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This article was first published 10 years ago

30 most powerful cars of all time

February 26, 2014 12:24 IST

Image: HTT Plethore LC-750.
Photographs: Courtesy, HTT

US engineers have developed the world's fastest car with a top speed of an incredible 435 kilometres per hour.

US firm Hennessey's Venom GT set the new record for the fastest car in the world beating the previous best record of 431kmph set by Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

On the feat achieved by Venom GT, we take a look at some of the most powerful cars of all time and how they compare against the new record holder.

Source: Edmunds

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Lamborghini

2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Maximum power: 690 hp at 8,250 rpm

Rank: 30

The car comes with a 6,498cc V12 engine and achieves a top speed of 350 kmph. This beauty can go from 0-100 kmph in 2.9 second.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Gumpert

2007 Gumpert Apollo S

Maximum power: 690 hp at 6,700 rpm

Rank: 29

The Gumpert Apollo S is a sports car produced by German automaker Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur. It is a mid-engined, rear wheel drive two-seater. The car uses a 4,163 cc bi-turbo intercooled version of the Audi V8 engine, according to Wikipedia.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Ferrari

2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Maximum Power: 740 hp at 8250 rpm

Rank: 28

The car comes with a 6,262 cc V12 engine - the most powerful Ferrari engine to date. This allows the F12berlinetta to accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.1 seconds, according to Wikipedia. The car clocks a top speed of 340 kmph.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Pagani

2012 Pagani Huayra

Maximum Power: 730 hp at 6,300 rpm

Rank: 27

The Pagani Huayra is an Italian mid-engined sports car. The Huayra uses a twin-turbo Mercedes-AMG V12 engine, according to Wikipedia.

Its top speed is about 372 kmph and it has a rating 0-97 kmph acceleration time of 3.3 seconds, though it can achieve the feat in just 2.5 seconds.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Mercedes-Benz

2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive

Maximum power: 751 hp

Rank: 26

The SLS AMG Electric Drive is an electric version of the SLS AMG. The car can go from 0 to 100 kmph in mere 3.9 second. The 400V battery gives a range of around 250 kms

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Veneno

Maximum power: 740 hp

Rank: 25

The Lamborghini Veneno is a limited production sports car, which is built to celebrate Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary. The car is based on Aventador and gets a 6.5-litre V12 engine.

Only three production cars were produced, a green, white, and red one, each representing a colour of the Italian flag. The three production cars cost 3.12 million euros (around Rs 26.5 crore) each, and all three were sold, according to Wikipedia.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Aston Martin

2012 Aston Martin One-77

Maximum power: 750 hp at 8,000 rpm

Rank: 24

One-77 comes with a 7,312cc V12 front mid-mounted engine. This is a limited edition car and only 77 models of this car were slated to be sold.

The car has a maximum speed of over 354 kmph and can go from 0 to 100 in 3.7 seconds.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Semnoz/Wikimedia Commons

2005 Saleen S7 Turbo

Maximum power: 750 hp at 6,500 rpm

Rank: 23

The Saleen S7 was a limited-production, hand-built, high-performance American grand tourer. The car had a 7-litre, V8 twin turbo engine.

Tags: American

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: RUF CTR3/Wikimedia Commons

2007 Ruf CTR3

Maximum power: 750 hp at 7,100 rpm

Rank: 22

Ruf is known as a master tune of Porsche cars and the CTR3 shares both the body panels and engine from Porsche 911 Turbo.

The car used a 3.7-litre engine and had a top speed of approximately 375 kmph, and could accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.1 seconds.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, HTT

2013 HTT Plethore LC-750

Maximum power: 750 hp at 6,750 rpm

Rank: 21

The HTT Plethore is the first Canadian supercar, developed and produced by HTT Automobile.

This aggressive yet elegant driving machine is powered by a supercharged 7-litre V8 engine, which permits it to reach 96.5 kmph in just 2.8 seconds. The top speed of HTT Plethore is 398 kmph.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH/Wikimedia Commons

2013 Gumpert Apollo S

Maximum power: 750 hp at 6,000 rpm

Rank: 20

Gumpret returned from Bankruptcy to launch its Apollo S at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The car comes with a 4.3-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that clocks 0 - 97 kmph in 2.9 seconds. The top speed of the car is 360 kmph.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Thomas Wolf/Wikimedia Commons

Porsche 918 Spyder

Maximum power: 887 hp

Rank: 19

The Porsche 918 Spyder is a mid-engined sports plug-in hybrid The Spyder is powered by a 4.6 litre V8 engine. It is the second plug-in hybrid car from Porsche, after the 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid. 918 Spyder has recorded top speed of 214 mph (344.4 kmph) and can accelerate from 0 - 60 mph (0 – 96.6) in 2.5 seconds.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Koenigsegg

2006 Koenigsegg CCX

Maximum power: 806 hp at 7,000 rpm

Rank: 18

The Koenigsegg CCX is a mid-engined sports car. The CCX has a 4.7-litre twin supercharged V8 engine.

There were 14 CCXs produced between 2006 and 2010. The car can go from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.2 second and has a top speed of over 395 kmph.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Brian Snelson/Wikimedia Commons

1999 TVR Cerbera Speed 12

Maximum power: 880 hp at 7,250 rpm

Rank: 17

The TVR Cerbera Speed 12, originally known as the Project 7/12, was a high performance concept car designed by TVR in 1997. The engine used in the car was 7.7-litre V12. Unfortunately, only on Cerbera Speed 12 was made and the plan to put it into production didn’t materialise.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Spania

Spania GTA Spano

Maximum power: 925 hp at 6,300 rpm

Rank: 16

The GTA Spano is a Spanish supercar built by the company GTA Motor. It comes with a 7,990cc V10 engine. The chassis was made by combining carbon fibre, titanium and Kevlar, making it a benchmark in the industry. Only 99 units will be built in order to maintain its exclusivity.

The top speed of the car is in excess of 350 kmph, and 0-100 kmph takes less 2.9 seconds.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, McLaren

McLaren P1

Maximum power: 903 hp

Rank: 15

The McLaren P1 is a limited production plug-in hybrid supercar by British automotive manufacturer McLaren Automotive. Within a month of its launch, the entire P1 production of 375 units was sold out.

The P1 features a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine that delivers 727 bhp at 7500 rpm, combined with the electric motor, which produces 176 bhp. The has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Ferrari

Ferrari LaFerrari

Maximum power: 950 hp

Rank: 14

LaFerrari is a limited production hybrid sports car built by Ferrari.

Only 499 units will be built and each will cost more than 1 million pounds.

LaFerrari provides the highest power output of any Ferrari whilst decreasing fuel consumption by 40 per cent. The has a mid rear mounted 6.3 litre (6262 cc) V12 engine and a KERS unit (called HY-KERS), which provide short bursts of extra power.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Koenigsegg

2013 Koenigsegg Agera

Maximum power: 960 hp at 7,100 rpm

Rank: 13

The Agera is a mid-engined sports car that succeeds Koenigsegg CCX/CCXR.

The car comes with a 5-litre V8 engine that can go from 0 to 100 kmps in just 3 seconds.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: 350z33/Wikimedia Commons

2005 Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Maximum power: 1,001 hp at 6,000 rpm

Rank: 12

The mid-engine sports car is manufactured by the Volkswagen Group. The 2005 version of Veyron came equipped with 8-litre engine with a top speed of 253.81 kmph.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Fpm/Wikimedia Commons

2008 Koenigsegg CCXR

Maximum power: 1,004 hp at 6,900 rpm

Rank: 11

The CCXR is a more "environmentally friendly" version of the CCX, powered by the same 8-litre V8 twin superchargers engine. Forbes magazine chose CCXR as the 10 most beautiful car in the history.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Brian Snelson/Wikimedia Commons

2006 Bristol Fighter T

Maximum power: 1,012 hp at 5,600 rpm

Rank: 10

The Bristol Fighter is a British sports car, manufactured by Bristol Cars in small numbers from 2004 until the cessation of manufacturing by Bristol Cars in 2011, according to Wikipedia.

The model comes with a modified version of the 7,994 cc Chrysler V10 engine producing 1,012 bhp.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Koenigsegg

2013 Koenigsegg Agera S

Maximum power: 1,030 hp at 7,100 rpm

Rank: 9

The car is built for markets lacking E85 biofuel, optimised for running on low octane fuel. Agera S has a 5-litre V8 engine with twin turbos.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Zenvo

2007 Zenvo ST1

Maximum power: 1,100 hp at 6,900 rpm

Rank: 8

The car comes with a 7-litre V8 engine that goes fom 0 to 62 mph (0 to 99.8 kmph) in mere 3 seconds and has a top speed of 233 mph (375 kmph)

Tags: ST1

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, 9ff

9ff GT9-R

Maximum power: 1,120 hp at 6,400 rpm

Rank: 7

The 9ff GT9 is a sports car based loosely on the Porsche 911 built by German tuning company 9ff, according to Wikipedia. The car is extensively rebuilt and fitted with a heavily modified 4-litre. The car can do a top speed of 260mph (418.4 kmph).

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Koenigsegg

2011 Koenigsegg Agera R

Maximum power: 1,140 hp at 7,100 rpm

Rank: 6

Agera R in essence a special edition Agera, which runs on biofuel, rather than petrol. It can accelerate from 0 - 100 kmph in mere 2.9 seconds and can reach a theoretical top speed of 440 kmph. The Agera R is one of the world's most expensive cars, with a price tag of $1.6 - $1.7 million.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Lotec

2004 Lotec Sirius

Maximum power: 1,200 hp at 6,300 rpm

Rank: 4

The Lotec Sirius is a supercar that can attain a top speed of 248 mph (399.1 kmph) and can go to 0-60 mph (0 - 96.6 kmph) in 3.7 seconds. The company built and sells only five cars every year.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Bugatti

2011 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

Maximum power: 1,200 hp at 6,400 rpm

Rank: 4

The car comes with a 8-litre and attains a top speed of 431 kmph.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Bugatti

2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse

Maximum power: 1,200 hp at 6,400 rpm

Rank: 3

This is a limited edition version that comes with an 8-litre engine.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, Hennessey

2013 Hennessey Venom GT

Maximum power: 1,244 hp at 6,600 rpm

Rank: 2

The Hennessey Venom GT is an American sports car that ahs been named as the fastest production vehicle with a top speed 435 kmph.

Venom GT is a stretched Lotus Exige with a 7.0-litre, 927kW twin-turbo V8 engine.

30 most powerful cars of all time


Photographs: Courtesy, SSC

2009 SSC Ultimate Aero

Maximum power: 1,287 hp at 6,075 rpm

Rank: 1

The car comes a 6.3-liter V8 engine. SSC Ultimate Aero can go from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96.6kmph) in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 257.41 mph (414.26 kmph).