0-60mph (and 0-62mph) times have been dropping like stones. Here are today's fastest accelerating cars, as claimed by the manufacturers
What are the fastest accelerating cars in the world? In theory, a quick glance at a vehicle’s ‘nought to sixty’ time should give you a fair idea of where it stands in the pecking order, but the reality is that true performance is much harder to gauge.
Part of the problem is the manufacturers’ vagueness when it comes to providing accurate acceleration information. Some overstate their cars’ abilities in order to make an impression on the specs sheet, while others have been known to underestimate 0-60mph times for one reason or another.
• The world’s fastest road cars
Then there’s the act of performing the acceleration test itself. Was launch control used? How smooth was the road surface? What equipment was used to measure the speed? What was the weather like? As there’s no universal standard for all of these variables or many others, there’s no way of truly knowing if one car is faster than another without putting them side-by-side.
The final curveball is the phrase ‘nought to sixty’ itself, which can refer to 0-60mph or 0-100kph (0-62mph). The disparity is slight, but if the difference is as much as a tenth of a second then that can have a profound effect on, say, a ranked list of the 10 fastest accelerating cars of the day…
Anyway, gathering together more than a dozen of the world’s fastest accelerating cars for an ultimate 0-62mph showdown would be a tad expensive and probably still wouldn’t give us an undisputed winner. That’s why, instead, we’ve put together the following list based on manufacturer claims alone.
Yes, we’re well aware that the numbers may not be entirely accurate, and yes, we’re also aware that plenty of people have recorded faster/slower real-world times. But on official times for current, unmodified production cars these are the top 10 quickest accelerating cars. So here we go…
Scroll down to view our list of the fastest accelerating cars on the planet in reverse order…
Fastest accelerating cars 2019
These are the fastest cars over the benchmark 0-60mph/0-62mph sprint, according to the manufacturers’ official claims…
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
<3.0 seconds (0-62mph)
The Ferrari LaFerrari is one of the most stupendous cars in existence, a fact that the Italian marque underlined with a £1million price tag. They were tentative about the 0-62mph figure though, saying only that it was less than three seconds.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
2.9 seconds (0-62mph)
The 789bhp Ferrari 812 Superfast is one of the fastest and most exciting Ferraris on sale. Its eye-watering acceleration is only matched by its eye-watering price of £262,963.
McLaren 720S
2.9 seconds (0-62mph)
The latest Super Series road car from Mclaren, the 720S is not only one of the best McLarens ever but also one of the best supercars ever built. With performance matching the mighty P1, the 720S will definitely go down in the history books.
McLaren 600LT
2.9 seconds (0-62mph)
The 600LT wears the legendary ‘Long Tail’ name badge given only to the most hardcore McLaren cars. Its 592bhp V8 turbo is capable of hitting 62mph in just 2.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 204mph.
2017 Lamborghini Huracan Performante
2.9 seconds (0-62mph)
Bred for the track, the Performante’s credentials were sealed when it set a record lap time of 6 minutes 52.01 seconds at the Nurburgring. Its 0-62mph is barely relevant to that achievement but is quick nonetheless.
2016 Porsche 911 Turbo S
2.9 seconds (0-62mph)
The Porsche 911 Turbo S was hailed as an exquisite machine when it was launched in 2016. £145,773 gets you 3.8-litre twin turbo engine with 572bhp. Rumour has it that it will do 0-62mph quicker than the above time, too.
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Ferrari 488 Pista
2.8 seconds (0-62mph)
The Ferrari 488 Pista is a stripped out, hardcore version of the 488. Not only does it weigh 90kg less, its twin-turbo V8 now produces 710bhp and can manage 211mph at full speed.
McLaren Senna
2.8 seconds (0-62mph)
The McLaren Senna was named after world famous racing driver Ayrton Senna and is ‘the most extreme road car’ McLaren have made. Designed to be the quickest around any track with its powerful 789bhp V8 and its incredibly clever aerodynamics, the Senna certainly lives up to its name.
2018 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
2.8 seconds (0-62mph)
If you thought the Lamborghini Aventador S was a little tame then here is your answer, the 760bhp Aventador SVJ. But this is a Lamborghini that can corner as the SVJ holds the lap record of the fastest production car around the Nurburgring
2017 Ford GT
2.8 seconds (0-60mph)
Developed alongside the race car that went on to win the GTE Pro class at Le Mans in 2016, the Ford GT is about as exclusive as supercars get. Buyers for the £450,000 car were sought by invitation only, so only a handful of people will get to experience the acceleration for themselves. The lucky so-and-sos.
2016 Koenigsegg Regera
2.8 seconds (0-62mph)
The Koenigsegg Regera is stuffed full of wild numbers. 1,479bhp, 1,465lb ft of torque, 250mph top speed… 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds isn’t too shabby either.
2014 McLaren P1
2.8 seconds (0-62mph)
The McLaren P1 rolled out of the factory with 903bhp, a top speed of 217mph and a sense of having redefined what was possible in a road car. Of course, its hypercar rivals did much the same, but history will remember the P1 as part of the holy trinity for a reason.
2014 Porsche 918 Spyder
<2.8 seconds (0-60mph)
Another hypercar, another evasive acceleration figure. Less than 2.8 seconds is the official line for the 918 Spyder, although that’s only measured to 60mph rather than the full 62mph. Whatever it may be, Porsche’s Weissach Pack will reduce it by a couple of tenths.
2014 Caterham Seven 620R
2.8 seconds (0-60mph)
Powered by a 2.0-litre supercharged engine from Ford, the Caterham Seven 620R is the fastest car the company makes. With 310bhp under the bonnet and a total weight of just 572kg, it’s no wonder this little rocket can compete with far more expensive machines.
2016 Radical RXC GT
2.7 seconds (0-60mph)
Radical’s cars are exactly that – radical. And the RXC GT is probably the most extreme of all, channelling all sorts of prototype DNA having been built off the back of Radical’s SR9 Le Mans project. Generating 900kg of downforce, it’s hard to believe this car is road legal. But it is.
2011 Hennessey Venom GT
2.7 seconds (0-60mph)
The Hennessey Venom GT has long competed with the Bugatti Veyron – and now, the Chiron – for the title of ‘fastest production car in the world’. 270mph is the claimed figure, but a lack of a two-direction run means the top speed isn’t officially verified.
2014 Ariel Atom 3.5R
2.6 seconds (0-60mph)
Ariel has been producing astoundingly quick cars for almost two decades now, and a sub-three-second 0-60mph time has long been standard. The Atom 3.5R – with its tuned 2.0-litre iVTEC engine – can do it in 2.6 seconds, and will hit 100mph in six seconds flat. A helmet is recommended.
2017 Bugatti Chiron
<2.5 seconds (0-62mph)
The Chiron takes the Bugatti philosophy further still, raising the benchmarks set by the Veyron whilst retaining the exclusive, luxury appeal. Bugatti doesn’t quote a 0-62mph time, saying only that it has improved on the Veyron. Mysterious…
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Rimac Concept One
2.5 seconds (0-62mph)
The Rimac Concept One is an all-electric supercar capable of mind-bending feats of speed and acceleration. With 1,224bhp from its four electric motors, the Concept One can hit 62mph in just 2.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 208mph.
2016 Tesla Model S P100D (with Ludicrous Mode)
2.5 seconds (0-60mph)
Tesla says that the Model S P100D is the third fastest accelerating production car ever. Whether or not that’s true is up for debate, but with Ludicrous Mode engaged one thing is certain: it’s bloomin’ quick off the line.
2010 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
2.5 seconds (0-62mph)
The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is a car that needs no introduction, having taken the achievements of its predecessor to the next level with its Super Sport badge. Its frighteningly undramatic acceleration could push the speedometer all the way to 268mph, and while the Hennessey Venom GT is a touch faster, the Veyron has official recognition on its side…
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
2.3 seconds (0-60mph)
The 829bhp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon caused a storm when it was launched, partly because of its claim to be the fastest production car to 60mph, but also because it had a tendency to lift its front wheels off the ground in the process. Although it can hit 60mph in its claimed 2.3 seconds, it does require changing a lot of the standard car, including the tyres and even the type of fuel it runs on, all of which comes at an additional cost of $1.
2015 Ultima Evolution Coupe
2.3 seconds (0-60mph)
If you thought the SRT Demon would have the final say on this list, you were wrong. British sports car maker Ultima has often been touted as the true holder of the world’s fastest accelerating car title, its Evolution Coupe hitting 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds long before the latest Challenger was even conceived. Quite an achievement for a low volume company, and one that merits some recognition.
Ariel Atom 500 V8
2.3 seconds (0-60mph)
The top spot on our list is possibly the most insane car here. The Ariel Atom 500 V8 had a tiny V8 shoved into the rear of the lightweight Atom meaning a power to weight ratio of 900bhp per tonne, which is double that of a Bugatti Veyron. The lack of weight and powerful V8 meant that 0-60mph was dealt with in just 2.3 seconds and meant a crash helmet or driving goggles are a necessity.
Fastest accelerating cars: full list
Future cars to look out for
Each passing year sees a new batch of sports; super and hypercars attempt to define logic by becoming faster and more powerful than their rivals. This raises the bar every time so manufacturers are always keen to try and outdo one another to get the claim of being the best performance car. Below is a list of cars coming out over the next few years which could enter our list of fastest accelerating cars.
Rimac Concept Two
The successor to the Concept One, Rimac has upped the game with the Concept Two. Producing 1914bhp from its four electric motors, the Concept Two can hit 0-60mph is just 1.85 seconds although this has yet to be proved in the real world.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
The Aston Martin has partnered up with Red Bull Racing to create their first hypercar, the Valkyrie. Although no official performance figures have been released yet we do know that its 6.5-litre V12 will produce roughly 1000bhp, which means a potential 0-62mph time of around 2.5 seconds.
Mercedes-AMG ONE
The Mercedes-AMG ONE is similar to the Valkyrie in the fact that it uses F1 technology in a road car. However, there are a few differences between the two cars, as the AMG ONE will use a 1.6-litre V6 hybrid coupled to four electric motors meaning it can rev to 11,000rpm. So expect acceleration to be equally mind-blowing.
McLaren Speedtail
The McLaren Speedtail is tipped to become the fastest McLaren ever built, which is some statement considering the McLaren F1 was once the worlds fastest car. It can hit 186mph in just 12.8 seconds so expect a blistering quick 0-60mph time when specifications are announced.
Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is expected to arrive in 2020 and is being touted as the ultimate performance car. With a targeted top speed of 250mph and a 0-60mph time of 1.9sec, the Roadster is aiming to prove once and for all that electric cars can be fast and exciting.
Got a suggestion for a model we might have missed? Then make your case in the comments section below…
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