Throughout our history, humanity’s ability to create, innovate, and thrive has remained a vital part of our survival and evolution. As such, our capacity to make awe-inspiring creations has extended further and further. Even into our constant pursuit of speed.
With this desire, we push the boundaries of what’s possible to a greater extent each time. Now, we have vehicles accessible to the public which can accelerate at mind-blowing speeds. These cars can often cost millions for their capabilities; nonetheless, it’s well worth the money. Some are newer than others, however, these ten are some of the fastest, most captivating, and innovative among them all…
10 2020 Corvette Stingray
Sometimes, a redesign can be for the better. This is apparently what Chevrolet executives thought when going through the ideas for the upcoming Corvette, as it has a mid-engine setup rather than the classic front-engine body style.
The changes didn’t ruin the Corvette, though. On the contrary, actually, the new 2020 Corvette Stingray is projected to have the highest top speed and fastest 0 to 60 out of any of its previous models. With a 0 to 60 of just under three seconds, the new Corvette is sure to take the fight to brands like Porsche and McLaren.
9 Ferrari 488 Pista
The limits of the legendary Italian automaker Ferrari seem to be boundless. Each year, they not only one-up their competition but themselves as well. Ferrari has managed to do exactly this with their new 488 model: The Pista.
The Ferrari 488 Pista is still based on the original mid-engine twin-turbo charged V8 488 GTB. However, the Pista still has some crucial changes, like a lighter body, more power, and sharp looks. Along with these modifications, the 488 Pista can take its driver to 60 miles-per-hour in just 2.7 seconds. A solid 0.1 seconds faster than the base model.
8 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Like the 488 Pista, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ is a newer version of a previous model. In this circumstance, the original was the 2012 Aventador, which has already had a handful of different styles like the S, SV, and now SVJ.
Similar to the Aventador SV, the SVJ has the same engine and drivetrain. The only real differences are its significantly larger wing, small exterior changes, and an extra ten horsepower. For a couple hundred thousand dollars more, ten extra horsepower doesn’t seem worth the cost, but the added power helps propel the Aventador SVJ to 60 miles an hour nearly 0.3 seconds faster than the standard Aventador.
7 Pagani Zonda Revolución
Did you ever think it was possible to be banned from a racetrack for having a car that was too loud? Well, that’s exactly what happened to the Pagani Zonda Revolución, a bona fide racecar not allowed on any street. The Zonda Revolución can still be purchased by the general public, though, as long as you have the money to do so.
The Zonda R is one of the fastest cars Pagani has ever created. Its Mercedes-built V12 engines help it to wipe the floor with most cars, especially since the Zonda Revolución held the record for the fastest lap on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife. In terms of acceleration, the Revolución can reach 60 in an astonishing 2.5 seconds.
6 Hennessey Venom GT
The American tuning company Hennessey decided to completely obliterate the world record for fastest car on the planet. To do so, they created the Venom GT. After being produced, the Venom GT did exactly as it had intended: Beating the world record with a 270.49 miles-per-hour top speed.
Although it managed to take the top spot for fastest car, the Venom GT never got the same reward for its 0 to 60 time. This doesn’t mean the Venom GT isn’t fast, though, as its recorded time was anywhere between 2.4 to 2.5 seconds. It wasn’t as fast as the Bugatti’s time, but still managed to beat it in at least one department, with a significantly smaller budget, history, and market share.
5 Koenigsegg One:1
The Koenigsegg One:1 has quite a strange name. “One:1? What exactly does this mean?” The reason behind this very technical name is the Koenigsegg’s power-to-weight ratio. Impressively, Koenigsegg managed to make a car with a perfect power-to-weight ratio of just one-to-one.
That particular accomplishment earned the One:1 its own category of car: Instead of a hypercar, the Koenigsegg One:1 is a “Megacar.” With the horsepower being around 1360 in total and a curb-weight of 1360 kilograms, the Koenigsegg One:1 can go from 0 to 60 in less than 2.5 seconds. It’s not much compared to its top speed of 273 M.P.H., though.
4 Tesla Model S ‘Ludicrous Plus’
Only someone like Elon Musk would make such a revolutionary brand as Tesla and implement some of the most hilarious and strange things that any car has ever had. For example: The first letter of each of Tesla’s models spells out “S.3.X.Y.” Along with that, Tesla’s Model S has an upgrade called ‘Ludicrous Plus’ (Clearly a reference to Space Balls).
Not only is it, potentially, a clever reference, but its also as quick as the name would suggest. Due to Tesla’s electric engines, their vehicles have instant torque; allowing them to accelerate at a ‘ludicrous’ speed. With the Ludicrous Plus, a standard Tesla Model S can get to 60 miles an hour in 2.3 seconds. To put that into perspective, this is faster than a 2009 Bugatti Veyron; a multi-million dollar hypercar.
3 Bugatti Chiron
Since 2006, Bugatti has been in a constant battle for the title of world’s fastest car. During their heyday, the Veyron reigned supreme for many years. It even earned the Top Gear awards for best car of the year. Now, Bugatti has released the successor to the Veyron. A car that can go faster and look amazing doing it: The Chiron.
Now, though, Bugatti isn’t alone in their pursuits. They have to contend with the likes of Porsche, Hennessey, and Koenigsegg. Unsurprisingly, Bugatti has delivered once again with the Chiron’s 0 to 60 in around 2.3 seconds, paired with a top speed of 261 miles-per-hour. They have some room to improve when going against the One:1, but the Chiron Sport aims to remedy that issue.
2 Ariel Atom 500 (V8)
Often, people think that all that’s necessary to create a fast car is more horsepower. That isn’t always the case. To illustrate the point, observe the Ariel Atom V8. A small, open-wheel, go-kart like car built by a small company in Somerset, England.
The car looks like it was designed for lower-tier racing, with its low profile and racecar semblance. The Ariel Atom 500 acts like a Formula car too, frequently pulling high g-forces in high-speed corners and going very fast on several tracks. The real cherry on top, however, is its 0 to 60 of 2.3 seconds; the same speed as a Bugatti Chiron. That’s very impressive for a once-small company out of England without nearly as much history, pedigree, or money.
1 2015 Red Bull RB11
Formula One has habitually been called ‘the pinnacle of motor sports,’ and for good reason. Teams spend millions upon millions each season in the production of their cars. All in an effort to go seconds to milli-seconds faster than the competition.
As a result of this, Formula One cars are the fastest in the world. Gripping corners in excess of four g's, reaching over 200 M.P.H., and accelerating at an eye-watering pace. The fastest car to have gone from 0 to 60 is actually the 2015 Red Bull F1 car, titled the RB11. In its quickest instance, the RB11 could get to 100 kilometers an hour (About 60 M.P.H.) in just 1.7 seconds. No wonder teams spend hundreds of millions a season on their cars.