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Speed has long been an obsession of drivers since the introduction of automobiles. To achieve truly eye-popping speeds, vehicles must possess powerful engines capable of managing air resistance at hypersonic levels and reach top speeds that rival those seen at racing tracks.
Hennessey’s Venom GT set a world record speed with two high-speed runs in opposing directions, but this hand-built hypercar is rather costly.
1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
Bugatti revolutionized supercar design when they unveiled the quad-turbo W16-engined Veyron 16.4 in 2005. It set acceleration records with its top speed of 431 km/h (about 268 mph).
But in order to attain such performance, one required the specialized “Speed Key” and several hundred thousand dollars.
As soon as the key is inserted and turned, a deep and guttural sound erupts that frightens wildlife away. Two large NACA ducts on the roof draw air in to cool the engine while its rear wing/diffuser can be adjusted to reduce drag at speed – an engineering masterpiece yet an absolute pleasure to drive! It truly feels like driving an incredible dream car.
2. Koenigsegg Agera RS
Koenigsegg, known for producing incredible amounts of horsepower, has just set another milestone with its latest model by setting an amazing top speed record at 285 miles per hour and other performance benchmarks.
Its 1,341 horsepower twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 makes this megacar stand out. It can accelerate from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds and easily surpass speed limits on public roads.
Manny Khoshbin recently took delivery of an RS, costing him approximately $3 Million. His custom version features battleship gray paint with orange accents and features the name of its owner Loke inscribed along the roofline.
3. McLaren Speedtail
McLaren’s long-tailed Speedtail promised 250mph when first unveiled last year and it has certainly achieved this speed at Kennedy Space Center’s Johnny Bohmer Proving Ground. Furthermore, its potential performance may have been extended significantly if electronic limitations weren’t in place to thwart further acceleration.
The Speedtail boasts an innovative central driving position reminiscent of F1, providing an unrivalled view of the road. Its teardrop shape combines with its rear design to remove airflow blockages and avoid turbulence at high speeds; an essential requirement in such vehicles.
To operate the car, simply press a red button on its pod-like carbon roof structure. From here you can access familiar McLaren drive and handling modes as well as Velocity Mode activation via blue button.
4. Ferrari LaFerrari
Ferrari’s LaFerrari stands as a pinnacle of 21st-century hypercar performance. Unlike its main hybrid supercar rivals like Porsche 918 and McLaren P1, however, which feature electric-only modes on their vehicles – its 2.3kWh battery pack and power electronics take up roughly half the floor space of LaFerrari instead. They exist solely to enhance V12 performance.
Results? A car that can race through Monza’s long pit straight in less than 12 seconds and reach speeds up to 330km/h before needing brake pedal adjustments once more – an example of what can happen when power, precision and extreme efficiency combine in an exquisite Ferrari.
5. Aston Martin Valkyrie
Aston Martin has announced its Valkyrie hypercar is set to compete in top-tier endurance motorsport competition. Gaydon-based manufacturer claims its AMR Pro version should match LMP1 race cars which currently dominate this discipline.
Cosworth-designed V12 engines do not rely on timing belts; their camshafts instead use gear drives for accurate valve timing at 11,000rpm.
This $3 Million car feels wholly uncompromised – thanks to Newey’s refusal to let practicality compromise his vision that brought it to life. Sitting inside feels like being in an advanced Group C racer, with its tiny canopy windscreen wrapping around like a visor and small video screens for rear-view cameras on its dashboard alongside Aston’s first touchscreen interface.
6. McLaren P1
McLaren’s first hybrid supercar is an impressive beast – capable of reaching 186 mph in 16.5 seconds on its journey towards 217 mph top speed.
The P1 is an experimental platform for hybrid technology and features Formula 1-inspired aerodynamics to maximize downforce for superior cornering and braking performance. Light yet sturdy construction allows for great driver feedback.
This gas-electric powertrain utilizes a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and electric motor with instant throttle response for instantaneous 0-60 acceleration in just 2.8 seconds and 217 mph on the race track – more than sufficient speed to set fast lap times, the primary purpose of such cars.
