Automotive

The world's most powerful cars: 1,000-horsepower minimum

The world's most powerful cars: 1,000-horsepower minimum
The D12's stunning top view highlights the enormous 7.6-liter V12, as well as the barely-there front end
The D12's stunning top view highlights the enormous 7.6-liter V12, as well as the barely-there front end
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The Rezvani Tank X
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The Rezvani Tank X
GM teases the new face of Hummer . We don't know what the rest will look like yet, but we do know it'll rock more than a thousand ponies.
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GM teases the new face of Hummer . We don't know what the rest will look like yet, but we do know it'll rock more than a thousand ponies.
Two quite special 120 kW high-speed electric motors on the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE's front axle deliver power to the front wheels
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Two quite special 120 kW high-speed electric motors on the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE's front axle deliver power to the front wheels
The McLaren Speedtail at the 2019 Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille
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The McLaren Speedtail at the 2019 Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille
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In addition to the Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models
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In addition to the 1,080-horsepower Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models
The Tesla Model S is now available to order with an Plaid high-performance powertrain and chassis, bringing it to over 1,100 horsepower
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The Tesla Model S is now available to order with an Plaid high-performance powertrain and chassis, bringing it to over 1,100 horsepower
Inspired by the 1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia, the curvaceous rear-end is the Carmen's most distinctive feature by far
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Inspired by the 1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia, the curvaceous rear-end is the Carmen's most distinctive feature by far
The Delage D12 has its sights firmly set on Nurburgring glory
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The Delage D12 has its sights firmly set on Nurburgring glory
The all-new FXE from the Californian-based design house, Aria
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The all-new FXE from the Californian-based design house, Aria
The Aston Martin Valkyrie could be headed to a public road near you
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The Aston Martin Valkyrie could be headed to a public road near you
The Zenvo TSR-S is a brutal, 1,177-horsepower track beast with a very special gearbox and some of the most active rear wing aerodynamics we've seen
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The Zenvo TSR-S is a brutal, 1,177-horsepower track beast with a very special gearbox and some of the most active rear wing aerodynamics we've seen
We don't know what the 1,180-horsepower Ariel HIPERCAR will look like, but these renders are certainly promising
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We don't know what the 1,180-horsepower Ariel HIPERCAR will look like, but these renders are certainly promising 
Drako Motors held the world premiere of the 1,200-horsepower, all-electric GTE at the Quail 2019
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Drako Motors held the world premiere of the 1,200-horsepower, all-electric GTE at the Quail 2019
Ultima RS: A Le Mans Group C inspired machine for the road and track
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Ultima RS: A Le Mans Group C inspired machine for the road and track
The Czinger 21C will have 1,250 hybrid horsepower and a 1.9-second 0-62 sprint time
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The Czinger 21C will have 1,250 hybrid horsepower and a 1.9-second 0-62 sprint time
The 1-megawatt (1,341-horsepower) NIO EP9 is designed to be the fastest electric car ever built, and has already set the fastest EV time around the Nordschleife
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The NIO EP9 is designed to be the fastest electric car ever built, and has already set the fastest EV time around the Nordschleife
For its 20th anniversary, Steve Saleen put together a short run of 1,500-horsepower versions of the Saleen S7 Le Mans
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For its 20th anniversary, Steve Saleen put together a short run of 1,500-horsepower versions of the Saleen S7 Le Mans
The Regera doesn't have a transmission
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The Regera doesn't have a transmission
A massive reverse-boomerang rear wing and squashed motorcycle helmet cabin are the Jesko's design signatures
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A massive reverse-boomerang rear wing and squashed motorcycle helmet cabin are the Jesko's design signatures
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is just like a Chiron, but lots faster
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The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ – just like a Chiron, but lots faster
Koenigsegg finally departs from making two-seat hypercars, presenting its first four-seat GT
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Koenigsegg finally departs from making two-seat hypercars, presenting its first four-seat GT
SSC debuted the Tuatara in pre-production form at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
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SSC debuted the Tuatara in pre-production form at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Its curves reminiscent of 1960s race/road cars, the Corbellati Missile is an 1,800-horsepower V8 weapon
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Its curves reminiscent of 1960s race/road cars, the Corbellati Missile is an 1,800-horsepower V8 weapon
The Dendrobium, by Singapore's Vanda Electrics, is now claiming 1,800 peak horsepower
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The Dendrobium, by Singapore's Vanda Electrics, is now claiming 1,800 peak horsepower
It was a long time coming, but Hennessey's new Venom F5 is finally here
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It was a long time coming, but Hennessey's new Venom F5 is finally here
The Bugatti Bolide is designed to exceed speeds of 500 km/h
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The Bugatti Bolide is designed to exceed speeds of 500 km/h
This is the first car that'll bear the Pininfarina name on the back and front, as well as the sides
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This is the first car that'll bear the Pininfarina name on the back and front, as well as the sides
The gull-winged Elation Freedom electric hypercar makes up to 1,903 horsepower, and that's quite a decent amount
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The gull-winged Elation Freedom electric hypercar makes up to 1,903 horsepower, and that's quite a decent amount
Rimac C_Two: will do 60 miles an hour in 1.85 seconds from a dead stop
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Rimac C_Two: will do 60 miles an hour in 1.85 seconds from a dead stop
Just over two years after its prototype debut, Aspark revealed the production Owl at the 2019 Dubai Motor Show
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Just over two years after its prototype debut, Aspark revealed the production Owl at the 2019 Dubai Motor Show
The Lotus Evija is the most powerful production car in the world
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The Lotus Evija is the most powerful production car in the world
View gallery - 32 images

This is our list of the world's most powerful production cars, ordered from least to most powerful and including every current or upcoming production car we're aware of – electric, hybrid or combustion – that claims to make more than 1,000 horsepower. Enjoy, and please tell us if we've missed anything, or if you spy something new! We'll update the list regularly.

The Rezvani Tank X: "over 1,000" horsepower (combustion)

The Rezvani Tank X
The Rezvani Tank X

Well, here we are starting off our list of hyper-exotica with a freakin' SUV. Or is it a tank? Rezvani has been building military-inspired Hummer-humblers for a long time now, and the Tank X takes things to a whole new level. This hulking, armored monster is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged Dodge Demon V8, and can be specified with more ludicrous gadgets than any Bond car ever had. We're talking smoke bombs, thermal vision, electrified door handles, tire-destroying caltrop droppers and plenty more. Perfect for popping out to get groceries in the Gaza strip.

Learn more about the Rezvani Tank X.

The GMC Hummer: 1,000 horsepower (electric)

GM teases the new face of Hummer . We don't know what the rest will look like yet, but we do know it'll rock more than a thousand ponies.
GM teases the new face of Hummer . We don't know what the rest will look like yet, but we do know it'll rock more than a thousand ponies.

When Arnold Schwarzenegger famously convinced AM General to make a road-going variant of its M988 Humvee in the early 1990s, it immediately earned a couple of different reputations. Among die-hard fans, it was famed for its military-grade toughness. Among anyone with a green bone in their body, it was best known as the pinnacle of wasteful American gas-guzzling. No more. Early in 2020, GMC announced it was re-releasing the Hummer as an all-electric powerhouse with a truly obscene 1,000 horses and a hilarious 11,500 lb-ft (15,590 Nm) of torque. Even more excessive than the originals, but with a touch more conscience. We don't know what it'll look like yet, but we suspect it won't be a car for introverts.

Learn more about the GMC Electric Hummer.

The Mercedes-AMG Project One: 1,000 horsepower (hybrid)

The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE show car is expected to have a kerb weight around 1200kg. The car was developed jointly by AMG in Affalterbach, Germany, its High Performance Powertrain sister company located in Brixworth, England and the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team based in Brackley, England.
The Mercedes-AMG Project ONE show car is expected to have a kerb weight around 1200kg. The car was developed jointly by AMG in Affalterbach, Germany, its High Performance Powertrain sister company located in Brixworth, England and the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team based in Brackley, England.

Priced at US$2.72 million, Project One is Mercedes-AMG's vision of a Formula One car for the road, and a wildly interesting machine. Its 1.6-liter turbo engine is the smallest combustion unit you'll see on this list, but insanely powerful for its size at 510 horsepower, thanks to a 90-kilowatt electric motor boosting the turbo to force-feed the engine. There's another 120 kW electric motor on the crankcase, and these three motors combine their talents to operate on the back wheels. Up front, there's a pair of powerful, 50,000rpm motors to drive the front wheels as well. It's a heck of a powertrain – Mercedes says it'll get from 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) in less than 6 seconds and top out over 217 mph (350 km/h). Yummy.

Learn more about the Mercedes-AMG Project One.

Update (June 2, 2022): The production Mercedes-AMG ONE finally premiered on June 1, 2022.

The McLaren Speedtail: 1,036 horsepower (hybrid)

On McLaren's Speedtail, the rear end tapers off in search of precious drag reduction
On McLaren's Speedtail, the rear end tapers off in search of precious drag reduction

The "spiritual successor" to the brand's transcendent 1998 F1, McLaren's Speedtail uses the same driver-focused three-seat cabin layout, with the driver front and center, and two passengers well back and out of the way. Conceived as a 250-mph ( 402-km/h) hyper-tourer, the Speedtail takes Frank Stephenson's sailfish-inspired design language to new aerodynamic heights with a super-slippery tapered teardrop tail, and flexible ailerons that hydraulically peel themselves upward when needed, in lieu of a spoiler. Amazing car.

Learn more about the McLaren Speedtail.

The Naran Naran: 1,043 horsepower (combustion)

The Naran's design sticks to a pretty tried and tested coupe shape, hoping that details and materials will set it apart
The Naran's design sticks to a pretty tried and tested coupe shape, hoping that details and materials will set it apart

Ameerh Naran didn't just name his car company after himself, he named the first model after himself as well. Fair enough; Naran's Naran Naran promises to fuse a GT3-like driving experience with a luxury 4-seat interior, so you can hear your entire small family scream as one when you stick a boot into its 1,048-horsepower 5-liter, twin-turbo V8 and enjoy the 2.3 seconds it'll take you to hit 60 mph (96 km/h). With some serious names attached to the project, it's sure to haul serious backside on track, and if there's one too many Narans in the name, you can even choose your own model designation as part of the customization process.

Learn more about the Naran Naran.

The Lucid Air: 1,080 horsepower (electric)

In addition to the Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models
In addition to the 1,080-horsepower Dream Edition, the Air will come in base-level Air, Air Touring and Air Grand Touring models

Well this is a bit weird and awkward. In a list you'd expect to be populated mainly by swoopy, bajillion-dollar European exotica sits this electric 4-door family sedan, weighed down by enough batteries to take you more than 400 miles (644 km) on a charge. Indeed, the design focus here is more about space and luggage capacity than outright tire-frying power, and yet even with the powertrain made as compact as possible, the top "Dream" spec edition pounds out a total of 1,080 horses, giving it a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint time of 2.5 seconds, a quarter mile drag strip time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h). Probably the best number is $169,000, which is all it'll cost before tax credits. A relatively affordable way to join the thousand-pony club.

More about the Lucid Air.

Tesla Model S Plaid: 1,100 horsepower (electric)

The Tesla Model S is now available to order with an Plaid high-performance powertrain and chassis, bringing it to over 1,100 horsepower
The Tesla Model S is now available to order with an Plaid high-performance powertrain and chassis, bringing it to over 1,100 horsepower

Not to be outdone, Elon Musk quickly put together a version of Tesla's own family coupe with even more mumbo than the Air, for cheaper. The Model S Plaid does 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in less than two seconds, does the quarter mile in less than nine seconds, offers a range over 520 miles (836 km) and makes "more than 1,100 horsepower." Musk believes Tesla will make this thing go round a track faster than any other production car in history, although it's about three seconds off the mark at Laguna Seca in early testing. Still, for a US$140,000, mass-produced 4-door that you'd hardly notice on the road, it's the ultimate sleeper and a muscular demonstration of Tesla's amazing achievements. Oh, and by using the name "Plaid," Musk has officially run out of Spaceballs speed gags, so who knows what he'll call the next version.

More about the Tesla Model S Plaid.

The Hispano-Suiza Carmen Boulogne: 1,100 horsepower (electric)

Inspired by the 1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia, the curvaceous rear-end is the Carmen's most distinctive feature by far
Inspired by the 1938 Hispano Suiza Dubonnet Xenia, the curvaceous rear-end is the Carmen's most distinctive feature by far

The bootylicious back end of Hispano-Suiza's Carmen has recently jumped up a spot on this list by adding a slightly higher-performance Boulogne variant with 1,100 horsepower instead of the original car's paltry 1,019. A monster it may be, but the reborn Hispano-Suiza company says the Carmen is as much about exquisite luxury as it is about the crass business of going fast. Possessed of gull-wing doors and peppered with design cues that hark way back to the brand's pre-1938 heyday, the Carmen uses one of the most carbon-intensive chassis designs yet seen. And whatever you might think of the wacky front of it, the backside is one of the peachiest we've seen.

Learn more about the Hispano-Suiza Carmen Boulogne.

The Delage D12: 1,100 horsepower (hybrid)

The Delage D12 has its sights firmly set on Nurburgring glory
The Delage D12 has its sights firmly set on Nurburgring glory

A Miami-based French entrepreneur has leased the rights to historic French brand Delage, which hasn't made a car in more than 60 years, and is resurrecting it with this 1,100-horsepower hybrid widowmaker. The new Delage D12 rocks a massive 7.6-liter V12, naturally aspirated, with a further hybrid system to boost power and responsiveness. Its tandem cabin will be a nightmare for passengers, but this is a single-minded machine with the Nurburgring Nordschliefe lap record squarely in its sights and ex-F1 champ Jacques Villeneuve as its chief development driver. Yours for a cool US$2.3 million.

Learn more about the Delage D12.

The Aria FXE: 1,150 horsepower (hybrid)

The all-new FXE from the Californian-based design house, Aria
The all-new FXE from the Californian-based design house, Aria

California-based design and engineering house Aria threw its hat into the ring with the FXE, a hybrid hyper-GT car with an angry look to it and gaping side vents inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It's powered by a combination of a mid-mounted, 6.2-liter, supercharged V8, and a pair of front-mounted electric motors, and it thus accelerates about as fast as a McLaren P1 or Porsche 918, hitting 60 mph (98 km/h) in 3.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 220 mph (354 km/h).

Learn more about the Aria FXE.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie: 1,160 horsepower (hybrid)

The Aston Martin Valkyrie could be headed to a public road near you
The Aston Martin Valkyrie could be headed to a public road near you

Whoooo mama. The mighty hybrid Valkyrie is getting ready to roll, boasting not only one of the wildest aerodynamic underbody shapes ever seen in the automotive world (thanks, Adrian Newey!), but also a magnificently excessive 6.5-liter Cosworth V12 engine that makes a thousand horsepower all by itself, without the aid of forced induction, just so it doesn't sound like a wimpy little turbo. The very thought of it gives me chills; of all the very, very special cars on this list, the Valkyrie is far and away my personal favorite due to its absolutely otherworldly shape and its commitment to loud, shouty hybridism.

Learn more about the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

The Zenvo TSR-S: 1,177 horsepower (combustion)

The Zenvo TSR-S is a brutal, 1,177-horsepower track beast with a very special gearbox and some of the most active rear wing aerodynamics we've seen
The Zenvo TSR-S is a brutal, 1,177-horsepower track beast with a very special gearbox and some of the most active rear wing aerodynamics we've seen

You can't miss the Zenvo at a track day; it's the one with the gigantic dancing rear wing on a pair of hydraulic struts, which not only tilts forward as a big ol' air brake, but rocks wildly from side to side as you go into corners, lifting the wing up on the inside of the corner to put more downforce onto the inside rear wheel. It's a wacky kind of a gimmick, and we can't see it catching on, but the Zenvo, with its crazy supercharged 5.8-liter V8 engine, couldn't care less what we think. Put the gearbox in race mode, and Zenvo says "the brutal direct mechanical power-shift gear change is one of the fastest-shifting powertrains in existence." Eep.

Learn more about the Zenvo TSR-S.

The Ariel Hipercar: 1,180 horsepower (electric, range-extended)

A render of the Ariel HIPERCAR
A render of the Ariel HIPERCAR 

Weirdly, we've got better shots of the Ariel Hipercar's electric chassis than we do of the exterior, which hasn't been unveiled yet. These guys, of course, make some of the wildest machines on the road or track in the form of the ultra-lightweight, open-top, face-distorting Ariel Atom 4. The Hipercar, though, will be next-level. Its AWD electric powertrain will deliver 1,180 horsepower and a barely conceivable 9,900 Nm (7,302 lb-ft) of torque, as well as an end to range anxiety thanks to a 35 kW range-extending turbine that can keep the battery topped up if needed. That's if it gets finished; we've heard precious little on this car since 2017, and production was slated to begin in 2020. Still, we hold out hope.

More about the Ariel Hipercar.

The Drako GTE: 1,200 horsepower (electric)

The all-electric 1,200-horsepower Drako Motors GTE was the fastest 4-seater in history on its debut
The all-electric 1,200-horsepower Drako Motors GTE was the fastest 4-seater in history on its debut

Straight outta Silicon Valley, the Drako GTE made its 2019 debut as the world's fastest sedan, promising to propel four seats through the air at a mighty 206 mph (332 km/h) thanks to a wild 1,200-horsepower, 8,813 Nm (6,500 lb-ft) electric powertrain. Koenigsegg's Gemera, which we'll meet down the page, ate its lunch in early 2020, but the GTE still looks like an insanely capable machine on the racetrack. At US$1.25 million, though, its fairly anonymous looks might make it a tough sell.

More about the Drako GTE.

The Ultima RS: 1,200 horsepower (combustion)

Ultima RS: A Le Mans Group C inspired machine for the road and track
Ultima RS: A Le Mans Group C inspired machine for the road and track

The RS is particularly notable for two things: firstly, it's a kit car, and thus secondly, it's available for a fraction of the price anything else on this list will cost you. British boutique manufacturer Ultima will sell you a low-spec RS for somewhere around US$120,000, but it only makes it onto this list if you tick the top engine box – a worked-over supercharged Chevy LT5 V8 crate engine that'll put more than 1,200 horses down through those poor rear Michelins. Those hoops are really the only thing limiting this car's performance figures: 2.3 seconds for 0-60 mph (0-98 km/h) is well into the realm of electric acceleration, thanks to the Ultima's insanely light, 2,094-lb (950-kg) weight.

Learn more about the Ultima RS.

The Czinger 21C: 1,250 horsepower (hybrid)

The Czinger 21C will have 1,250 hybrid horsepower and a 1.9-second 0-62 sprint time
The Czinger 21C will have 1,250 hybrid horsepower and a 1.9-second 0-62 sprint time

A fascinating project out of California, this monstrous batmobile's enormous horsepower output may be one of the least interesting things about it. Best viewed as a highly updated successor to the Divergent Blade, the 21C is particularly remarkable for its manufacturing concept. The car's spaceframe is built from carbon rods, linked by 3D-printed aluminum nodes and assembled by robots. Then there's the cabin layout; two seats, centrally located with the hapless passenger right behind the driver and not able to see much as you rocket your way to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 1.9 seconds from a standstill.

Learn more about the Czinger 21C

The Nio EP9: 1,341 horsepower (electric)

The NIO EP9 at its launch
The NIO EP9 at its launch 

China's Nio ruffled more than a few feathers back in 2017 when this raging electric weapon of a thing laid down an outright Nurburgring Nordschliefe record of 6:45:900, a tad over 2 second faster than anything else in history at that point. But it wasn't an official record; Nio did the timing itself and there was no scrutiny to make sure there hadn't been any funny business. Either way, this US$1.48 million-dollar car's a scorcher, its electric motors making a clean megawatt of power and 6,334 Nm (4,672 lb-ft) of torque being allegedly capable of accelerating you to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 7.1 seconds. With twice the downforce of a F1 car, it's capable of 3.3 G under braking, and 2.53 G in the corners. That'd be bracing.

More about the Nio EP9.

Saleen S7 Le Mans 20th Anniversary Edition: 1,500 horsepower (combustion)

For its 20th anniversary, Steve Saleen put together a short run of 1,500-horsepower versions of the Saleen S7 Le Mans
For its 20th anniversary, Steve Saleen put together a short run of 1,500-horsepower versions of the Saleen S7 Le Mans

California's Saleen has certainly squeezed some mileage out of its S7, which made its debut way back in August 2000. Billed at the time as "America's first produciton supercar," it made 550 horsepower and was good for 220 mph (354 km/h). It had some racing success in its day, but went out of production in 2009. Then it popped back up in 2016 as the S7 LM, making a thousand ponies, and now it's back as an S7 Le Mans 20th Anniversary edition, with its twin-turbo V8 motor tweaked to deliver a very scary 1,500 horsepower and promises of 2.2-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint times that'll get most folks' attention.

More about the Saleen S7 LM.

The Koenigsegg Regera: 1,500 horsepower (hybrid)

The Regera doesn't have a transmission
The Regera doesn't have a transmission

The first of the Megacars. Though it makes a stupendous amount of power, the Regera isn't even designed to be the fast one in the Koenigsegg catalog. It's the luxury alternative, leaving the silly stuff to the Agera and Jesko. Good grief! Power comes from a hybrid system, with an 1,100-horsepower combustion engine in the form of a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8, and a massive 700-hp three-motor electric system on top. It's like sticking a Model S drive system in your Bugatti Chiron. Because of the way the power curves overlap, you can't ever get more than 1,500 horses out of the Regera, but we think you should find that number sufficient for most trips to the shops. And there are so many other remarkable things about this car, from its Direct Drive gearbox-free transmission, to its active engine mounts, to its "autoskin" robotized opening of every orifice the car has to offer so you don't have to put grubby fingerprints on it.

Learn more about the Koenigsegg Regera.

The Koenigsegg Jesko: 1,600 horsepower (combustion)

A massive reverse-boomerang rear wing and squashed motorcycle helmet cabin are the Jesko's design signatures
A massive reverse-boomerang rear wing and squashed motorcycle helmet cabin are the Jesko's design signatures

After 25 years of making some of the most extreme exotic sportscars on the planet, Christian Koenigsegg finally built one he thought was worth naming after his dad. This Swedish madman has managed to pull some 1,600 ponies out of a 5.0-liter twin turbo V8, or the equivalent of pulling 320 hp out of a 1,000cc motorcycle engine. Turbo lag is eliminated with the use of a system that blasts compressed air into the turbos at 20 psi to wake them up. The gearbox is even cooler: not only can it handle 1,500 Nm (1,106 lb-ft) of torque, its multi-clutch, feather-light 9-speed "Ultimate Power on Demand" transmission can switch from any gear to any other in "virtually no time." It's got four-wheel steering. It's got "dihedral synchro-helix" doors. It's got a roof you can pop off. And it's designed to go more then 300 mph, although it hasn't yet. It's a monster. And if you want the really fast version, there's a Jesko Absolut version that ditches the rear wing to prioritize ultra-high speed over downforce. Yikes.

Learn more about the Koenigsegg Jesko.

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+: 1,600 horsepower (combustion)

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is just like a Chiron, but lots faster
The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ – just like a Chiron, but lots faster

As we get deep into the very serious end of this list, we encounter the first production car to break 300 mph, with a one-way 304.773-mph (490.484-km/h) run that very sportingly left Koenigsegg, SSC and Hennessey the opportunity to fight over who'd get to be first to 310.6 mph (500 km/h). This tweaked edition of the Chiron only adds 100 horses to Bugatti's Veyron successor, but features extended and aerodynamically optimized bodywork that's significantly more efficient at speeds above 261 mph (420 km/h). We wonder how many of the 30 units to be built will ever get to that speed – and indeed, where exactly they're planning to do it.

Learn more about the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+

The Koenigsegg Gemera: 1,700 horsepower (hybrid)

Koenigsegg finally departs from making two-seat hypercars, presenting its first four-seat GT
Koenigsegg finally departs from making two-seat hypercars, presenting its first four-seat GT

One of the sad facts about almost all these monstrously powerful hypercars is that they can only evacuate two bowels at once: those of the driver and a single passenger. Not so with the extraordinary Koenigsegg Gemera, which can unleash the contents of four at a time with the inclusion of an almost sacrilegious pair of back seats. Yes, this is a 1,700-horsepower family hyper-wagon with a genuinely luxurious-looking set of back seats from which the kids can experience top speeds over 400 km/h (249 mph). A 2.0-liter three-cylinder twin turbo engine pulls more than its weight at 600 horsepower, but the bulk of the Gemera's prodigious muscle comes from its electric motors, and it's all delivered through a similar Direct Drive transmission as the Regera.

Learn more about the Koenigsegg Gemera.

The SSC Tuatara: 1,750 horsepower (combustion)

SSC debuted the Tuatara in pre-production form at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
SSC debuted the Tuatara in pre-production form at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

The Tuatara might be the fastest car in the world as we're writing this, hands down, with daylight a distant second. Or it might all be a sham – its incredible 2-way production car speed record of 316.11 mph (508.73 km/h), during which it claimed to nudge a peak speed of 331.5 mph (532.93 km/h) is now heavily disputed, and the manufacturer has withdrawn its record claims. Either way, Shelby SuperCars (SSC) has built a very pretty and phenomenally powerful machine. Its 5.9-liter twin-turbo, flat-plane V8 is good for 1,350 horsepower on regular gas, or a ludicrous 1,750 on E85. Carbon on carbon on carbon keeps its weight down to a very impressive 2,750 lb (1,247 kg), and the next time it does a speed run, so many people will be watching and checking data that the results will be indisputable.

Learn more about the SSC Tuatara.

The Corbellati Missile: 1,800 horsepower (combustion)

Its curves reminiscent of 1960s race/road cars, the Corbellati Missile is an 1,800-horsepower V8 weapon
Its curves reminiscent of 1960s race/road cars, the Corbellati Missile is an 1,800-horsepower V8 weapon

Well there's a sleek-looking thing. Much like the De Tomaso P72, Corbellati has looked to the voluptuous shapes of the 50s, 60s and 70s to create a retro-sexy shape for the Missile. Don't get the idea this is a quaint little thing, though, because it brings the beef with a 9-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 motor promising an eye-bleeding 1,800 horsepower. Corbellati says it's got the grunt and the aerodynamic chops to exceed 500 km/h (311 mph). On the other hand, Corbellati might not have any idea what it's talking about, because the Corbellati family are "creators of jewels, artists, art enthusiasts" and have never built a car before. So this one should be taken with a grain of salt until further notice.

More about the Corbellati Missile.

The Vanda Dendrobium D-1: 1,800 horsepower (electric)

Vanda's Dendrobium: the first Singaporean electric supercar, designed in consultation with WAE
Vanda's Dendrobium: the first Singaporean electric supercar, designed in consultation with WAE

It's hard to think of a better place than Singapore to own an electric car; the idea of range anxiety would simply not be an issue on such a small island. On the other hand, we don't know exactly where you'd be able to drop your boot meaningfully into the go-pedal of this all-electric monster, designed locally in conjunction with Williams Advanced Engineering and slated for production in the UK. Originally promising 1,500 horsepower, the Dendrobium now claims 1,800 ponies, as well as 2,000 Nm (1,475 lb-ft) and a target weight of 1,750 kg (3,858 lb) thanks to extensive use of carbon, composites and alloys. Mind you, we haven't heard boo from these guys since 2018, so it's unclear where things stand.

More about the Vanda Dendrobium D-1.

The Hennessey Venom F5: 1,817 horsepower (combustion)

It was a long time coming, but Hennessey's new Venom F5 is finally here
It was a long time coming, but Hennessey's new Venom F5 is finally here

Texan tuning god John Hennessey has been making fast cars faster for nearly 30 years now, and in recent times has also been building his own series of insane hypercars to keep the Europeans honest in the top speed race. Hennessey's Venom GT held the unofficial 270.49-mph (435.31-km/h) production car top speed record until the Agera RS broke it, and the Venom F5 was built to target the 300-mph mark. Hennessey Performance is yet to put in a top speed run with the F5, but when it does, it'll unleash the full rage of its "Fury" engine, a 6.6-liter twin turbo V8. Designed to make at least 1,600 horsepower, the Fury engine surprised even John Hennessey himself when it was dyno tested at a colossal 1,817 horsepower. The Venom F5 should hit 186 mph (300 km/h) faster than a Formula One car, it'll have the highest power-to-weight ratio ever seen in a production car, and Hennessey says it should smash the 0-400-0 test in "under 30 seconds," which would absolutely obliterate the Koenigsegg's best effort. USA! USA!

Learn more about the Hennessey Venom F5.

The Bugatti Bolide: 1,825 horsepower (combustion)

The Bolide rear-end fuses together a centralized quad exhaust, adjustable wing, diffuser and X-shaped bodywork and lighting
The Bolide rear-end fuses together a centralized quad exhaust, adjustable wing, diffuser and X-shaped bodywork and lighting

Good golly, miss Molly. Bugatti has created a new home for its leviathan quad-turbo, 8-liter W16 engine, and this time it's a lightweight track weapon instead of a luxury hyper-saloon. With a raised rev limit and some extra boost, it makes a horrifying 1,825 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft (2,508 Nm) of torque, but the Bolide's ground-hugging, X-winged body weighs a stripped-down 1,240 kg (2,733 lb), compared to the Chiron's 1,995-kg (4,400-lb). Bugatti's simulated lap times for this thing would break records at Le Mans and be the second-fastest car ever around the Nurburgring. It promises top speeds well over 500 km/h (311 mph). Time will tell.

Learn more about the Bugatti Bolide.

The Pininfarina Battista: 1,900 horsepower (electric)

This is the first car that'll bear the Pininfarina name on the back and front, as well as the sides
This is the first car that'll bear the Pininfarina name on the back and front, as well as the sides

From this point on, we leave the combustion world behind. And when it comes to electric hypercars, total power figures can simply get up and wander as far into la-la land as they want. Where combustion tuners need to jump through insane hoops to squeeze more power out of their engines, the electric crew simply needs to deal with a bit of extra heat. Extra power becomes almost a trivial thing to add. The Battista uses a Rimac AWD powertrain specced to 1,900 horses. It'll get you to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than two seconds if you've got fresh tires on. It's got a luxury cabin, active suspension and aerodynamics, and a selection of different fake sounds you can choose from if you're missing the noise of a combustion engine. And of course, as the first machine both designed and built by Pininfarina, it's absolutely gorgeous to boot.

Learn more about the Pininfarina Battista.

The Elation Freedom: 1,903 horsepower (electric)

The gull-winged Elation Freedom electric hypercar makes up to 1,903 horsepower, and that's quite a decent amount
The gull-winged Elation Freedom electric hypercar makes up to 1,903 horsepower, and that's quite a decent amount

Yes, we're not mad about the name either. But we're simple folk, and when we see gull-wing doors we go "hooray!" Born in Argentina but registered in the USA, Elation is planning an interesting powertrain for this monster, with the front wheels driven via a single-speed gearbox and the back ones getting a two-speed. As a result, the 1,903 horsepower Freedom promises ludicrous acceleration at low speeds – 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 1.8 seconds – as well as legs long enough to take you up to 260 mph (418 km/h). It's got a nice big battery pack, too, and otherwise the team seems to have kept it fairly simple. Yours for US$2 million.

Learn more about the Elation Freedom.

The Rimac C_Two: 1,914 horsepower (electric)

Rimac C_Two: doesn't win the race to 2,000 horsepower. Does win most other races.
Rimac C_Two: doesn't win the race to 2,000 horsepower. Does win most other races.

Rimac kept a little of the secret sauce in its back pocket when it sold Pininfarina its powertrain. The C_Two makes 1,914 horsepower and a hilarious 2,300 Nm (1,696 lb-ft) of torque. We're not sure exactly which tires can hold up to that kind of assault, but Rimac says it'll do a 1.85-second 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) time and a top speed around 258 mph (415 km/h). Range? 403 miles (650 km) if you drive it like a nanna, or about two laps of the Nurburgring (~26 miles/40 km) if you've got the cojones to lay the boot in. The rest of the tech in this thing is ludicrous as well, from its facial-recognition door locks, to its mood-detection system that plays soothing music if you're stressed out, to racing line and braking point data for a range of famous racetracks. And Rimac says it'll have Level 4 autonomous driving through an nVidia-powered self-driving system and some 22 MacBook Pros' worth of on-board computing power. Yikes.

Learn more about the Rimac C_Two.

The Aspark Owl: 1,985 horsepower (electric)

Just over two years after its prototype debut, Aspark revealed the production Owl at the 2019 Dubai Motor Show
Just over two years after its prototype debut, Aspark revealed the production Owl at the 2019 Dubai Motor Show

Japan's consumer car market might tend toward more practicality than glamor, but you'd be mad to expect this electronics powerhouse of a country to be left behind as the age of the electric hypercar dawns. The Aspark Owl promises a hilarious 0-60 mph (0-98 km/h) acceleration time of just 1.69 seconds thanks to its wildly excessive, 1,985-horsepower, 2,000 Nm (1,475 lb-ft) powertrain. Aspark says that's on street-legal tires, too. Good grief. Top speed is limited at a fairly sprightly 400 km/h (249 mph), and the whole car is less than a metre (3.3 ft) tall, and one of the lowest riding cars on the planet. Yours for around about US$3 million, if you can get hold of one of the 50 being made. That price is, of course, before you add options.

Learn more about the Aspark Owl.

The Lotus Evija: 2,000 horsepower (electric)

On the Lotus Evija giant venturi tunnels exit at the rear, rimmed by the taillights
On  the Lotus Evija giant venturi tunnels exit at the rear, rimmed by the taillights

And here it is, folks: King Dingaling. The first production car making two thousand horsepower. "E-vi-ya" is how you're supposed to pronounce it, and this 2.1-million-dollar beauty is another all-electric beast ready to give you 1,700 Nm (1,254 lb-ft) of electric torque any time you're insolent enough to ask for it. Williams Advanced Engineering has contributed to the project, helping ensure you can drive this thing flat-out for around seven whole minutes before temperature starts to limit the performance. It's also designed to charge at an insanely fast 800 kW, meaning that when the infrastructure gets invented, you'll be able to charge the Evija from 0-100 percent in just nine minutes. In track mode, the Evija will actually add power to the outside rear wheel if it thinks a touch of drift will help you tighten your cornering line, and its giant venturi-tunnel air scoops are big enough for your cats to play tag in.

Learn more about the Lotus Evija.

An honorable mention must go to the 5,221-horsepower electric Alieno Arcanum from Bulgaria, which features robotic everything, a 303-mph (488-km/h) top speed, and the longest list of outrageous promises we've ever seen in a press release. It would take top spot on this list if we thought it had the slightest potential of being a real thing, and we thoroughly encourage you to go and read about it, because it's extremely entertaining, highly questionable, and – if we're honest – about as likely to find its way into your garage or mine as any of these other machines.

Tesla's upcoming second-generation Roadster will almost certainly make its way into this list once power figures are revealed, and that one also promises to rock a series of SpaceX-derived compressed-air rocket thrusters that sound every bit as ludicrous as Alieno's promises, but are actually credible. You can reach for the boosters when a 1.9-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint just ain't fast enough.

Have we left anything out? Please let us know in the comments below if we have, and we'll happily fill the list in. If you like really, really fast cars, there has never been a better time to be alive – or a worse time to be alive and not have millions of dollars to spend on hypercars.

Jump into our hypercar gallery for extra shots of each of these dream machines.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on September 26, 2019. The revised and updated version was published on December 1, 2020.

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14 comments
14 comments
buzzclick
From the sublime to the ridiculous, and a good portion of them are over the top. My ego doesn't have enough cash for any of these monsters, and if I did have the moolah, wouldn't spend it on this overkill. There is a sheer joy in driving a car to its limits, but when the limits are so far away, they can only be had on a racetrack, which is nuts.
Nelson Hyde Chick
How small does one's penis need to be that they need to compensate for their shortcomings with a car that has over a thousand horse power?
neoneuron
What ever happened to sanity? Who in their right mind, is going to purchase on of these things? The only thing these cars will do, is put you in jail.
niio
Let's see a road test, if you can find one that isn't a garage queen.
guzmanchinky
Look, I have means. I can buy one of these no problem. But for some reason the sheer stupidity and inefficiency of a piston going up and down and the wasted heat and the noise (although glorious to be sure) just doesn't impress me at all anymore. I'm sure folks from Dubai are lined up around the block to drive these along sand covered blacktop but as machines of modern superpower it's just old news. Why oh why isn't there an electric Ferrari to eat Tesla's lunch? Am I missing something?
Loz
@guzmanchinky the three most powerful cars on the list are all electric. Buy one, then giz a drive! :D
Username
The sheer number of these makes it so that none of them are special.
Enrico Gussoni
- Vanda Dendobrium
- Corbellati Missile
- Saleen S7 LM
- Ariel Hypercar EV
- Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG 003
- Tesla Roadster

From the past:
Lotec C1000
Daishi
To answer some of the questions here, the average Bugatti owner owns 84 cars, three private jets, and a yacht. The kinds of people that buy these are the kinds of people that will just take one of each because they shit money. Why do they do it? It's an intentional display of extreme wealth. Even if you are not a rockstar if you have enough money you can pretty much purchase rockstar status. I'm sure there are some uses for rock star status both personal and professional. I'd like to think if I were a billionaire that I wouldn't be that kind of person but I'll need $15-20 billion to know for sure :)
michael_dowling
I don't want to read about absurd hybrid/ICE obscenities,just EVs.
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