12 Fastest Cars in the World7

By Dan Berry, Feb 15, 2011 in Pop Culture

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12 Fastest Cars in the World

“I feel the need… the need for speed!”

Some car lovers dream of driving a car with power. Others, however, dream of driving sleek machines that are all about speed. Sadly, most of us are relegated to riding around in crappy clunkers that wouldn’t blow our hair back if we were Thelma and Louise riding into the Grand Canyon. But what if we got to drive around in some of the hotest, fastest cars that would make even Formula One Driver Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton say, “DAMN!”?

Considering the price tag on most of these rides, we can only dream of sitting behind the wheel of the fastest car in the world. There are some people, however, that possess the resources to have anything they want. If we were one of those people with a penchant for fast cars, these next 12 cars would definitely be on our radar.

12. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster 722 S – 208 mph

The German luxury sports car manufacturer reserves its “722″ marquee for its most exclusive supercars, and the McLaren is absolutely stunning. The supercharged 5.5-liter V8 is hand-built by AMG. The result is an out-of-this-world power output of 650 horsepower and 605 lb-ft. of torque.

Specs: 208 mph, 0-60 in 3.7 secs. Supercharged 5.5 Liter AMG V8 with 650 hp, base price $450,000.

11. Porsche Carrera GT – 209 mph

With its V10 engine providing more than 600 horsepower and with an array of cutting edge technologies including a ceramic composite clutch and brakes beneath its carbon-reinforced body, the Porsche Carrera GT uses the undiluted qualities of a genuine racecar to provide an unprecedented driving experience on the road.

Specs: 209 mph, 0-60 in 3.9 secs. Aluminum, 68 Degree, Water Cooled V10 Engine with 612 hp, base price is $484,000.

10. Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV – 213 mph

The Murciélago LP 670-4 SV is not only the fastest Murcielago ever produced, but the fastest car Lamborghini has ever made – sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds. This is the last Murcielago variant Lambo is making, sparking plenty of rumors of a successor.

Specs: 213 mph, 0-60 in 2.8 secs. V12 Engine with 640 hp, base price is $430,000.

9. Pagani Zonda F Clubsport – 215 mph

Powered by a 7.3-liter AMG-built V12, the 640 horsepower Pagani Zonda F Clubsport created ripples in the car community when it lapped the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife test track in only 7:24.7 seconds. Pagani claims that without the car’s aerodynamic equipment (added to increase cornering ability) the Zonda F Clubsport would have a top speed of 220 mph, which would bump it up higher on this list.

Specs: 215 mph, 0-60 in 3.5 secs. AMG V12 Engine with 640 hp, base price is $667,321.

8. Jaguar XJ220 – 217 mph

Made in 1992, the Jaguar XJ220 is even older than the McLaren F1. Sporting a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, the XJ220 could do 217 mph in 1992. Now that’s some seriously impressive engineering.

Specs: 217 mph, 0-60 in 3.8 secs. Twin Turbo V6 Engine with 542 hp, base price was $650,000.

7. Aston Martin One-77 – 220 mph

The Aston Martin One-77 is a very limited edition supercar. Originally, the top speed was estimated at a relatively sedate 200 mph, but later tests confirmed a top speed of 220.007 mph. The 3,307 lb car can rocket from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds thanks to its 750 horsepower, 7.3-liter V12 engine and six-speed automated manual gearbox.

Specs: 220 mph, 0-60 in 3.5 secs. V12 Vantage-derived Aston Martin V12 Engine with 750 hp, base price is $1,332,700.

6. Ferrari Enzo – 217 mph

With a base price of $670,000, this rad ride is most likely already out of your league… and it only gets better (or worse). With only 399 ever produced, the price goes up every time someone crashes. So, hands at 10 and 2, people! I’m saving my pennies!

Specs: 217 mph, 0-60 in 3.4 secs. F140 Aluminum V12 Engine with 660 hp, base price is $670,000.

5. McLaren F1 – 240 mph

The McLaren F1 was made in 1994, and it’s still one of the fastest cars in the world. Produced from 1993 to 1998, the F1 still sells for well over $1 million each. Even though it’s no longer the fastest production car in the world anymore, it’s still the fastest naturally aspirated road car in the world, sporting a special 6.1-liter V12 capable of biting your head off.

Specs: 240 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. BMW S70/2 60 Degree V12 Engine with 627 hp, base price is $970,000.

4. Koenigsegg CCX – 245 mph

Made in Sweden, this ambitious ride is trying its hardest to be the fastest car in the world, but it has a long way to go to surpass the Bugatti and the Ultimate Aero.

Specs: 245 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. 90 Degree V8 Engine 806 hp, base price is $545,568.

3. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo – 248 mph

Saleen’s first car not based on an existing model, the S7 supercar grabbed a lot of attention when it was released in 2000. Why? Because it’s badass! An updated Twin-Turbo model followed shortly afterward, providing 750 hp and a 248 mph top speed. Saleen offers a competition package increasing power to 1000 hp, which brings the top speed up to a rumored 260 mph.

Specs: 248 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. Twin Turbo All Aluminum V8 Engine with 750 hp, base price is $555,000.

2. SSC Ultimate Aero – 257 mph

Boutique supercar maker Shelby Super Cars (SSC) first unleashed the Ultimate Aero in 2007. Tested in March of that year by Guiness World Records, it destroyed the more expensive Bugatti Veyron’s top speed record. But that was then and this is now. SSC has since upgraded the Aero to include an all-new twin-turbo V8 engine (half the size of the Veyron), producing 1287 hp, and giving the car a theoretical top speed of 290 mph. And no, that is not a typo. However, it is theoretical. SSC claims that given a long enough road, they could get the car up to 270 mph. That would break the Veyron’s record again, but let’s see if they ever get around to it.

Specs: 257 mph, 0-60 in 2.7 secs. Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp, base price is $654,400.

1. Bugatti Veyron – 268 mph

Bugatti refused to play second fiddle to SSC’s Ultimate Aero. The French supercar company slapped bigger turbos and intercoolers on their previous world record holding Veyron to produce a seriously impressive 1200 horsepower. Only 30 Veyron Super Sport models will be produced and, interestingly, the 30 cars sold to the public will be electronically limited to “only” 258 mph.

Specs: 268 mph, 0-60 in 2.5 secs. Aluminum, Narrow Angle 8 Liter W16 Engine with 1200 hp, base price is $1,700,000.

Dan Berry began writing and performing stand-up comedy while skipping class and drinking heavily at New York University. An inexplicably instant success, he has since appeared in clubs and on college campuses nationwide and is frequently featured on radio and television. Aside from creating the humor site “Jotter of a Rotter” and the internationally acclaimed website “The Prison Kite,” Dan has also lent his warped writing skills to a pair of failed pilots for FX and NBC, as well as to several current network shows that are somehow proving successful in spite of his crazed contributions.