The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme is the world’s fastest production car by timed speed, reaching 496.2 km/h (308.3 mph) in Germany in September 2025. The SSC Tuatara at 474.8 km/h and Koenigsegg Agera RS at 457.9 km/h follow.
These are road-car model lines with real high-speed runs, but their evidence differs. Some figures come from customer cars; others combine a special test car’s record with the production model’s published limit.
How we ranked this
We count each model line’s fastest timed speed, capped at the maker’s published customer maximum, and include supervised high-speed modes. Manufacturer and timing-company sources, including current customer specifications, were checked in October 2026. The table distinguishes independent timing, manufacturer tests and customer limits; prototype runs support only the corresponding production car’s stated maximum.
We use the fastest individual pass where available, rather than a two-way average, so this is not a Guinness record ranking. Two-way averages reduce the effects of wind and slope. Track-only cars, unsold prototypes and simulated maximum speeds do not qualify.
| Rank | Car | Top speed (km/h) | (mph) | How it was timed | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme | 496.2 | 308.3 | BYD record run; ATP certification | 2025 |
| 2 | SSC Tuatara | 474.8 | 295.0 | Independent: Racelogic | 2022 |
| 3 | Koenigsegg Agera RS | 457.9 | 284.6 | Maker’s run | 2017 |
| 4 | Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ | 440.0 | 273.4 | Customer limit; prototype record: TÜV | 2019 |
| 5 | Hennessey Venom GT | 435.3 | 270.5 | Independent: Racelogic | 2014 |
| 6 | Rimac Nevera R | 430.0 | 267.2 | Customer maximum; record: Dewesoft | 2025 |
| 7 | Bugatti W16 Mistral | 420.0 | 261.0 | Customer maximum; record: SGS-TÜV | 2024 |
| 8 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport | 415.0 | 257.9 | Customer limit; record: Guinness | 2010 |
| 9 | SSC Ultimate Aero | 414.3 | 257.4 | Independent: DEWETRON / Guinness | 2007 |
| 10 | McLaren Speedtail | 403.0 | 250.4 | Maker’s prototype run | 2019 |
10. McLaren Speedtail, 403 km/h (250.4 mph)
McLaren’s Speedtail earns tenth place at 403 km/h, matching its published customer specification. McLaren announced the completed tests in December 2019 after its XP2 prototype reached that speed more than 30 times.
The runs took place on the space-shuttle landing runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They are manufacturer-reported tests, rather than an independently certified two-way record.
Its gasoline-electric powertrain combines a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for 1,070 PS, or metric horsepower. The three-seat cabin puts the driver in the center, with a passenger on either side.
9. SSC Ultimate Aero, 414.3 km/h (257.4 mph)
The Ultimate Aero’s fastest pass reached 414.31 km/h during its September 2007 record attempt in Washington state. Guinness verified a two-way average of 412.28 km/h using DEWETRON measurements.
Driver Chuck Bigelow made the two runs on Highway 221, rather than a purpose-built oval. SSC’s corrected record announcement credited its twin-turbo V8 with 1,183 bhp.
8. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, 415 km/h (257.9 mph)
The Veyron Super Sport counts at its 415 km/h customer limit, which Bugatti imposed to protect the tires. Its limiter-free record car averaged 431.072 km/h over two directions at Ehra-Lessien in 2010.
Guinness confirmed in April 2013 that the record stood after reviewing the removed limiter. That record remains distinct from the customer figure used here.
Bugatti’s 8.0-liter W16 produces 1,200 PS and drives all four wheels. Two ducts integrated into the roof feed the engine, replacing the standard Veyron’s raised scoops.
7. Bugatti W16 Mistral, 420 km/h (261.0 mph)
The W16 Mistral takes seventh at Bugatti’s published 420 km/h customer maximum in Top Speed mode. That is lower than the 453.91 km/h achieved by the one-off World Record Car in November 2024.
Andy Wallace drove that special car, fitted with bespoke tires, at ATP Papenburg under SGS-TÜV Saar supervision. The record does not establish the same maximum for an ordinary customer Mistral.
The open-top Mistral uses a 1,600 PS, quad-turbo W16. Its roofless body makes it a very different way to experience the engine from the enclosed Chiron.
6. Rimac Nevera R, 430 km/h (267.2 mph)
The Nevera R counts at the 430 km/h maximum on Rimac’s current customer specification, which requires manufacturer oversight. Dewesoft independently measured a slightly higher 431.45 km/h during testing at ATP Papenburg in 2025.
The lower customer figure determines its place here; the faster test remains useful context. Rimac’s four-motor electric car delivers a stated 2,107 hp and uses a 108 kWh battery.
That same test campaign produced 24 performance records, including acceleration and braking achievements. The ordinary Nevera is not a separate entry because this list allows one version per model line.
5. Hennessey Venom GT, 435.3 km/h (270.5 mph)
The Venom GT reached 435.31 km/h on February 14, 2014, with Brian Smith driving at Kennedy Space Center. Hennessey says a Racelogic representative independently verified the speed.
This was a one-way result, not a Guinness two-way production-car record. Its venue was the same space-shuttle runway later used for McLaren’s Speedtail tests.
The 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8 sends 1,244 bhp to the rear wheels. Hennessey also quoted a 1,244 kg vehicle weight: one horsepower for each kilogram.
4. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, 440 km/h (273.4 mph)
The Chiron Super Sport 300+ ranks at its published 440 km/h customer maximum in Top Speed mode. The famous 490.484 km/h run belonged to a near-production prototype tested in August 2019.
Andy Wallace drove the prototype at Ehra-Lessien, with TÜV certification of the result. Using that higher number as the customer car’s maximum would ignore Bugatti’s own specification.
Its 1,600 PS W16 channels power through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. For the financial side of these limited-run machines, see the most expensive cars.
3. Koenigsegg Agera RS, 457.9 km/h (284.6 mph)
The Agera RS reached 457.94 km/h on its fastest pass in Nevada on November 4, 2017. Its two-way average was 447.19 km/h, a different figure often used to describe the achievement.
Niklas Lilja drove a customer-owned car on a closed stretch of public road. Michelin says it used standard Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, without special modifications for the attempt.
Koenigsegg offered its twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 with an optional one-megawatt engine package. The car also has a removable hardtop, an unexpected practical detail for a machine built for this performance.
2. SSC Tuatara, 474.8 km/h (295.0 mph)
The Tuatara reached 474.8 km/h in a one-way pass on May 14, 2022, at Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility. Owner Larry Caplin drove his own car.
SSC documented two Racelogic VBOX units, an additional GPS system and a Racelogic technician at the test. Its separate January 2021 two-way result was 455.3 km/h; the disputed 2020 claim is not used here.
The twin-turbo V8 produces 1,750 hp on E85 fuel, compared with 1,350 hp on 91-octane gasoline. Even among these cars, fuel choice makes a substantial difference to the available power.
1. BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme, 496.2 km/h (308.3 mph)
BYD’s U9 Xtreme record car reached 496.22 km/h at ATP Papenburg on September 14, 2025, driven by Marc Basseng. BYD’s Japanese announcement reports ATP certification of the run.
BYD offers a maximum of 30 customer Xtreme cars, and showed the final production version in April 2026. The ranking uses the record run; BYD has not published a lower customer speed limit in the sources checked.
Four electric motors deliver more than 3,000 PS through a 1,200-volt system. The Xtreme also uses special tires and revised suspension, so its result should not be assigned to the ordinary U9.
Why some famous names are missing
Aspark identifies the SP600 as a prototype, while Bugatti’s Bolide is track-only. The Jesko Absolut has completed acceleration tests, but its claimed maximum has not been demonstrated in a top-speed run.
The Venom F5’s development-test figure and Czinger 21C’s claimed maximum do not meet this list’s documented-run requirements. These exclusions concern the available evidence, not a prediction of which car could eventually go faster.
For other kinds of speed, compare the fastest passenger trains and fastest roller coasters. Their operating conditions and ranking methods are different from car tests.
SourcesSources are linked throughout the article. The main sources are listed below.
- BYD: U9 Xtreme record, September 2025
- SSC: Tuatara’s May 2022 run
- Michelin: Agera RS record and tires, January 2018 press kit
- Bugatti: Chiron Super Sport 300+ customer specifications
- Rimac: Nevera R customer specifications and supervised mode
- Bugatti: W16 Mistral customer specifications, July 2025
- Bugatti: Veyron Super Sport customer limit and specifications
