Because of the inconsistencies with the various definitions of production cars, dubious claims by manufacturers and self-interest groups, and inconsistent or changing application of the definitions this list has a defined set of requirements. For further explanation of how these were arrived at see the talk pages of both this article and the above link. After the Koenigsegg Agera RS was found not eligible for this list since only 11 cars had engines rated higher than 865 kW, the former 25 car minimum was dropped and replaced with new rules based on suggestions by Koenigsegg PR manager Steven Wade.
Post 1945 and over 200 km/h (124 mph) only
This list is also limited to post World War II production road cars which reached more than 200 km/h (124 mph), older cars are excluded even if they were faster. The Benz Velo as the first petrol driven car is the only exception.
Production car definition
For the purposes of this list, a production car is defined as a vehicle that is:
Constructed principally for retail sale to consumers, for their personal use, to transport people on public roads (no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible)
Available for commercial sale to the public in the same specification as the vehicle used to achieve the record
Manufactured in the record-claiming specification by a manufacturer whose WMI number is shown on the VIN, including vehicles that are modified by either professional tuners or others that result in a VIN with a WMI number in their name (for example, cars manufactured by RUF with Porsche parts and RUF's WMI W09 are eligible; cars modified by them with Porsche's WMI, WP0, aren't)
Pre-1981 vehicles must be made by the original vehicle manufacturer and not modified by either professional tuners or individuals
Street-legal in its intended markets, having fulfilled the homologation tests or inspections required under either a) United States of America, b) European Union, or c) Japanese law to be granted this status
Sold in more than one national market.
Measurement of top speed
To establish the top speed for cars the requirement is, in addition to the above, an independent road test with a two-way run. The mean of the top speed for both runs is taken as the car's top speed.[1][2] In instances where the top speed has been determined by removing the limiter, the test met these requirements, and the car is sold with the limiter on then the limited speed is accepted as meeting this requirement. For the McLaren F1 the estimation by Car and Driver about the speed at the rev-limiter is used.
3,442 cc (210.0 cu in) inline-6 119 kW (162 PS; 160 hp)
12,000
Some publications cite the XK120's timed top speed as almost 214 km/h (133 mph) in 1949.[5] The XK120 that achieved this speed was a tuned prototype, not a production car. The production car reached 200.5 km/h (124.6 mph).
2,849 cc (173.9 cu in) twin-turbocharged flat-6 331 kW (450 PS; 444 hp)
337
Tested by Road & Track in 1987. The 959 Deluxe version attained 317 km/h (197 mph), the Sport version 319 km/h (198 mph). 29 were built in a performance-enhanced 379 kW (508 hp; 515 PS) sports version which reached 339 km/h (211 mph) tested by Auto, Motor und Sport at Nardo in 1988.[17][18]
6,064 cc (370.0 cu in) BMW S70/2 60° V12 461 kW (627 PS; 618 hp)
69
Some publications cite the F1's timed top speed as 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h). This speed was achieved by a modified F1 with the rev limiter raised from 7500 rpm to 8300 rpm, not a production car.[20] The F1 in an unmodified state is gear limited at 221 mph (356 km/h).
7,993 cc (487.8 cu in) quad-turbocharged W16 882 kW (1,200 PS; 1,183 hp)
30
Out of the initial production run of 30 cars, 5 were named the Super Sport World Record Edition, which had the same electronic limiter as the other 25 – but turned off. Pierre-Henri Raphanel drove the unlimited Super Sport World Record Edition to a 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) two-way average, verified by Guinness World Records.[25][26][27] When sold, the electronic limiters were re-activated, limiting them to the same 415 km/h (258 mph) as the entire production run.
5,000 cc (310 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8 1,000 kW (1,360 PS; 1,341 hp)
25
The base engine is rated at 865 kW (1,176 PS; 1,160 hp), 11 cars were factory specced with the 1 MW (1,360 PS; 1,341 hp) option. Niklas Lilja drove the 1 MW Agera RS to a top speed of 447.19 km/h (277.87 mph), independently verified by Racelogic.[28][29][30][31][32][33]
Difficulties with claims
Comparing claimed speeds of the fastest production cars in the world, especially in historical cases, is difficult as there is no standardized method for determining the top speed and no central authority to verify any such claims. Examples of the difficulties faced were highlighted in a two-week long dispute regarding Bugatti's record set in 2010, and Hennessey's 2013 claim that their own top speed run – slower than Bugatti's, lacking the required two-way average, and lacking the minimum 25 car production run – was the real record, due to an issue regarding electronic limiters.[34][35]
Bugatti Veyron limiter removal
On 4 July 2010, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport reached 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) for a two-way average. Bugatti built 30 identical Super Sports, with 5 of them named World Record Edition. All 30 were equipped with electronic limiters, but the World Record Edition had their limiters turned off for the record attempt. After the record run, all five had their electronic limiters reactivated, so that the entire production run was delivered to customers with a limit of 415 km/h (257.87 mph). Guinness Book of Records, which had listed speeds by British cars with modified rev. limiter as production car records in the 1990s, listed the unlimited 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) as the production car speed record.
In April 2013, following a press release claiming the record for the Hennessey Venom GT due to the electronic limiter issue, The Sunday Times quoted Guinness' public relations director Jaime Strang as saying: "As the car's speed limiter was deactivated, this modification was against the official guidelines. Consequently, the vehicle's record set at 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) is no longer valid."[34] Five days later, Guinness World Records officially posted on its website that it: "...would like to confirm that Bugatti's record has not been disqualified; the record category is currently under review."[36] Five days later Bugatti's speed record was confirmed: "Following a thorough review conducted with a number of external experts, Guinness World Records is pleased to announce the confirmation of Bugatti's record of Fastest production car achieved by the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. The focus of the review was with respect to what may constitute a modification to a car's standard specification. Having evaluated all the necessary information, Guinness World Records is now satisfied that a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine."[34][35]
Cars excluded from the list
Some cars were not considered to be the fastest production vehicles, for various reasons. Here is a list of some well-known cars that have not been able to meet standards needed to be the fastest production car.
3,178 cc (193.9 cu in) V8 268 kW (365 PS; 360 bhp)
84
360 hp turbocharged variant. Tested by Belgian Automobile club, at Belgium's Jabbeke highway, but the results are not officially recognized worldwide. Classic Car commented that the Z-102 tested was a proto-type.[37]
4,935 cc (301.2 cu in) V8 254 kW (345 PS; 340 bhp)
2
No accurate measurement and only the first two cars had the 250 kW (340 PS; 340 hp) engine, 22 cars had coachwork by Allemano, 12 by 7 other companies[38]
4,941 cc (301.5 cu in) V8 242 kW (330 PS; 325 bhp)
5,167 cc (315.3 cu in) V12 335 kW (455 PS; 449 hp)
676
Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport. The car which was tested 305.9 km/h (190.1 mph) by Fast Lane in 1986 and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records 1988 had a factory modified airbox.[40]
3,498 cc (213.5 cu in) twin-turbocharged V6 404 kW (550 PS; 542 hp)
281
Tested by Road & Track. The 349.4 km/h (217.1 mph) Guinness World Records speed was measured by Jaguar one-way without independent control with a car modified for about 50 extra horsepower, the 341.7 km/h (212.3 mph) claims were also factory measured without independent control.[42]
On 2 August 2019, Andy Wallace achieved a maximum of 490.484 km/h (304.773 mph) in a pre-production prototype at Ehra-Lessien, which was verified by TÜV. The production version has the same bodywork, engine and gearbox but no roll cage, different seats, ride height and an electronically limited top speed of 440 km/h (273.4 mph). Excluded from the list because it was a uni-directional top speed run.[46][47][48][49][50]
5,900 cc (360 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8 1,300 kW (1,770 PS; 1,750 hp)
100 (production to commence)
On May 14, 2022, Larry Caplin’s Tuatara reached a one-way speed of 295 mph (475 km/h) over the course of 2.3 miles (3.7 km) at Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility. This was verified by two Racelogic VBOX GNSS and a Life Racing GPS speed measurement systems, as well as a Racelogic technician on hand.[51][52] Excluded from the list because it was a uni-directional top speed run. The car has not been homologated for road use and is therefore at present not street legal. [citation needed]
^Stoy, Andy (15 October 2012). "Worth the Wait". Autoweek. 62 (21): 40–41. ISSN0192-9674. But the XK120 was a post-war performance revelation, proving itself as the fastest production car in the world at the time.
^Hodges, David; Burgess-Wise, David; Davenport, John; Harding, Anthony (1994). The Guinness Book of Car Facts and Feats (4 ed.). London: Guinness Publishing. p. 52. ISBN0-85112-768-1.
