There’s no real need for a production car to go over 200 mph. Few public roads in the world allow that kind of speed, whether legally or physically. But a few automakers continually push the boundaries of speed, for the same reasons that mountain climbers scale the highest peaks.
The fastest production cars hit well over 200 mph, using big displacement or near-racing engines to achieve these speeds. Of course, all of these cars are ridiculously expensive, but the varieties of design will come as a surprise.
We’ve assembled photos and specifications for the current crop of fastest production cars. Ferrari claims three places in the list, but is far from the top. Surprisingly, Lamborghini doesn’t place at all, as the company discontinued its Murcielago, and the Gallardo isn’t quite fast enough for the top 10.
Other cars featuring the kind of power that should make them competitors, such as the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS, fall behind because of electronically limited top speeds. Newer contenders that made the cut are not even out of the factory yet, but are promised for this year.
Bentley Continental Supersports
Top speed: 204 mph
Engine: Twin turbo 6-liter W-12
Horsepower: 621
Photo credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET
McLaren MP4-12C
Top speed: 205 mph
Engine: Twin turbo 3.8-liter V-8
Horsepower: 592
Photo credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Top speed: 205 mph
Engine: Twin turbo 3.6-liter flat six-cylinder
Horsepower: 523
Photo credit: Porsche
Ferrari FF
Top speed: 208 mph
Engine: 6.3-liter V-12
Horsepower: 651
Photo credit: Ferrari
Ferrari 599 GTO
Top speed: 208 mph
Engine: 6-liter V-12
Horsepower: 661
Photo credit: Ferrari
Pagani Zonda F
Top speed: 215 mph
Engine: Twin turbo 6-liter V-12
Horsepower: 602
Photo credit: Pagani
Pagani Huayra
Top speed: 235 mph
Engine: Twin turbo 6-liter V-12
Horsepower: 700+
Photo credit: Pagani
Koenigsegg CCXR
Top speed: 250 mph
Engine: Twin supercharged 4.7-liter V-8
Horsepower: 1,064
Photo credit: Koenigsegg
SSC Ultimate Aero
Top speed: 257 mph
Engine: Twin turbo 6.3-liter V-8
Horsepower: 1,287
Photo credit: Mike Markovich/CNET
Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
Top speed: 267 mph
Engine: Quad turbo 8-liter W-16
Horsepower: 1,184
Photo credit: Bugatti
Viktor Mar Bonilla 