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November 24, 2016updated Mar 28, 2017

Fastest Cars in the World

By Samantha Coles

Many of the world’s fastest cars sell as quickly as they move, despite the high price tag. Of all the car manufacturers competing to produce models that rank among the fastest cars in the world, only a few have achieved such enviable status. With Hennessey and Bugatti dominating the top five, these are the fastest production cars in the world.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, 268 mph

screen-shot-2016-11-22-at-15-20-36Following on from the tradition of developing Super Sport version of models that have been particularly successful, Bugatti came out with the Veyron Super Sport. This model became one of the fastest cars in the world. The luxury car brand is well versed at creating exclusive cars that are capable of reaching astonishing speeds, and the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is no different. The supercar can reach a top speed of 258 mph and has a number of other impressive specifications – 1,200 hp, a maximum torque of 1,500 Nm and acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds.

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport also holds the title of the world’s fastest production car by the Guinness Book of World Records by reaching a world speed record for road cars of 431.072 km/h (268 mph).

(Image: Instagram @bugatti)

Hennessey Venom GT, 270 mph

screen-shot-2016-11-22-at-15-22-56Despite reaching a higher speed than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, the Hennessey Venom GT isn’t recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s fastest, as record attempts require a run in each direction, which the Hennessey wasn’t allowed to do by NASA.

Still, the Hennessey reached an astonishing 270 mph at the Kennedy Space Center (a track which is lined with water-filled ditches) in Florida. “Being the fastest matters,” said company founder and president, John Hennessey.  “We are intent on keeping the Venom as the fastest, best performing and most exciting hypercar on the road”. In January 2017, Hennessey announced that the production of the Venom GT Final Edition had concluded. This new model is powered by the same twin turbo 7.0 liter V8 engine, which produces 1,451 bhp. This final edition was quickly sold for a price of $1,200,000. Including the prototype, Hennessey have produced 13 Venom GTs – the first six as hardtops and the last six as roadsters.

(Image: Instagram @hennesseyperformance)

Bugatti Chiron, 270 mph
screen-shot-2016-11-23-at-12-19-23

Despite holding the Guinness World Record for the fastest car with the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Bugatti strived to surpass this – and so designed the Chiron to be the fastest, most powerful, and of course most luxurious car in the world. Unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show in February 2016, the Chiron can reach speeds of 270 mph, but, although unconfirmed, it is thought to be able to reach more than 280 mph. The Chiron can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.5 seconds and is the world’s first production sports car with 1,500 horsepower.
The Chiron costs $2.6 million, and only 500 models have been produced.

SCC Ultimate Aero, 257 mph

Perhaps not as famous as other luxury car brands, SCC, formerly known as Shelby Super Cars, still competes with supercar powerhouses like Bugatti, Lamborghini and Ferrari. Founded by automotive enthusiast Jeron Shelby, SCC is fuelled by his passion for racing.

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After seven years of development, the SCC Ultimate Aero was created. The car reached a speed of 257 mph in 2007, making it the fastest production car in the world at the time. It has a 6.3 liter twin turbocharged V8 with 1,287 hp, and goes from 0 – 60 mph in 2.78 seconds. Unlike other super-speed supercars, the car has no electronic driver aids such as antilock brakes or traction control making for a purer (yet life-endingly dangerous) drive. This mid-engined sports car held the title as the world’s fastest from 2007 until 2010, which is when the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport was introduced.

Koenigsegg One:1, 280 mph

screen-shot-2016-11-23-at-14-38-16Swedish automakers Koenigsegg have created a number of luxurious super-fast supercars, and usually only create a small number – making the Koenigsegg models extremely rare. The Koenigsegg One:1 is the first homologated production car with one megawatt of power (hence the name), making it the world’s first “Megacar”. Considering this immense power, it’s no surprise the One:1 is thought to be able to reach a theoretical top speed of 280 mph.

(Image: Instagram @koenigseggautomotive)

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