and some static dyno testing, so time will tell if the car can live up to this impressive figure on a track.
2. SSC Tuatara – 295mph
While the Bugatti Chiron’s complicated W16 engine is mightily impressive, sometimes you just can’t beat a whopping great V8 with a couple of turbos strapped to it. The SSC Tuatara (Too-ah-ta-ra) has a twin-turbocharged V8 which puts out up to 1,750hp when it’s running on ethanol; however there is some controversy around the official top speed.
You see, SSC claimed the Tuatara actually managed 331mph in October 2020 to make it the world’s fastest car — but later admitted to a GPS error that depicted that speed wrongly. Tests in early 2022 saw the car hit an actual top speed of 295mph, not exactly slow.
3. Bugatti Tourbillon – 277mph
If you grew up in the 2000s, the term ‘fastest car in the world’ will probably bring back memories of the Bugatti Veyron racing against fighter planes on Top Gear. Well, that car’s spirit has been carried on over the years and now we have the new Tourbillon.
It has a 1,800hp V16 hybrid engine which will launch this £3.2 million luxury missile from 0-60mph in under 2.0 seconds. There’s likely to be an even faster version in a few years as well, after all Bugatti managed to get over 300mph out of the old Chiron.
4. Hennessey Venom F5 – 272mph (for now)
The folks in the USA are smashing the top-speed game recently, with fourth place going to another all-American supercar. The Hennessey Venom F5 has a 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with 1,817hp and 1,617Nm of torque.
That’s enough to launch it from 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds, and it’ll go onto a top speed of 272mph – for now. Hennessey wants to get even more out of the F5, with the firm targeting a top speed of over 300mph in 2024
5. Rimac Nevera – 256mph
Electric cars offer instant acceleration thanks to the torque from their electric motors, however the added weight of the batteries can limit them in terms of top speed. This isn’t the case for the Rimac Nevera though.
This ballistic EV hypercar has four electric motors, producing a whopping 1,914hp and 2,300Nm of torque. That’s enough to launch it from 0-60mph in just 1.9 seconds, and it can go on to a top speed of 256mph. It’s made almost entirely out of carbon fibre to keep the weight down, but this isn’t just some stripped-out drag racer. The interior is a lovely place to be and you still get all the luxuries you’d expect of a car that costs £2 million.
6. McLaren Speedtail – 250mph
McLaren didn’t design the Speedtail to chase world records, but, with a 250mph top speed, it’s the fastest road car it has ever built.
That’s faster than its last three-seat car — the legendary McLaren F1. Its super-slippery bodywork lacks drag-inducing wings and means it looks like something ripped straight from a futuristic cyberpunk film. Just think about carrying two of your mates at that speed…
7. Koenigsegg Regera – 250mph
Matching the Speedtail is the Koenigsegg Regera, the second car on this list from the Swedish brand. It touts a twin-turbo V8 engine and an electric motor that produce a total of 1,500hp.
Unlike any other car on this list, the Regera can go from 0-250mph using just one gear. Yep, no matter if you’re cruising at 30mph or aiming to hit its 250mph top speed (on a closed course, not the M1) you’ll be in the same gear. Seems a little bonkers.
8. Aston Martin Valkyrie – 250mph
You may not think, based on appearances, that the Aston Martin Valkyrie is road legal. It might look like a full-blown LeMans racer, but you can really drive it on the street.
Mounted behind the driver is a 6.5-litre hybrid V12 with 1,160hp, capable of pushing this F1 inspired road-racer from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds. Not really surprising when you realise that it weighs just over a tonne.
9. Pagani Huayra – 238mph
The Pagani Huayra is a fantastic looking car. Every detail is exquisite, and it’s more than just a pin-up as well. It has an AMG derived twin-turbocharged V12 engine putting out 730hp and 1,000Nm of torque, enough for a top speed of 238mph.
The Huayra is made mostly of carbon fibre to keep the weight down, as well as to make it more rigid, and it’s covered in active aero to help it slip through the air more easily.
10. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – 233mph
Finally, we have something a bit more blue-collar. The 10th spot on this list was occupied by the Lamborghini Revuelto before the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 trumped its 217mph top speed – reaching 233mph in October 2024.
Unlike the Lambo, this all-American supercar isn’t powered by a complicated V12 hybrid system. Behind the driver is a good ol’ fashioned 5.5-litre V8 engine with two turbochargers, and it produces 1,064hp – making it the most powerful V8 engine ever produced in the USA by a car maker.
If the M8 doesn’t tickle your fancy, maybe the Audi RS7 Performance will. It’s a GT car with a 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet, just like the BMW, however it can’t quite match it in terms of top speed. Despite this, when we drag raced an RS7 against an M8 the Audi emerged victorious over the quarter mile by almost half a second.
5. Lexus LC500 – 168mph
Looking for a slightly left-field alternative to the typical German GT cars? The Lexus LC500 is a gorgeous coupe with a thumping great V8 engine under the bonnet. The interior is a lovely place to eat up the motorway miles, and it’s properly rapid as well. With a top speed of 168mph, and 0-60mph taken care of in 4.6 seconds, you’re not going to be disappointed when you plant your right foot.
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