Bugatti Chiron was the fastest car in the world with a speed of 261 mph or 420 km/h at one point. With a few strong contenders breathing down their neck (Rimac Concept Two being the closest), the company decided to break their own record. In fact, they went a step further and decided to achieve a long-chased dream of a car hitting a speed of more than 300 mph or 482.803 km/h. So, to answer your question, “What car is faster than a Bugatti?” It is an upgraded version named Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.
Modifications for the fastest Bugatti car
They added these upgrades to the base Chiron car:
- The engine was upgraded to a quad-turbo, W-16 8.0 liter Centodieci engine.
- Its horsepower rose by 99, becoming rated at 1,578 horsepower.
- Its gearbox was upgraded with longer gear ratios.
- The car’s length was increased by 10 inches to improve aerodynamics.
With those upgrades, on August 2, 2019, Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, with Andy Wallace behind the wheel, broke the speed record with a speed of 304.773 mph or 490.484 km/h. The record was validated by the Guinness World Records. Bugatti released only 30 cars in the World Record Edition limited production series afterward.
Cars that can achieve a higher speed than Bugatti
| Car Model | Top Speed | Horsepower | Engine | 0-60 mph Acceleration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devel Sixteen | 350 mph (560 km/h) | 5,007 horsepower | 12.3L Quad Turbo V16 | N/A |
| Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut | 330 mph (531 km/h) | 1,600 bhp (approx.) | Twin Turbo E85 engine | N/A |
| Bugatti Pur Sport | “In excess of 300 mph” | 1,479 horsepower | 8.0L Quad-Turbocharged W16 | 2.3 seconds (0-100 km/h) |
| SSC Tuatara | 316.11 mph (508.73 km/h) | 1,750 hp (E85) | 5.9L Twin-Turbocharged V8 | 2.5 seconds (0-60 mph) |
| Rimac Nevera | 258 mph (415 km/h) | 1,914 horsepower | All-electric powertrain | 1.85 seconds (0-60 mph) |
| Hennessey Venom GT | 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h) | 1,244 horsepower | Twin-Turbocharged V8 | 2.7 seconds (0-60 mph) |
| Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro | Expected > 225 mph | 1,100 hp (approx.) | 6.5L V12 + Rimac battery system | N/A |
First, an honorable mention. Hennessey Venom F5 managed to reach a speed of 301 mph or 484 km/h and was pretty close. Now, for the cars that managed to beat Bugatti in speed.
1. Devel Sixteen
A 5,007 horsepower, 12,300 ccs, 81 mm Quad Turbo 12.3 Litre V16 engine supercar, Devel Sixteen, was debuted at the Dubai Motor Show in November 2017. The track-only model of the car can reportedly reach a maximum speed of 350 mph or 560 km/h! Street-legal models of the car will be reportedly sold in versions with 2000 horsepower and 3000 horsepower and V8 engines.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | 350 mph (560 km/h) |
| Horsepower | 5,007 horsepower |
| Engine | 12.3L Quad Turbo V16 |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | N/A |
2. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
In March 2020, the company presented Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut. Although there are still no official numbers about 0-100 km/h and 0-60 mph acceleration, BBC Top Gear and other sources claim that the prototypes managed to reach a speed of 330 mph or 531 km/h. The vehicle is supposed to be the world’s fastest street-legal car. The company claims an output of 1195 kW or 1600 bhp using a twin turbo-charged E85 engine with a 9-speed, multi-clutch transmission.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | 330 mph (531 km/h) |
| Horsepower | 1,600 bhp (approx.) |
| Engine | Twin Turbo E85 engine |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | N/A |
3. Bugatti Pur Sport
OK. OK. We know. The car is from the same brand. Although not yet released, the company is already working on an even faster model, Bugatti Pur Sport. They claim the acceleration was reduced to 2.3 sec for 0-100 km/h, 0-200 km/h in 5.5 seconds, and 0-300 km/h in under 12 seconds. They haven’t revealed an official maximum speed number, and only stated it will reach “in excess of 300 mph”. With a proven track record, they have a strong chance of breaking their record again.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | In excess of 300 mph |
| Horsepower | 1,479 horsepower |
| Engine | 8.0L Quad-Turbocharged W16 |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 2.3 seconds (0-100 km/h) |
4. SSC Tuatara
The SSC Tuatara hypercar holds the current title for the fastest production car, reaching a staggering average speed of 316.11 mph or 508.73 km/h during a record attempt in January 2021. Powered by a 5.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine which produces a mind-boggling 1750 horsepower on E85 ethanol (or 1350 horsepower on premium unleaded), the Tuatara broke Bugatti’s record and set a new benchmark for high-speed excellence.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | 316.11 mph (508.73 km/h) |
| Horsepower | 1,750 hp (E85) |
| Engine | 5.9L Twin-Turbocharged V8 |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 2.5 seconds (0-60 mph) |
5. Rimac Nevera
Introduced in June 2021, the Rimac Nevera is an all-electric hypercar that offers fierce competition to traditional petrol-powered speed kings like Bugatti. According to Rimac Automobili, this car can reach a top speed of 258 mph or 415 km/h. Although it’s slightly slower than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, the Nevera’s acceleration is what sets it apart. The electric powertrain allows it to go from 0-60 mph in just 1.85 seconds, making it one of the fastest-accelerating cars in the world.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | 258 mph (415 km/h) |
| Horsepower | 1,914 horsepower |
| Engine | All-electric powertrain |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 1.85 seconds (0-60 mph) |
6. Hennessey Venom GT
While no longer in production, the Hennessey Venom GT deserves an honorable mention. In 2014, it reached a top speed of 270.49 mph or 435.31 km/h at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. However, due to its limited production run (only 13 were built) and the fact it only ran in one direction during its top-speed test, Guinness World Records did not recognize it as the world’s fastest production car. Still, it exceeded the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport’s speed, which held the official record at that time.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h) |
| Horsepower | 1,244 horsepower |
| Engine | Twin-Turbocharged V8 |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | 2.7 seconds (0-60 mph) |
7. Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro
Although not officially tested yet, the Valkyrie AMR Pro, a track-only version of Aston Martin’s hypercar, is expected to exceed speeds of 225 mph or 362 km/h. Its Cosworth-built 6.5-litre V12 engine, combined with a Rimac battery system, is predicted to deliver around 1,100 horsepower. Though it might not beat the Bugatti in top speed, it will undoubtedly be one of the fastest-accelerating cars on the planet.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed | Expected > 225 mph |
| Horsepower | 1,100 hp (approx.) |
| Engine | 6.5L V12 + Rimac battery system |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | N/A |
Speed: More Than Just a Number
When we talk about speed, it’s easy to get caught up in numbers. After all, the thrill of raw, unadulterated speed is one of the reasons many of us fell in love with cars in the first place. But it’s important to remember that speed is more than just a number on a speedometer or a record in a book.
The experience of speed involves many sensations: the roar of the engine, the rush of the wind, the blur of the landscape whipping by. It’s the exhilaration of feeling a powerful machine respond to your slightest touch, knowing that its capabilities extend far beyond what you can legally (or safely) test on public roads. True speed is as much about perception and feeling as it is about objective performance data.
The Engineering Marvel Behind Speed
Behind every ultra-fast car, there’s an army of engineers who have spent countless hours designing, testing, and refining every component. Achieving such high speeds isn’t just about having a powerful engine; it also requires careful attention to aerodynamics, weight distribution, and tire technology, among other things.
What’s even more fascinating is the fierce competition among manufacturers to push the boundaries of technology and engineering. The quest for the title of the fastest car is a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of advancement. Thanks to these exquisitely engineered machines, we can safely reach speeds that were once thought to be impossible.
The Future of Speed
As impressive as today’s fastest cars are, they’re just the beginning. With advancements in electric and hybrid powertrains, as well as lightweight materials and improved aerodynamics, future cars will continue to push the limits of what’s possible.
Moreover, the rise of autonomous technology could change the meaning of speed altogether. Once self-driving cars become mainstream, we might measure speed not just in terms of mph or km/h, but also in the efficiency of a journey or the smoothness of a ride.
Conclusion
And there you have it, these vehicles can reach a top speed higher than Bugatti in existence. Because automobile manufacturers keep teasing new car models and prototypes all the time, we’ll try and keep you updated on any new contenders.
As technology continues to evolve, and more manufacturers turn towards hybrid and all-electric powertrains, the race for the title of the world’s fastest car will only heat up. So, stay tuned as we keep you updated on the latest developments in the high-speed world.