While most people buy their cars to get from point A to point B, some enthusiasts buy them solely for the sake of being the fastest on the road. That said, the bragging rights of having the fastest cars in your town or neighborhood is something not many gearheads would pass up on. And while luxury features and handling are all markers of great modern cars, in a drag car, speed and acceleration are all that really matter.
These drag cars are usually heavily modified and stripped-back to make them as quick as possible in a straight line and on short distances—usually just 1/4 or 1/2 miles. However, if you want the fastest drag cars from the factory that'll reliably wipe the floor with any other machine over the quarter-mile again and again, you have to be prepared to pay a fortune. And in fact, the cars on this list aren't only very pricey, but most, if not all of them, are produced in limited quantities.
Before we begin, you should know that most of these times regard a rollout of up to 1 foot. This doesn't affect the rating as starting from a standing point is only around 0.25 seconds slower. Well, now that you know that here is our list of the 10 best cars for 1/4 mile drag racing you can buy.
10 2018 McLaren 720S
Replacing the 650S, the 702S rolled into production in May 2017. Apart from being an extremely fast car, it also has one of the best stock 1/4 mile times. It can cover the distance in a time of just 10.3 seconds.
The car is powered by an M840T twin-turbocharged V8 engine rated at 710 hp. It is thanks to this number that the car has this name. It is equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and can reach a top speed of 212 mph.
9 2010 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
You wouldn't expect a car from 2010 to be on the list but that just goes to show the amazing craftsmanship of Bugatti's production line. In fact, it is the second-fastest production car in the world as it held the world record for 268 mph up until 2017 when it was surpassed by the Koenigsegg Agera RS with 277 mph.
Starting from a standing point, the Veyron Super Sport managed to cover a 1/4 mile distance at 9.9 seconds with a top speed of 148.5 mph. Of the 30 cars produced, only five of them were labeled as the "World Record Edition" as their speed wasn't electronically limited.
8 2015 McLaren P1
Coming in 8th place, the 2015 McLaren P1 is also the first hybrid on our list since it is equipped with a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged M838TQ V8 engine and a McLaren E-motor. These work together for a combined power output of 903 hp.
Starting with a 1-foot rollout, the 2015 P1 was able to reach the 1/4 mile mark at 9.8 seconds achieving a 149-mph top speed. A total of 439 were produced, 375 of which were stock P1s.
7 2021 Tesla Model X
The first of only three fully electric cars on this list, the 2021 Tesla Model X plaid may partly look like a family SUV but its specs and performance speak otherwise. The car can reach a top speed of 163 mph and 1020 hp.
As for drag-racing potential, the plaid Model X can cover 1/4 mile in just 9.75 seconds which is lower than the officially stated performance beating the $2.5 million Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
6 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Limited to 918 units, hence the name, the 2015 918 Spyder may look great, but it also drives amazingly on the asphalt. In detail, this model can reach a top speed of 218 mph and accelerate from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.
As for covering a 1/4-mile distance, the hybrid can complete the assignment in 9.7 seconds or 9.80 seconds (standing-point start) at an achieved top speed of 145 mph and 148 mph respectively.
5 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Manufactured by the top Italian manufacturer, Ferrari, the SF90 Stradale is a 986-hp monster that can go from 0-60 in just 2.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 211 mph. It has not one, not two, but three electric motors, one located on the transmission and one on each front wheel.
As for its drag racing performance, the little red demon can cover 1/4 of a mile in 9.5 seconds with a recorded speed of 148 mph.
4 2021 McLaren 765LT
This car is a special version of the 720S that's limited to 765 units worldwide. It boasts 765 hp and has a lower top speed of 205mph compared to the 720S's 212 mph.
This version of the car is focused on track performance which is why it has a better 1/4 mile time of around 9.42 seconds starting with a 1-foot rollout. However, according to a test uploaded to YouTube the car covered the same distance in just 8.92 seconds!
3 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid
This is the second fully electric car on this list. On top of being relatively affordable (always compared to other sports cars), the Model S utilizes its triple electric motor layout to provide extreme performance.
In fact, not only can it go 0-60 in 2.07 seconds as tested by Motor Trend but it can also cover 1/4 of a mile in 9.4 seconds with a top speed of 151 mph.
2 2021 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
This is the second-fastest 1/4-mile car in the world. It went into production in 2021 and only around a hundred have been completed by this day. The car can do 0-124 mph in 5.8 seconds and 0-186 mph in 12.1 seconds.
As for driving in a straight line, the car can cover one-quarter of a mile in just no more than 9.1 seconds. As of now, this number only comes close to a certain car and this is none other than the Rimac Nevera.
1 2021 Rimac Nevera
The one and only Rimac Nevera is currently the fastest 1/4-mile car in the world with a time of 8.58 seconds. Only 100 units are planned to be released with an MSRP of $2.4 million.
If specs are kind of your thing then we should let you know that the car's top speed is 256 mph and starting for a still point it can reach 60 mph in less than two seconds! Oh, and did we mention that it is powered by four liquid-cooled electric motors for a grand output of 1,914 hp?! And yeah, that is an electric car we're talking about!