There are many metrics to measuring the performance of a vehicle. We have power, toque, top speed, fastest 0-60 and quarter mile, along with track times to name a few. However, before I had ever enjoyed a track day I once asked a relative “how fast have you gone”? His answer surprised me a bit as he said something along the lines of “On the track, it’s not necessarily about top speed, but agility and acceleration.”
Over the last few decades, manufacturers have constantly upgraded their vehicles first at the racetrack, then with the consumer. As such, the list for quickest or fastest accelerating vehicles has changed almost by the year. The following list was compiled to preview just 10 of the quickest cars for currently on sale. By no means is this a complete list as the number of boutique supercar manufacturers seems to double every year. However, this quick list does provide a general overview of automotive acceleration giants with some pleasant surprises in between. So scroll down to see which cars will dominate at the stoplight in 2017!
What Is The Fastest 0-60 Car Out There?
Porsche 911 Turbo S
Regardless of the generation, the Porsche 911 has always been an amazing car. With its elegant, streamlined shape and rear mounted engine the 911 is a track favorite for many. Recently upgraded for the 2017 model year, the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S now packs a whopping 580hp and 553lb-ft of torque. This power comes from the twin-turbo flat six 3.8-liter engine and is capable of propelling the car from 0 to 60 in just 2.8 seconds – though the manufacturer claims it can hit that mark in 2.5 seconds, and independent drivers have managed to push the all-wheel drive Porsche 911 Turbo 60mph in an incredible 2.2 seconds, 2.8 seems to be the accepted average.
Lamborghini Aventador SV
There aren’t many automotive lists for top…anything that don’t include a Lamborghini. With a screaming engine and design that just begs for attention how could anyone not love them? The latest to come from the anti-Ferrari of Italy is the Lamborghini Aventador SV. While the SV features the same 6.5-liter V-12 as the regular Lamborghini Aventador it gains an additional 50 horsepower bringing this beast to 740 with just over 500 lb-ft of torque. This additional power propels the Lamborghini Aventador SV to 60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds.
Caterham Seven 620R
Caterham? Really? Yes, I said there were going to be surprises here and this is definitely one of the biggest. The Seven 620R is able to achieve the same 2.8 second 0-60 sprint times as the Porsche and Lambo because of its size. While this United Kingdom icon may be small, it still pushes out 310hp and 219lb-ft of torque from its supercharged 2.0-liter Ford engine. However, owners of the 620R will have to forgo the luxuries of some of the other cars on this list like a windshield and doors. That is because the Seven 620R was meant for those who would rather trade luxury for a fun, relatively inexpensive track toy. And compared to the price tags of what we have seen so far, buyers get a lot of thrill for their money.
Koenigsegg Regera
While it doesn’t make the top of the list, to me the Koenigsegg Regera is at the forefront of the current hypercar trend. With its hybrid powertrain and amazing direct drive system the Regera is a technological masterpiece. Combining a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with three electric engines it puts out an astounding 1500 horsepower. With instant torque from the direct drive, the Koenigegg Regera pushes 0-60 in a mere 2.7 seconds.
Acura NSX
Acura’s next generation NSX supercar has been in the works for what seems like ages. Thankfully, we should start seeing them out in the wild soon. The 2017 Acura NSX was built from the ground up to serve as the halo car of the Acura brand, featuring a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 mated directly to an electric motor, with all-wheel drive, to produce 573 horsepower. While the power number is moderate, it is supposed to match the Koenigsegg in acceleration to 60mph at 2.7 seconds. For a car weighing 3,800 pounds and costing just $153,000, that’s impressive.
Ariel Atom 3.5R
Since the introduction of the original Ariel Atom, many gearheads have been fascinated with this brand. Anyone who watched the original Top Gear will surely remember Jeremy Clarkson’s cheeks flapping around as the Ariel Atom catapulted him to speed. While the standard car is comparatively slow to 60mph at 3.12 seconds, the optional 3.5R package shaves off a half second to reach the same speed in 2.59 seconds. This is attributed to the additional 105 horsepower delivered by slapping a supercharger on the 2.0-liter Honda 4 cylinder. No, the Ariel Atom isn’t for the faint of heart but I sure would love to drive one.
Bugatti Chiron
I don’t think there is much that can be said about the Chiron that hasn’t been repeated multiple times in every automotive news outlet in the world. Of course the successor to the legendary Bugatti Veyron and Veyron Super Sport would make this list. 1,500 horsepower of quad-turbo, 16 cylinder perfection propel this mobile work of art to 60mph in 2.5 seconds. There is no mistaking the Bugatti Chiron as the king of combining power and speed with luxury and opulence.
Tesla Model S P100D
We now move from the $2.6 million Bugatti Chiron to the $134,500 Tesla Model S P100D. The price tag isn’t the only difference between these two. The one packs a monstrous 16-cylinder, ozone depleting engine while the other is a fully electric innovation for the “masses”. With a 100 kWh battery, 315 mile range and the capability to rocket 5 adults from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds, the Tesla Model S P100D really is ludicrous. Every new software update and battery upgrade Elon Musk roles out makes the original Tesla Model S that much more insane. While it isn’t the first electric car ever, the Tesla Model S has helped usher in a new era for the automobile and with acceleration like this I don’t see if going away any time soon.
Techrules GT96
Here is another oddball on the list. Announced earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show, the Chinese company Techrules claims a production model will be seen in 2017. As China’s first supercar, the GT96 will be a Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV). Apparently this will give it the ability to have a 1,242 mile range, estimated 1,569 mile per gallon rating, 217mph top speed, and a 0-60 time of just 2.5 seconds. That’s an awful lot of talk for a fresh company with new tech and new ideas. Nevertheless, we will all see if all of those specs remain unchanged at next year’s Geneva show in March. It will make it one of the fastest cars out there – but is it all just talk?
Hennessey Venom F5
At the 2015 SEMA show, Hennessey Performance unveiled the final version of the epic Venom GT which featured a 1,451 horsepower twin-turbo 7.0-liter V-8 engine. This final hurrah of the Venom GT will only see “a handful” 2016 editions and could supposedly do 0-60 in just 2.4 seconds on its way to over 280mph.
But why discontinue such an insanely powerful car? Because they are preparing for the next generation Venom F5. It has been in the works for a while and details are still a bit scarce. In fact, the only images of the F5 have been renders so saying this is a 2017 may be a long shot. Nevertheless, Hennessey claims the new F5 will have at least 1,500 horsepower, a 290mph top speed and a 0-60 jaunt of just 2.0 seconds FLAT. If this does get released next year, the Chiron better watch out.
But What About The Other Fastest Cars?!
Of course, there are many other cars that deserve a spot on this list: the Porsche 918 Spyder, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the Ferrari LaFerrari, and the Nissan GT-R, to name but a few. Where are they? When compiling a list of the fastest cars, specifically fastest 0 – 60 car times, you’ve got to depend on a huge number of metrics. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to verify the claims of those other fastest cars using the same methodology. For reference though, let’s take a brief look at those other super sport players!
The Porsche 918 Spyder: According to the manufacturer, the Porsche 918 Spyder can hit 60 in 2.5 seconds. Independent drivers have managed to shave that time down to 2.3 seconds – which could make it one of the fastest cars out there.
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon: The legendary Dodge Challenger SRT Demon can hit the 60 marker in an incredible 2.3 seconds according to the manufacturer. For the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, we haven’t been able to get our hands on one of the 3300 limited edition all-wheel drive units to verify it. We’re going to say that it is definitely true though.
The Ferrari LaFerrari: It’s not as easy to find a verifiable acceleration time for the Ferrari LaFerrari. We know it’s fast, and we know it’s sexy – but officially the manufacturer has only said that it can hit 60 in under 3 seconds, which is a touch too vague.
The Nissan GT-R Nismo: Contrary to what you’d think, the all-wheel drive Nissan GT-R Nismo doesn’t boast one of the fastest 0 – 60 car times. In fact, the manufacturer’s claims have been verified by plenty of independent sources, with the Nissan GT-R scoring only 2.7 seconds. Which is still outrageously fast though.
