Top 10 Ridiculously Fast Cars

Best known as a company that tinkers with Mustangs, Saleen decided in 2000 to build a car of their own. Its first model, the S7, was among the fastest and most powerful cars in the world. In 2005, Saleen upped the ante, revamping the car and giving its 7.0L v8 a set of twin turbochargers, bringing the car up to 750 horsepower or an optional 1000 horses. That much power in a light carbon fiber based build means the S7 is a virtual rocket, capable of 248mph and 0-60 in just 2.8 seconds.

Replacing the Murciélago and inheriting much of its damn fine looks from the Reventón, the all wheel drive Aventador is quite possibly the best driving Lamborghini ever made. It’s also quite fast - officially clocked at 217mph and hitting 60mph from stop in 2.9 seconds thanks to it 6.5L v12. Although not as fast in terms of top speed, this Lambo was actually quicker around Top Gear’s test track than a Bugatti Veyron and lapped the Nurburgring in less than seven minutes. The Aventador also served as the basis for the $4.5 million Veneno, which celebrated Lamborghini’s 50 years of car making.

As the replacement to the Zonda and the spiritual successor to the Zonda-R, the Huayra had some big, speedy shoes to fill, and by all accounts it did. Powered by a Mercedes-AMG 6.0 liter v12 putting out 720 bhp, coupled with a seven-speed transmission, this speed machine can hit 238mph with a 0-60 time of just three seconds. It gets 14mpg on the highway, but if you’ve got one of these you’re not hurting for gas money. Made of lots of carbon fiber and loads of titanium and priced at $1.3 million each, Huayras are as pricey as they are fast.

Following in the tracks of the Enzo and inheriting genetics from the FXX, the Ferrari LaFerrari is gorgeous from all angles. Loaded with electronics, built of carbon, and aimed with carbon-ceramic brakes, this is a marvel of automotive engineering. Powered by a 6.3-liter v12 in conjunction with a 161 bhp electronic motor, the LaFerrari has a total 950 horses in its corral and a top speed of 217mph. With 0-60 times in less than three seconds and a 150mph 9.8-second ¼ mile, “quick” is an understatement.

It’s a terrible name, and its demonic looks and gull-wing doors split the room, but the Apollo can really move. Developed by Roland Gumpert – a former Audi executive and director of Audi sport – the Apollo was designed to be both road-legal and track-ready. Powered by an Audi based 4.2L twin-turbo v8, Apollo can hit 223.9mph and will see 62mph in 3.1 seconds. Gumpert claims – as F1 teams do – that his creation is so aerodynamic that it could drive upside down, if in a tunnel and doing at least 190mph. Probably best to let someone else try it first...

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#4: 9ff GT9-R (2008)

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Top 10 Fastest Cars You Can Actually Buy

Based on the Porsche 911 GT3, the 9ff GT9-R was built to be lighter, quicker, and faster than Porsche ever dreamed of. A key difference is that the 9ff is mid-engined rather than rear-mount, giving it better balance than its cousin. Built on the Porsche 997 platform and using a modified version of the company’s 4.0 liter flat six, the basic GT9 was actually faster than the original Bugatti Veyron. Gutted for weight and with the bhp upped to 1,120, the GT9-R tops out at 257mph and can do 0-60 in less than three seconds.

There’s nothing simple about the Hennessey Venom, except its goal: speed. A modified Lotus Exige, it’s as much British as it is Texan - yet Hennessey and Lotus are not partners. Hitting 69mph in first gear and recording a top speed of 270.49mph – although the company claims it can go 278 – the Venom and its 427ci V8 capable of producing 1244 bhp of power is faster than a Veyron. But because there are fewer than 30 sold, it doesn’t qualify as the world’s fastest car. One is owned by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, which is notable as the Spyder version was created at his request. Guinness may not approve but the numbers don’t lie.

An incredible feat of engineering, the One:1 – based in part on the Agera – was named for its power to weight ratio-1360PS to 1360kg. Hitting 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and 200mph in just 14.3 seconds, the One:1 and its 5.0 litre twin-turbo v8 eventually top out at 273mph. Stopping, meanwhile, is just as up-chuckingly fast – 200mph to a stop takes just 6.3 seconds due to the car’s carbon-ceramic brakes. The One:1 could be a contender for the world’s fastest car, but with just six units produced, it does not qualify under Guinness World Records rules... the jerks.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Zenvo ST1 (2009)
- SSC Ultimate Aero (2006-13)
- Porsche 918 Spyder (2013-15)
- Aston Martin One-77 (2009-12)

At least try to look surprised. Limited to just 30 units, the Super Sport was built to claim the title of world’s fastest car once and for all - which, as we’ve seen, is not without controversy. With the 8 liter W16’s power upped to 1,200 metric horsepower and the body completely made of carbon fiber, the Veyron SS does 0-60 in 2.46 seconds and cruises smoothly up to 267.8mph. However to keep its tires from ripping to shreds, speed is governed to a slightly tamer 258mph. The Veyron SS briefly made James May the world’s fastest man... an unofficial title that lasted about an hour.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite ridiculously fast car? For more accelerating Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.