This is the kind of article where you want to build expectations and show off the best last. But speed is all relative and I think you have many cars that are only able to produce a track speed of say 200mph that has a greater appeal than something that hums along at 230-250mph. Cars that are fast are beautiful in the eyes of the beholder and in the amount of orgasm-producing speed that can be applied.
However the other factors that come into play are automotive styling and design that can pass the test of time or use of selective, cutting edge materials that enhance a design. Subjective analysis here? You bet!
11. Cadillac 2016-2017 CTS-V 200 mph.
What can I say. This is not a ’49 Caddy, big hulking, cavernous land yacht lurching down the road. This an up-to-date CTS sporting a supercharged, 6.2-liter LT4 V8, tuned to 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. That’s 10 hp and 20 lb-ft less than the monstrous Corvette Z06 and the result is the most powerful car Cadillac has ever produced. The CTS continues to show that edgy look that has become the hallmark of the redesigned Cadillac. This beauty offers all the tech goodies you would expect in a lux ride, including Siri Eyes Free, On Star with 4G LTE, CUE infotainment with navigation and superb Bose audio system. And where ever your going, you get there at 200 mph who woulda thunk it in a Caddy.
10. Jaguar F-Type SVR 201 mph.
A Jag making our list. Why not. They rock and this one hit 201 mph with Michelle Rodriguez from the “Fast and Furious” movie at the controls. A Hollywood woman doing her own driving and putting this beautiful Jaguar through its paces. It’s a deceptively small looking car that’s packing a 567hp turbocharged engine, and a 8 speed automatic transmission. Michelle and the new F-Type SVR. It took a woman to coax this car past it’s advertised speed of 200 mph. Thank you Michelle.
9. Camaro ZL1 202 mph.
We would be remiss if we didn’t throw in a couple chunks of Detroit iron that have been streamlined and modernized over the years. I remember the first Camaros from ’66 but especially remember the Z28 with a Hurst shifter, and Holley 4 barrel carburetor came along in ’69. May I say rocket?!? Well the new ZL1 will have none of that old technology. This $63,000 to $67,000 beauty offers strong value based on a 6-speed manual transmission, 6.2L 16 valve super-charged V-8 producing 650 horsepower and 650 ft.-lbs. of torque – OMG! This Camaro holds the bragging rights to being the fastest high speed car in Chevrolet’s full size line up.
8. Suzuki Kizashi 2010 – 203 mph.
The Funny Car. This is the wringer of the bunch. This for God’s sake is a Japanese sedan that has the nickname “The Japanese Jetta”. But looks can be deceiving. This quiet looking sedan turned an amazing 203 mph at one of the Meccas of car racing, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. But you know, I just lied to you. This was a Frankenstein’s Monster car, an uber-modified car keeping it’s grandma appearance but sporting all the power of a real car. Out came the interior of the car in went a roll cage, fire suppression system and racing seat. The engine went through a basic rebuild being transformed from the stock 185hp to hold a 500hp twin-turbo Goliath. You go to the grocery store in this baby – ha ha!
7. Corvette C-6, 1500hp Twin Turbo 204 mph.
You must have known that a ‘Vette would show up on this list sooner or later. The C-6 Corvettes appeared from 2005 through 2013, so this is not the latest variant of arguably the best value, two seater, of all time. This car is a highly customized car that even used a parachute for extra breaking power. But getting up to 200+ mph seemed effortless and it’s truly a beautiful ‘Vette. I characterize this as a beautiful brute, maybe like Wonder Woman or Serena Williams. This wagon is all about business, meant to put on a show of force, it’s all powerful, and has a “don’t mess with me” feel. I be lov’en me some Corvette baby!
6. Porsche 911 Turbo S 205 mph.
Like the Bentley and Rolls, Porsche is an iconic name that has produced a stable of winners over the years. This car is amazing, wringing a 205 mph top end our of a 3.8 liter 6 cylinder that produces a smallish 580 horsepower. The Sport Response Button lets you keep the turbos spooled up all the time, so responsiveness is more like your in a takeoff roll in a Boeing 737 with the new CFM-MAX engines. Porsche power is unmistakable and ya, like taking off in a jet!
5. Bentley Continental Supersports 209 mph.
This is a 2017 car and can we just say it’s big (5,000 pounds), no let’s say massive instead. Officially taking the title as the fastest four-seat car on the planet, just be ready to stop every 10 blocks for a gasoline fill up. FYI, it’s faster than the Porsche 911 GT3 (199mph) and the Audi R8 V10 Plus (205 mph). But this is a style icon to boot. The Bentley Continental is a finely tooled machine that deserves high recognition for style and craftsmanship.
4. Jaguar XJ-220: 212 mph.
And here’s our second Jaguar to make the list. Long associated with styling elegance and “panache” as our Brit cousins would say. That’s flair and charisma to you American lads who don’t know panache. This XJ has the look of a ray getting ready to eat the car in front of it, a predator in either ray or cat form; and all the while you see that unmistakable XJ heritage in the styling. A superb motor car!
3. Ford GT: 216 mph.
In the new car category (2017) I wanted to add this little beauty. The GT clocks in nicely at 216 mph and at around $450,000 represents a sizable investment in automotive machinery. But your buying a heritage of Le Mans. I seriously rank this car ahead of the Lamborghini Aventador and the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The Valkyrie can give the Bugatti a run it’s money in the speed department to be sure. I think both of the Lamborghini and Aston cars fall short in the design department. They remind me of “Hot Wheels” model cars your kid brings home from the toy store. No thanks. The Ford GT just looks like it’s ready to head back to Le Mans. Very nice design indeed.
2. McLaren F1: 240 mph.
The F1 was shown to be one of the finest Peter Stevens designed cars ever to hit the road. It was loaded with lots of McClaren technology and a style that has certainly past the test of time. This McLaren spared no expense in materials using carbon fiber, titanium, magnesium and kevlar to maximize the benefits in developing strength and weight reduction. The F1 was the first production car to use a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis – cool! Styling wise this car really hits the mark more so than it’s newer brother the 720S, in my humble opinionated opinion.
1. Bugatti Veyron.
This is the king of the hill, at least the Super Sport variant which hit a monumental 268 mph and the Roadster model hitting 254 mph – 14 mph slower, how dare Bugatti make such an inferior performing automobile! Seriously these are beautiful automobiles and will deliver all the speed you probably want. Bugatti to my mind simply represents a pinnacle in car thought, design and production. The Bugatti heritage is really without peer, save for Rolls Royce coach built cars and those don’t come around very often (See the “Sweptail” – the $13 million dollar custom Rolls) Downside to the Veyron? Both models go through tires at an alarming rate, but if you can afford the car, tires are probably not an issue. Maybe to invest in Michelin or Goodyear stock.