These Are The Fastest Top Speeds Set By Production Cars (2024)

As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “America is all about speed, hot, nasty bad-ass speed,” and today that is as true as it ever was. That’s why we’re taking a look at the fastest production cars our dumb little planet has ever seen.

A lot of automotive enthusiasts will talk about how top speeds and other specs don’t really matter. It’s more about the way a car makes you feel, and while that may be true, I cannot think of many better feelings than driving upwards of 240, 250, 260 and even 300 mph. If that doesn’t get your car-loving heart pumping, driving an NA Miata around a corner probably won’t either.

Of course, all of the cars on our list are supercars, that’s a given. However, there’s still a whole lot of variance in how each of them approaches speed whether it’s through lightness, huge W16 engines or the most powerful EV powertrain in the world. Our list also spans decades. The oldest car on this list was built all the way back in the early 1990s, and the newest car is still on sale today. We are living in a golden age, my friends.

You may notice some cars are left off the list. For example, Tesla weirdos will point out that the “new” Roadster with a claimed 250 mph top speed isn’t here. That’s because it’s claimed. I’m only covering cars that put their money where their mouth is.

Anyway, start clicking on the fastest slideshow Jalopnik has ever done, and do it quickly if you want to catch up with these cars.

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2 / 17

Engine: 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12

Power: 791 horsepower & 775 lb-ft of torque

The Huayra probably won’t be remembered by history the same way its Zonda predecessor is, but it’s still one sweet car. It also just happens to be a damn bit faster than the Zonda and earns a place on our list.

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3 / 17

Engine: 6.1-liter V12

Power: 618 horsepower & 479 lb-ft of torque

The McLaren F1 is both the oldest car on this list and the only one without forced induction (EVs notwithstanding.) It’s incredible what this small British car company and Gordon Murray could do in the early 1990s.

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4 / 17

Engine: 4.7-liter supercharged V8

Power: 806 horsepower & 679 lb-ft of torque

This video brings me back to a simpler time on the internet. Look how few pixels there are. It’s breathtaking, and so is the CCR. Trust me, this is not the last Koenigsegg you will see on this list.

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5 / 17

Engine: 7.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8

Power: 750 horsepower & 700 lb-ft of torque

There’s nothing a big pair of turbochargers and a Ford Windsor V8 can’t do. It’s a shame the S7 was such a mess otherwise.

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6 / 17

Engine: 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8

Power: 1,018 horsepower & 782 lb-ft of torque

I told you Koenigsegg would be back. Look at how those needles jump around. This car was truly manic.

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7 / 17

Engine: 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid

Power: 1,036 horsepower & 848 lb-ft of torque

The F1's true successor is one wild-looking vehicle that was actually able to one-up the car that came before it. It’s amazing what McLaren has been able to do with that twin-turbocharged V8.

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8 / 17

Engine: 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16

Power: 987 horsepower & 922 lb-ft of torque

The Veyron was groundbreaking, everyone knows that. However, what I forgot was just how amazing this old “Top Gear” segment with James May was. It has quickly rocketed to being one of my favorites. The background music alone is pure cinema.

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9 / 17

Engine: 6.3-liter supercharged V8

Power: 1,180 horsepower & 961 lb-ft of torque

When I was a kid I remember telling my friends (who did not give a f*ck) about how the Ultimate Aero was the best car ever because (at the time) it was the fastest. I think I was onto something. I don’t know.

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10 / 17

Engine: EV

Power: 1,888 horsepower & 1,741 lb-ft of torque

The power electric vehicles can produce is bonkers. The Nevera is the best example of that. I’ve driven very fast EVs before, and while I’ve never driven a Nevera, I’m sure it feels like something from another planet.

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11 / 17

Engine: 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16

Power: 1,479 horsepower & 1,106 lb-ft of torque

The Chiron is limited to 261 MPH. That’s just bananas. I’ll always be partial to the Veyron because that’s the one I grew up with, but it’s hard to argue the Chiron wasn’t a better car in just about every way.

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12 / 17

Engine: 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16

Power: 1,183 horsepower & 1,106 lb-ft of torque

The Veyron SuperSport is pretty much the pinnacle of the entire Veyron lineup, which means it’s pretty much the pinnacle of my entire childhood. Being a weird little guy, orange is my favorite color. So, when Bugatti unveiled the orange Veyron, I felt like it was built just for me. Unfortunately, I was just 13 when this car debuted and didn’t have the requisite $1,000,000+ to own one. Shame.

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13 / 17

Engine: 7.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8

Power: 1,244 horsepower & 1,155 lb-ft of torque

The Venom is such an interesting car because it really answers the question of “what if you put a million horsepower V8 into a Lotus?” Turns out, the answer is one wild machine with a goddamn manual transmission.

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14 / 17

Engine: 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8

Power: 1,341 horsepower & 1,011 lb-ft of torque

This is how fast Koenigseggs were going years ago. I cannot wait to see what the automaker has up its sleeve for its next generation of cars. I’m sure they’ll give the top two spots on this list quite a run for their money.

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15 / 17

Engine: 5.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8

Power: 1,750 horsepower & 984 lb-ft of torque

USA USA USA WE ARE NUMBER.... two. Okay, that’s not exactly the winner, but not a bad effort from a little American company taking on Volkswagen. I’ll take it.

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16 / 17

Engine: 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16

Power: 1,578 horsepower & 1,180 lb-ft of torque

I truly cannot comprehend how fast nearly 305 mph must feel in a car. I’m going to assume time starts moving backward at that point and you end up in the plot of “Interstellar” or something. Either way, the Chiron was such a cool machine, and whatever Bugatti does next will surely also be bonkers.

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