Top 10 Fastest Car in the World in 2022: Performance car brands have long been drawn to the pursuit of top speed, and this fascination persists even as the automotive industry begins to enter the electric age. Your “usual” sports cars and supercars simply aren’t fast enough, so multi-million pound hypercars are still pushing the limits of speed.
In a matter of two decades, the race to build the fastest car had transformed cars from being only slightly faster than horses 100 years prior. Aston Martin’s DB4 GT broke the 150 mph barrier in the 1950s, and the Ferrari F40 broke the 200 mph barrier in the 1980s.
As it got harder and harder to get cars to go faster than that, renowned racing company McLaren showed up and completely destroyed the competition. Ahead of everyone else at the time, the iconic McLaren F1 broke the 240 mph barrier in 1998.
Its top speed, 253 mph, was ‘only’ 13 mph faster than the McLaren even when Bugatti’s incredible (and incredibly expensive to make) Veyron arrived on the scene in 2005. However, Bugatti didn’t sit back and released the Veyron Super Sport in 2010, which reached 267 mph.
Since then, a wide variety of vehicles have been developed, some of which come from obscure manufacturers, claiming to be even faster. The Veyron was replaced by the Chiron, which is even faster, and the goal was changed to a nice round number: 300 mph.
Although Bugatti did manage to surpass 300 mph in 2019 with a Chiron Super Sport 300+ that had undergone minor modifications, the final production model was only capable of 271 mph. Bugatti claims the production model will reach that elusive number, but it will only permit owners to push their vehicles to their limits on its own test track while being closely supervised.
Top 10 Fastest Car in the World
- Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
- Hennessey Venom F5
- Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
- SSC Tuatara
- Rimac Nevera
- McLaren Speedtail
- Aston Martin Valkyrie
- Koenigsegg Gemera
- Koenigsegg Regera
- Aspark Owl
1. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut: The car advertised as the “fastest ever” comes with a very big disclaimer: its top speed is currently theoretical and based on calculations. Even so, the storied Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg swears it will never create a road vehicle faster than the Jesko Absolut because it is so confident it will deliver on its promises.
Using specialized E85 fuel, the twin-turbo V8 that powers the Jesko Absolute can produce “at least” 1,600PS. It is a “land-based rocket-ship determined to reach unheard of speed in record-setting pace,” according to the CEO of the company.
Although Koenigsegg’s own goal was 310 mph, company simulations indicate that the Jesko Absolut will reach even higher speeds because of its extremely low-drag body. Finding a tire that can travel at those speeds and locating a stretch of straight tarmac that is long enough to get there will be the challenges. However, given that this is Koenigsegg and not some vaporware start-up hypercar company, we believe they will succeed.
2. Hennessey Venom F5: Over the past 30 years, Hennessey has modified everything from Dodge Vipers to pickup trucks to Ferraris. However, it has already dabbled in full vehicle production twice: first with the 2011 Venom GT (capable of 270 mph), which was inspired by Lotus, and now with the Venom F5.
The Venom F5 is a custom, carbon-bodied hypercar with an in-house platform and a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 that is said to produce more than 1,800PS. It is not a Lotus Elise that has been heavily modified. However, considering that it weighs about the same as a Ford Focus, performance should be extremely erratic.
Hennessey has not yet attempted a full top speed run, so like the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, its ranking is currently hypothetical. But it has a good chance of achieving or even going above 311 mph. Given that it can accelerate from 0 to 186 mph in just 8.4 seconds, we believe them. Only 24 are being produced at a pre-tax cost of £1.58 million.
3. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+: A Bugatti of some kind is a must-have on any internet list of the “fastest cars.” Like the Veyron before it, the “standard” Chiron is a mind-blowing feat of engineering, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.
To celebrate a modified Chiron becoming the first hypercar to reach 300 mph, the Chiron Super Sport 300+ is a special edition of the already pretty special Chiron Super Sport. Although the top speed of the production car is electronically limited to 273 mph, it is said that Bugatti will permit owners to add a roll cage and attempt their own high-speed runs on the company’s Ehra-Lessien test track.
The Super Sport 300+ receives an upgraded quad-turbo 8.0-litre W16 engine from the Chiron that produces 1600PS in addition to a longer, more aerodynamic body and significant weight-saving measures. The cost to build 30 is £3.1 million each.
4. SSC Tuatara: SSC is a brand you may not be familiar with, but the North American company’s mid-2000s SSC Ultimate Aero held the Guinness World Record for the fastest production car for three years.
The SSC Tuatara, a 1750PS hypercar powered by a highly tuned 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8, is now back. SSC claimed a production car record in 2020 at an astounding 316 mph, which caused some controversy, but it wasn’t widely acknowledged due to reported irregularities in the measurement of that speed.
Not to be deterred, SSC attempted the Tuatara once more in early 2021 while using specialized measuring equipment that was being watched over by engineers. According to the information they provided, the Tuatara averaged close to 283 mph and reached 286 mph on both runs, which was enough to break the record held by Koenigsegg since 2017. SSC will make more attempts in an effort to break the 300 mph barrier.
One hundred of the Washington-built Tuatara’s are expected to be produced, with an estimated cost of £1 million before taxes.
5. Rimac Nevera: The Rimac Nevera aims to disprove the notion that electric vehicles are only quick at low speeds. The Croatian company, which along with Porsche owns a controlling interest in Bugatti, claims that its electric hypercar can reach a top speed of 258 mph, ranking it right up there with the fastest gasoline-powered vehicles.
The Nevera accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in under two seconds and completes the quarter mile in 8.6 seconds. It produces a total of 1900 PS from four electric motors, one for each wheel, and can travel a distance of a mile in 8.6 seconds. Of course, EVs can accelerate very quickly off the line, but Rimac uses two single-speed transmissions to prevent the Nevera’s acceleration from losing steam.
The Nevera features extremely clever torque vectoring, a sizable 120kWh battery, and more technical innovation than just raw speed. Its claimed range is 340 miles. It also has the most potent regenerative braking of any EV, with a 300kW maximum power output. 150 Neveras will be made, with prices starting at £1.72 million.
6. McLaren Speedtail: No McLaren is particularly boring to look at, but limited-edition Speedtail is a stunning work of art. It has been demonstrated to be capable of 250 mph, making it the fastest and most aerodynamically efficient McLaren to date.
The Speedtail has a hybrid drivetrain that combines a 312PS electric motor and McLaren’s long-established 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 for a total of 1050 horsepower. Although that’s less than many of the vehicles on this list, the Speedtail is intended to be a usable and comfortable “hyper GT” for daily driving. In addition, it weighs half as little as a Bugatti Chiron, and McLaren claims it has “no interest” in sacrificing the car’s usability in order to set records.
The body’s extraordinary length and active aerodynamics were created specifically to enhance airflow. A central driving position is also present in the futuristic Speedtail interior, just like the record-breaking McLaren F1 of the 1990s.
7. Aston Martin Valkyrie: The Aston Martin Valkyrie has been in development for a while, having first been unveiled as a concept in 2016. Early 2022 saw the delivery of the first customer vehicle, demonstrating the enormous technical obstacles the company had to overcome.
The Valkyrie, Aston’s idea of the ideal road vehicle, has a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated Cosworth V12 with 1160PS and a maximum rev limit of 11,000 rpm. The Valkyrie produces more than 1PS for every kilogram it weighs, despite having a kerbweight of only slightly more than a Ford Fiesta at 1130kg.
Aston claims the track-focused AMR Pro version will reach speeds of over 250 mph despite having a body that is primarily made for downforce. Although it appears to be able to accommodate two adults, the bare-bones interior was inspired by Le Mans Prototype race cars. 150 examples of the Aston Martin Valkyrie will be made, each costing about £2.5 million.
8. Koenigsegg Gemera: there are several Koenigseggs on this list, but this one stands out because it is the only true four-seater. The Gemera has some mind-bending engineering underneath its comfortable exterior and can reach incredible speeds. It even has rear-seat infotainment to keep the kids happy.
A 2.0-litre, three-cylinder engine, which sounds underwhelming for a Koenigsegg, is one of its sources of power. However, because it makes use of ‘Freevalve’ technology, it can generate 600PS on its own. Additionally, it can run on ethanol and methanol, which are more eco-friendly fuels.
A total of three electric motors are coupled with that potent little engine to produce 1,700PS more power. The Gemera is advertised as having a top speed of 250 mph with all-wheel drive or 186 mph with just rear-wheel drive and electric power. This hybrid is not your standard one. 300 Gemeras will be produced, with prices starting at about £1.4 million; however, customer deliveries won’t start until 2023.
9. Koenigsegg Regera: Koenigsegg’s inclusion on this list three times demonstrates its serious commitment to speed. The Regera is intended to be a “luxury Megacar alternative,” according to the manufacturer, to its “traditional extreme, light-weight, race-like road cars.”
Similar to Koenigsegg’s most extreme models, the Regera’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is used in it, though it has been detuned. This time, however, it is paired with three electric motors and a unique “Direct Drive” gearbox, which is lighter and more effective than a conventional gearbox. The Regera produces 1500PS and weighs under 1600kg despite being made of carbon fiber and Kevlar; this is impressive for a hybrid hypercar.
According to Koenigsegg, it also holds the record for going from zero to 249 mph and back to zero in the fastest time ever—31.49 seconds. There will only ever be 80 examples of the Regera, which start at about £1.3 million.
10. Aspark Owl: If you had never heard of Aspark and its eponymously named Owl hypercar, we wouldn’t blame you. However, the Japanese engineering firm has been in development since 2014, and it appears that customer deliveries will soon start.
The Aspark Owl, the second electric vehicle on this list, is said to produce an astounding 2,012PS through four electric motors, making it comparable to the Rimac Nevera but even more potent. It is lightweight and has a 64 kWh battery pack, which gives it a stated range of 280 miles. It is constructed on a carbon chassis
According to Aspark, the Owl can reach a top speed of 248.5 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.69 seconds. Although we haven’t yet seen it operate, it appears that about half of the 50 models that were to be built have already been sold, for a price of about £2.4 million.