The Fastest Accelerating Cars In The World

Fast cars are frequently judged by superlatives – from the largest displacement and most horsepower to the most expensive and strongest G-force, and so on. But the one superlative that matters most to auto enthusiasts is the fastest car in terms of acceleration – the stat that gives drivers the ultimate thrill of driving.

Less than a decade ago, this entire list would’ve been comprised of cars capable of reaching 60 mph in the 3-second range. Thanks to new technologies such as hybrid powertrain, all the cars that made this year’s list were able to reach that all-important benchmark in less than 3 seconds!

While multiple models from the usual suspects – Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsches made the list, there are some cars on this list that may surprise you. Did you know Nissan produces a car that can out-run most Lamborghinis and Ferraris? An American 7-seat sedan that goes even faster? Or how about a Dubai-based company with a 5,000 horsepower hypercar? Check out our list to see all these incredible machines from “slowest” to fastest!

The Apollo, which comes in at a superlight 2,500-pound, is powered by a mid-engined V8 capable of cranking out 641hp. The substantial power output, along with its lightweight body, allows the car to reach 60mph in 2.9 seconds. One of these street-legal track-ready machines will set buyers back $865,000.

This $1.61 million supercar is powered by a 5.0L 8-pot that revs out a mind-blowing 1,124hp. The enormous power output can propel this Swedish sports car from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. What’s more impressive? The car has a top speed of 267mph, making it not only one of the world’s fastest accelerating vehicles, but also one of the fastest in terms of absolute speed.

Ferrari’s first-ever turbocharged mid-engine sports car is capable of sprinting to 60mph in a mere 2.9 seconds. Although it comes with a smaller engine than its predecessor, the 458 Italia, the turbochargers help its V8 crank out a massive 661hp versus the predecessor’s 562hp. Each example will cost buyers $263,000 and do expect at least an 18-month wait.

The most expensive car on this list, which you can purchase for $3.4 million if you happen to have the spare cash sitting in your bank account. It only takes 2.8 seconds for this bad boy to get up to 60mph thanks to its 760hp engine.

This $490,000 Ferrari is the fastest Ferrari on the market, unless you put the special and limited editions models into consideration. The grand tourer is the flagship of the iconic Italian sports car manufacturer and is capable of reaching 60mph in a mere 2.7 seconds.

This McLaren’s aggressive exterior design and exceptional performance is giving Ferrari and Lamborghini a run for their money. The 2.7-second 0-60mph car has a price of $265,000 before you get into all the carbon fiber goodies. Its signature doors make it one of the cheapest (least expensive might be the more appropriate adjective here) cars to offer a unique door design.

The long-overdue second-generation iconic 1990s Japanese sports car may have been worth the wait. The dual-powertrain setup (gasoline & electric) inside the revolutionary design is powerful enough to send it to 60mph in just 2.7 seconds, a relative bargain for just $150,000

The legendary Japanese supercar killer unleashed its 5^th generation model in 2008 and the car took the world by storm. The GT-R owns numerous automotive superlatives, including the famous Nurburgring lap time record by a mass-production vehicle. The Nissan coupe’s 2.7-second zero to sixty time for a price of $109,990 makes the GT-R a true bargain supercar. The 565 horsepower GT-R’s explosiveness off the line makes this one of the most exhilarating cars I’ve driven, may I add.

Although this isn’t the fastest car on our list, nothing can compare with the pizazz and oomph of the naturally aspirated V12s, and a 2.7-second sprint to 60mph is most likely fast enough to satisfy most drivers’ speed desires. The Aventador, which comes with Lamborghini’s signature scissors doors, has a jet fighter inspired design that produces an impressive 691 horsepower. To become the owner of such a supercar, expect to shell out approximately $500,000 depending on the amount of carbon fiber options you decide to check off on the ordering sheet.

The first of the ‘Holy Trinity’ that made our list. With only 381 units produced, the P1 can reach 60mph in as quick as 2.6 seconds with the aid of 904 horsepower generated from a twin-turbo gasoline engine and an electric motor. This innovative sports car can be yours for a cool $1.34 million.

When it comes to sports cars, there are few machines that can match the venerable Porsche 911s. The Turbo S, which sits at the very top of the 911 range, can go from nil to 60mph in 2.6 seconds courtesy of the 580 horsepower and 516 pound/feet of torque generated by its twin turbo flat six. Despite of having a starting price of under $182,000, the cost of such a sports car can easily exceed $200,000 after Porsche’s wide array of options are accounted for.

When the R8 was first released in 2008, it served as the halo car for a brand that was ready to compete with BMW on the performance front. Now in its second generation, the R8 is more advanced and faster than ever. The car goes from 0 to 60mph in 2.6 seconds with the work of Audi’s signature Quattro all wheel drive system that help put all 413 lb/feet of torque onto the pavement. At the price of $189,000, this may be a bit more expensive than most Audis you’d see, but the exhilaration is worth every penny.

The founder of Tesla Motors, billionaire Elon Musk, brought the first-ever electric powered sedan to the world in 2012 and it has been making headlines ever since. In its latest reiteration, the P100D (P stands for performance and D stands for all wheel drive), can go from a standstill to sixty in just 2.5 seconds, making it the fifth fastest car and the fastest sedan in the world. What makes the car more impressive is its ample amount of interior room and tech features such as the ability to drive itself on highways. By the way, did we mention this car could be yours for “only” $130,000?

Launched as a replacement for the revolutionary but aging Gallardo, this V10 powered Lamborghini is now the benchmark for entry-level supercars. The car made its world debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show with a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated engine mated with a dual clutch transmission and an all wheel drive system. This intricate setup is enough to launch the Italian bull from zero to sixty in a mere 2.5 seconds, which is fast enough to out-perform its bigger brethren Aventador. The catch? Make sure to have $263,000 ready before walking into a Lamborghini dealership.

Developed by engineers who brought the world the legendary McLaren F1, the Caparo T1 first made headlines in the automotive community in 2007 when it finished atop of Top Gear’s Power Board. The reason for this car’s incredible performance is its Formula One racecar inspired design that maximizes aerodynamic efficiency and down force. Despite its racecar-like design, the car is street legal in many countries and can reach 60mph in 2.5 seconds. However, its price of $350,000 is closer to a racecar’s than that of a road car.

How fast can an F1-inspired, hybrid-powered, limited production Ferrari go? The answer is an astonishing 0-60mph run of 2.4 seconds. Limited to 499 examples reserved only for the most loyal Ferrari enthusiasts, the LaFerrari was first released in 2013 with 963 horsepower derived from an 800 hp gasoline engine supplemented by a 163 hp electric motor. The car has a sticker price of $1.42 million but is now selling for as much as $5 million on the private market thanks to its limited availability.

The Bugatti is often billed as the epitome of supercars – with each car starting at a whopping $2 million. The Veyron was first launched in 2005 with an already jaw-dropping 1,001 horsepower. However, each subsequent upgrades of the Veyron only got more insane and the French supercar climaxed with the Veyron Super Sport, which produces an even more ridiculous 1200 horsepower that is good to catapult the $2.7 million hypercar from a standstill to 60mph in just 2.4 seconds.

Limited to 918 cars worldwide, the Porsche 918 Spyder is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 and 2 electric motors on the front and rear axles that produce a combined enormous 887 horsepower! The end result is a car that is capable of going from 0-60mph in just 2.2 seconds. Even though the hypercar will set potential buyers back $845,000, all 918 examples were accounted for even before Porsche officially started production.

Everything is bigger and better in Dubai – and that’s certainly true for sports cars. Dubai-based automobile firm Devel is in the process of developing a 5,000 hp hypercar, the Devel Sixteen. This enormous output is possible thanks to a uniquely-tuned quad-turboed 12.3-liter V16, with the manufacturer claiming a record-setting 1.8-second 0-60mph run and a top speed of 350 mph. This car can be yours for a cool $1 million.