Published on: 1/22/2021IST

It’s human nature to push limits, which is why we have cars capable of some extraordinary speeds.

This list details the quickest cars in each of these car makers’ ranges, whether it’s the one with the highest outright top speed or the car that accelerates the fastest.

Jaguar: F-Type R Coupe - 186mph

The only thing missing from the Jaguar F-Type R is the now-defunct SVR’s no-limits top speed. Where the SVR in coupe form could top out at 200mph, the R Coupe has an electronic muzzle put on it at 186mph. Otherwise, you get the same 567bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 motor under that shapely bonnet.

Even if the R Coupe cannot match its SVR relative for top speed, it has not trouble equalling it for acceleration. From rest to 60mph takes 3.5 seconds in this F-type, making it comfortably Jaguar’s quickest car on sale.

 

Alfa Romeo: Giulia Quadrifoglio - 191mph

Unlike most of its rivals in the fast saloon trade, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio doesn’t bother with a nannying limiter at 155mph. Instead, the Italian outfit lets the Giulia run out to its natural maximum where engine power can no longer overcome the forces of resistance. With 510bhp at its disposal, the Alfa is not the most potent four-door performance saloon, but it does have the best power-to-weight ratio in its class, which helps.

Alfa also has the limited edition GTAm that has 540bhp and is 100kg lighter than the standard 2.9-litre V6-engined GTA. There are no performance figures for this as yet, but it’s a safe bet it will better that 191mph top speed and 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds.

 

Aston Martin: DBS Superleggera - 211mph

It’s safe to assume the 1160bhp Aston Martin Valkyrie will have a higher top speed than the DBS Superleggera, but the low volume Valkyrie is sold out now. This leaves the sleek V12-engined Superleggera as the quickest current Aston production car with a top end of 211mph.

A twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 motor lies at the heart of the DBS, producing 715bhp for that ultimate speed and also providing 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds. In the rarefied world of superfast front-engined GT cars, the Aston holds sway over rivals from Bentley and Ferrari, which can both only manage a meagre 207mph flat out.

 

Audi: R8 V10 Performance - 205mph

You don’t have to be Tintin to deduce the R8 is where to look for the fastest model in Audi’s line-up. Even with the various RS cars in the range, it’s the mid-engined, V10-powered R8 that offers the biggest hit of velocity with its 205mph top whack.

You need to choose the R8 V10 Performance model over the standard rear-wheel drive R8, which can only scrape its way to 199mph. The Performance model’s 5.2-litre motor lives up to the name with 611bhp and delivers this to all four wheels. It also helps to dispatch 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds.

 

Bentley: Continental GT - 207mph

There’s something wonderfully incongruous about a luxury coupe like the Bentley Continental GT being able to waft in total comfort and also dish up a top speed of 207mph. That top end is a by-product of using the turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 in this fastest version of the GT that has 635bhp on hand to also give 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds.

As much as the huge top speed of the Continental GT, it’s the in-gear acceleration that astounds its drivers. There’s a mighty 664lb ft of torque to overcome the Bentley’s considerable 2244kg weight, while the crisp bark from the engine when it’s pressed into full action reminds you this is a luxury car with bite.

 

BMW: M5 Competition - 189mph

To enjoy the quickest car in BMW’s line-up, you need to make sure you tick the options box for the M Driver’s Package. This derestricts the top speed of the subtle M5 from 155mph and raises it to a bahn-storming 189mph, which should be sufficient for you and three passengers.

Realising a top speed not far off 200mph in the M5 doesn’t require any changes to the 625bhp 4.4-litre V8. Instead, the M Driver’s Package simply unshackles the engine from its electronic bonds to gallop all the way to its true potential. The only slight disappointment is the twin-turbos that mute the V8 motor’s roar.

 

Bugatti: Chiron - 305mph

When it was first launched, Bugatti was a touch coy about the top speed of the Chiron. The company quoted a maximum of 261mph, which would be more than sufficient for most companies, but then the Chiron was following in the wheel tracks of the Veyron that posted a best of 267.8mph in Super Sport guide.

With 1479bhp on hand, it didn’t take too long for the Chiron to show its real legs and the car recorded a world record-setting 305mph top speed with speed legend Andy Wallace at the helm. This made Bugatti the first production car manufacturer to break the 300mph barrier.

 

Cadillac: CT5-V - 168mph

The Cadillac CT5-V lifts the title of the fastest current Cadillac partly by default. Due to the 4.2-litre twin-turbo 550bhp CT6-V being pulled from sale, the most potent car in the company’s range is the 355bhp CT5-V. It has a higher top speed, but only because the more powerful and now defunct CT6-V was capped at 149mph.

The CT6-V was faster from 0-60mph, taking 3.8 seconds, but the CT5-V is no slouch with a time of 4.8 seconds thanks to plenty of low-down torque from its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 motor and 10-speed automatic gearbox. Rear-wheel drive makes the CT5-V good to drive, but it’s hard not to feel Cadillac has pulled its punches in the performance stakes, probably to create headroom for the forthcoming CT5-V Blackwing, which we reckon will be good for around 650bhp from an engine borrowed from the Camaro ZL-1, with a top speed nudging 200mph.

 

Chevrolet: Corvette C8 - 194mph

If you want to democratise serious speed, point drivers in the direction of the Corvette C8. Always the affordable sports car for buyers in the USA, the mid-engined C8 is a serious break from tradition with its mid-engined layout. If there were any quibbles about this, a 194mph top speed in a car that costs less than a standard Porsche Boxster in its homeland soon silenced them.

The C8’s 6.2-litre V8 doesn’t even produce a particularly outlandish amount of power compared to most rivals, delivering 495bhp. Yet, that’s enough for 194mph flat out and 0-60mph in just 2.9 seconds, and this is regardless of whether you choose the base C8 or the top of the range model.

 

Dodge: Challenger SRT Super Stock - 168mph

With 807bhp available from its supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine, the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock’s top speed of 168mph looks a shade underwhelming. However, this figure is where the Challenger is limited to because this model is all about acceleration down a drag strip.

In the current muscle car boom in the USA, quarter mile times count more than outright speed. As a result, the Super Stock is more accurately judged by its ability to cover that quarter mile distance from rest in 10.5 seconds. This is helped by the Super Stock running on road legal drag tyres from the factory, which are the limiting factor in top speed and why the Dodge is restricted to 168mph.

 

Ferrari: SF90 Stradale - 211mph

Traditionally, the quickest Ferraris have been powered by sonorous V12 engines, but even the firm’s appropriately named 812 Superfast cannot better the SF90 Stradale. The SF90’s hybrid powertrain produces a maximum of 986bhp, with 770bhp of that from the petrol V8 and the rest from its three electric motors.

Put all of that to its best possible use and the SF90 has a top speed of 211mph, comfortably eclipsing the Superfast’s 207mph. The Stradale also uses its considerable might to give 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds, yet this is a Ferrari that can offer 154g/km of CO2 emissions, zero emissions electric driving and 39.2mpg combined economy. That really does play with your mind.

 

Ford: Shelby GT500 - 180mph

If asked to name the most powerful Ford production car in history, you may well choose the GT40 or one its modern equivalents. Good choice, but you’d be wrong as the accolade belongs to the Mustang-based Shelby GT500. Under the bonnet lies a supercharged 5.2-litre V8 that produces 749bhp, easily shading the Ford GT’s 649bhp.

All of that power results in a 180mph top speed for the Shelby, which is down from the previous GT500’s 200mph maximum. However, the Shelby has a new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox for quicker shifts, so it takes care of 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds and covers a quarter mile drag run in 10.6 seconds to give the Dodge Challenger a run for its pink slip.

 

Hennessey: Venom F5 - 311mph

Hennessey is a name familiar to those who follow top speed records and the Venom F5 has been designed with one aim: to be the fastest car on Earth. That means a top speed of 311mph is the mark for the F5, which works out at a very neat, rounded 500km/h for any European competitors keeping an eye on the US outfit.

Powering the F5 is a Hennessey-built 6.6-litre Fury V8 engine. It has twin-turbos to develop 1817bhp, while the car’s overall weight has been kept to 1360kg to give a power-to-weight ratio of 1.34bhp per kilogram. The carbon fibre body has been designed with low aerodynamic drag in mind to help the F5 to its top speed. As a nod to that previous king of top speed, the McLaren F1, the F5’s engine bay is lined in gold leaf to manage the extreme engine heat when running flat out.

 

Honda: NSX - 191mph

Honda has raised the maximum speed bar in the hot hatch sector to an amazing 169mph with the Civic Type R, but it’s the NSX that is the Japanese firm’s fastest four-wheeled machine. As you’d expect of a company that values technical innovation more highly than mere bragging rights, the NSX comes with a hybrid powertrain.

The 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine is assisted by three electric motors in the NSX, giving 573bhp in total to see the mid-engined marvel to a top speed of 191mph. This sort of power and electric motor assistance also means the NSX can tick off 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds.

 

Kia: Stinger - 168mph

168mph top speed is not that remarkable in this company , but what makes this entry noteworthy is it’s a family saloon from Kia. The Stinger comes with a 3.3-litre V6 turbo petrol engine that has 361bhp. Driving through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels, it’s enough to propel the Kia to 168mph.

This sort of speed makes the Stinger one of the best value fast cars out there, especially as it easily serves as an everyday family car when not going hard in the outside lane of an autobahn. The Stinger is also good to drive and covers off 0-60mph in just 4.7 seconds.

 

Koenigsegg: Jesko Absolut - 305mph

The Jesko Absolut from Koenigsegg may sound more like a boutique vodka than a hypercar, but be in no doubt about this Swede’s intent. It has a top speed of 305mph, putting it right up there with high speed royalty. It uses all of Koenigsegg’s know-how about engine power to find 1280bhp from the 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8. This engine boasts the world’s lightest V8 crankshaft and the motor can rev to 8500rpm, and it can also deliver up to 1600bhp if it runs on E85 fuel.

However, the Jesko Absolut is about much more than outright power as Koenigsegg has honed the shape to have a drag coefficient of just 0.278 Cd. That compares to a BMW i8’s 0.26 figure and Koenigsegg has achieved this by removing the standard Jesko’s large rear wing. This reduces aero downforce from 1400kg to 150kg and allows the Absolut to cut through the air more cleanly.

 

Lamborghini: Aventador SVJ - 217mph

You can never discount Lamborghini when it comes to trading top speed claims. Unlike the optimistic numbers bandied about for the Countach, the Aventador backs up its 217mph maximum with proof, making this Italian still one of the fastest cars you can buy even as it reaches the end of its lifetime. Propelling the Aventador to such giddy speed is a 759bhp 6.5-litre V12 and it achieves this power without the need for super- or turbocharging.

If the Lamborghini’s V12 motor is one of the last of its type, there’s no denying how wonderful it sounds as it blasts the Aventador from rest to 60mph in 2.9 seconds. And there’s little let up as the engine keeps shoving the low-slung Lamborghini to its maximum of 217mph.

 

Land Rover: Range Rover Sport SVR - 176mph

This Range Rover earns its Sport name by having the same 567bhp supercharged V8 engine from the Jaguar F-Type R slotted under its bonnet. The result is a 2.3-tonne SUV capable of 176mph flat out, which is some 21mph quicker than the 518bhp standard 5.0-litre V8 model. The SVR is also good for 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds to make it the fastest accelerating car in the Land Rover line-up.

The performance of the SVR has grown from when it was originally launched in 2014, when it came with 542bhp. Back then, its top speed was 162mph, which proves the latest SVR has properly been allowed off the leash.

 

Lexus: LC 500 Sport Pack - 168mph

For a car with styling that makes it look like it’s going Mach 3 when sat still, the Lexus LC’s 168mph may come as a minor disappointment for some. For others, it’s the way this Japanese alternative to the Porsche 911 gets there that is more important thanks to a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8.

The engine is the true gem of this car, revving to almost 9000rpm and sounding superb. It fires the LC from rest to 62mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds and it’s the quickest car in Lexus’ range. As well as these figures, the LC impresses with its 10-speed automatic gearbox and several drive modes to help you tailor it to your desires, but it’s still the engine and styling that leave the deepest marks.

 

Lotus: Evija - 200mph

Cars from Lotus has tended to focus more on handling perfection and light weight rather than outright speed, yet there’s nothing incidental about the Evija’s 200mph maximum. That top speed is also a conservative figure as the battery-powered Evija has four electric motors generating a total of 1972bhp.

While this performance is up there alongside the best EV supercars, Lotus has not forgotten its core engineering principle and claims the Evija will be the lightest EV hypercar on sale with an all-up weight of 1680kg. That will also help with a claimed range of up to 215 miles on a single charge.

 

Maserati: MC20 - 202mph

When you name a car’s engine after a Roman god, you need to be sure it delivers a heavenly performance. Luckily, the Maserati MC20’s Nettuno 3.0-litre V6, christened after Neptune, does just that by powering the Italian firm’s mid-engined rival to Ferrari and Porsche to 202mph. Twin turbochargers help the engine produce 621bhp at 7500rpm.

Tipping the scales at less than 1500kg thanks to a carbon fibre tub, the MC20 is also good for 0-62mph in less than 2.9 seconds says Maserati. An eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox takes the drive from the V6 engine, which is the first in-house motor designed by Maserati in more than 20 years.

 

McLaren: Speedtail - 250mph

The clue is in the name for this McLaren, so it’s more a matter of how fast the Speedtail was going to peak at rather than if it would be the fastest car in the firm’s present line-up. As it turns out, 250mph was deemed a fitting number and this is where McLaren set the limiter. Yes, that’s right, the Speedtail is reined in to a top speed of 250mph, so there is theoretically more to come.

That’s no great surprise when the Speedtail has slippery aerodynamics and a combined total of 1055bhp from its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. Another important number with the Speedtail is McLaren will only build 106 of them, which is a nod to the total production of the original F1.

 

Mercedes-Benz: Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe Black Series - 202mph

When Mercedes launches any of its AMG cars in a Black Series, you know the numbers are going to be wild. This is why the AMG GT Coupe Black Series has a top speed of 202mph, comfortably outpacing other models in the range. It also cracks 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds to out-accelerate its siblings with ease.

All of this is possible thanks to the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine being tuned to 720bhp. Part of this improvement process included swapping from the standard crank to a cross-plane item to allow for higher revs and race-bred pedigree. There are also larger turbos and 35kg less overall weight, despite the Black Series coming as standard with a track-ready roll cage.

 

Mini: John Cooper Works GP - 164mph

The GP version of the Mini John Cooper Works has stood as the ultimate rapid Mini ever since the first was launched back in 2006. Now, the GP is the fastest and most powerful Mini yet made, packing a 302bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine to give a top speed of 164mph. It puts the Mini JCW GP up there with the likes of the Honda Civic Type R and Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy.

Despite its considerable power, the GP remains resolutely a front-wheel drive hot hatch, but it’s only offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Even so, it tips the scales at a reasonably low 1255kg and deals with 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds.
 

 

Morgan: Plus Six - 166mph

With the demise of the Aero 8, the standard bearer for outright speed from Morgan is held by the Plus Six. It may have looks that can be traced back to the 1950s, but there’s plenty of modern tech at work alongside a 3.0-litre BMW-built twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine. This unit produces 335bhp and is sufficient to power the 1075kg British roadster to 166mph all in.

The lightweight, powerful engine and rear-wheel drive set-up also aid the Plus Six to tick off 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds, so this it’s no slouch. Yet perhaps more than any car in this list, the Morgan is more about the experience than its outright speed, so it’s the instant throttle response that leaves the deeper, longer-lasting impression.

 

Nissan: GT-R Nismo - 196mph

We could have picked several Nissan GT-R models and they would all come with the same 196mph maximum speed. The reason the Nismo gets the nod is because it boasts a bit more power and acceleration to take this benchmark performance car to its most extreme since it was launched in 2009.

The Nismo has 600bhp from its twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 engine to see it from rest to 60mph in 2.5 seconds according to Nissan, which betters the standard 550bhp model’s 2.9 second dash. Modified turbos help the Nismo achieve its power, along with improved aerodynamics to give more efficient engine cooling.

 

Pagani: Huayra - 238mph

Choosing the most sensational element of the Pagani Huayra is kid-in-toy-shop tricky. However, the 238mph top speed certainly sets this Italian hypercar apart from almost all of its compatriots and other supercars on offer. That headline figure, though, comes courtesy of a German heart thanks the Huayra’s Mercedes-AMG 6.0-litre V12 engine with twin turbochargers and 720bhp. You could also choose the BC model with an extra 19bhp, though top speed remains the same.

Other details that fascinate about the Huayra are 0-60mph in 2.2 seconds and the fact the car is put together by a total workforce of 57 people at the factory. That’s not just those who work on your car, but the total number of employees, so the term ‘personalised’ has rarely been more apt.

 

Porsche: 911 Turbo S - 205mph

It’s only right and proper the 911 Turbo S is the fastest car in Porsche’s range. The Turbo has stood for the ultimate in road-focused Porsches since the 1970s, even if more track-sharp models have occasionally eclipsed its performance. As it stands, the Turbo S Coupe is good for 205mph and deals with 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds when you use the Sport Chrono Package.

As always, the rear-mounted engine helps with traction off the line in the 911 and the Turbo S needs that assistance when delivering the full might of its 641bhp 3.7-litre flat-six motor. If you’d rather enjoy the Turbo S in Cabriolet form, it has the same top speed, though 0-62mph takes another 0.1 second.

 

Renault: Megane R.S Trophy-R 300 - 163mph

The Renault Megane R.S Trophy-R 300 is not the fastest hot hatch money can buy, but it is the quickest car in Renault’s catalogue. It is quicker from a standing start to 60mph than the Honda, covering this in 5.6 seconds to the Honda’s 5.7-second time, so the Trophy-R is up there among the very best in this class.

The Trophy-R’s higher top speed than other Megane R.S models comes from its lighter weight and extreme focus on performance. This is a stripped back hot hatch with bigger brakes and sharper suspension. Go the whole hog with the options and you can even have carbon fibre wheels that reduce weight by 1kg per corner. 

Volkswagen: Golf R - 155mph

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport might sound more exotic than the plainly titled R, but it’s the latter that is the fastest of VW’s present range. It has the same 155mph top end as the Clubsport, but the R’s 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds compared to the Clubsport’s 5.6-second sprint is what makes it the pick of the German maker’s line-up.

The R appeals on other fronts too thanks its four-wheel drive for superb traction and a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with 315bhp, which is 19bhp up on the previous generation R model. You can also order an Akropovic titanium exhaust, which doesn’t add any more power but saves 7kg and improves the exhaust note considerably from the muted standard item.

Volvo: S60 T8 Polestar - 112mph

Volvo has thrown just about everything possible at the S60 T8 Polestar. Its 2.0-litre petrol engine is bother super- and turbocharged and it combines with an electric motor to produce a total of 399bhp. In a compact saloon, it would normally spell BMW M3-rivalling speed, but Volvo has capped the T8’s top speed at 112mph.

What puts the S60 in this list is its 0-60mph acceleration, which is the quickest in Volvo’s range. Make use of the T8’s full hybrid power as well as its all-wheel drive and you will see 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds. That’s swift in anyone’s book and the S60 is also able to return a combined fuel economy of 134.5mpg.
 

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