Speed has always been the ultimate flex in the automotive world. It’s not just about getting from A to B—it’s about how fast you can obliterate the alphabet in between. Hypercars today aren’t just fast; they’re feats of engineering that bend the laws of physics while still managing to wear a number plate. From the record-smashing Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut to the all-electric Rimac Nevera, these are the fastest top-speed recorded by cars from the past and present.
Koenigsegg Regera – 400 km/h
Powertrain: 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 + electric motors (1,521 PS)
Who needs gears? The Regera does away with a traditional transmission, instead using Koenigsegg’s Direct Drive system to send power straight to the wheels. The result is relentless acceleration and a seamless surge of speed that takes it to 400 km/h in near silence.
SSC Ultimate Aero TT – 412 km/h
Powertrain: 6.3-litre twin-turbo V8 (1,183 PS)
Before Bugatti reclaimed the throne, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT briefly held the title of the world's fastest production car. In 2007, this American-built beast hit 407 km/h, dethroning the Veyron and proving that speed wasn’t just a European game. With a lightweight chassis and monstrous twin-turbo V8, it was a no-nonsense speed machine built purely for breaking records.
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – 412 km/h
Powertrain: 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (1,600 PS on E85)
Koenigsegg calls this the fastest car it will ever make, and with a verified top speed of 412 km/h, it’s hard to argue (claimed to break 500km/h). The Jesko Absolut is built for one purpose: chasing speed records. Its ultra-low drag design and monstrous V8 make it one of the most extreme road-legal machines ever created.
Rimac Nevera – 412 km/h
Powertrain: Quad-motor electric (1,914 PS)
With four independent motors producing a combined 1,914 PS, the Nevera obliterates acceleration records, hitting 100 km/h in just 1.97 seconds. On a closed track, it achieved a verified 412 km/h—making it the fastest EV in the world.
Aspark Owl – 413 km/h
Powertrain: Quad-motor electric (2,012 PS)
The Aspark Owl isn’t just fast—it’s a shock to the system. This Japanese-built electric hypercar boasts an incredible 2,012 PS, making it one of the most powerful EVs ever made. It rockets from 0-100 km/h in just 1.69 seconds, and with a verified top speed of 413 km/h, it’s one of the few electric hypercars that can chase down petrol-powered speed demons.
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport – 431 km/h
Powertrain: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 (1,200 PS)
The Veyron Super Sport was the first hypercar to make 400 km/h seem almost casual. Back in 2010, it held the title of the world’s fastest production car with a blistering 431 km/h run, a feat made possible by its monstrous W16 engine. While its successor, the Chiron, has taken speed to new heights, the Veyron Super Sport remains an icon of engineering.
Hennessey Venom GT – 435 km/h
Powertrain: 7.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (1,244 PS)
Built by American tuning legends Hennessey, the Venom GT was a Frankenstein hypercar—a Lotus Exige stretched and stuffed with a 7.0-litre twin-turbo V8. With a verified top speed of 435 km/h, it unofficially beat the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport but didn’t meet Guinness World Records' production requirements. Still, it’s a key chapter in the battle for speed supremacy.
Koenigsegg Agera RS – 447 km/h
Powertrain: 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (1,360 PS)
Koenigsegg’s Agera RS isn’t just a hypercar; it’s a legend. In 2017, it set an official two-way top speed record of 447 km/h on a Nevada highway—no fancy test tracks, just sheer engineering brilliance. With an ultra-light carbon-fibre chassis and active aerodynamics, the Agera RS proved that speed records aren’t just for closed circuits.
Bugatti Mistral – 453.9 km/h
Powertrain: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 (1,600 PS)
Bugatti’s farewell to the legendary W16 engine is nothing short of spectacular. The Mistral, a roofless hypercar, was designed to be the fastest roadster ever made. And it delivers—clocking a record-breaking 453.9 km/h, it pushes the limits of open-top speed. With only 99 units produced, the Mistral is an exclusive sendoff to an era of automotive excess.
SSC Tuatara – 474 km/h
Powertrain: 5.9-litre twin-turbo V8 (1,774 PS)
Named after a reptile known for rapid evolution, the SSC Tuatara is America’s answer to the speed wars. Its slippery aerodynamics and immense twin-turbo V8 propel it to a verified 474 km/h. Unlike some of its rivals, it’s not just theoretical—SSC has the receipts to prove it.
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ – 490 km/h
Powertrain: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 (1,600 PS)
Bugatti redefined speed when a modified Chiron Super Sport 300+ became the first production car to break the 300-mph barrier (490 km/h) at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. Its elongated bodywork and meticulous aerodynamics allow it to maintain stability at speeds where most cars would take flight. While customer cars are limited to 440 km/h, this remains the verified king of speed.
