What is the world’s fastest car – and why is it not as clear cut as who crosses the finish line first?

In a world where top speeds are being shattered by the Bugatti Chiron and Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, what is the official world’s fastest car?

For years, we watched The Stig whip around Top Gear’s custom racetrack and took it as gospel that their leaderboard determined the world’s fastest car.

But there are many more complexities to finding out the true champion.

So, what is the official world’s fastest car? And why is it not as simple as racing down a one-way street?

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What is the World’s fastest car?

Typically, the world’s fastest car is measured by which cars can reach the highest top speed.

These aren’t F1 racecars or even unofficial jets that hold land speed records.

And you have to be on planet Earth, Tesla…

Yet there is some debate as to whether the current record holder, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, really is the world’s fastest car.

Fastest cars in the world: Top speed

1. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ – 304mph
2. SSC Tuatara – 282mph
3. Koenigsegg Agera RS – 277mph
4. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport – 268mph
5. Rimac Nevera – 258mph

While Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ currently holds the title of the world’s fastest car, the esteemed brand looks set to break its own record with its successor hypercar.

The Bugatti Bolide has recently begun rolling out around the world and has been put through its paces on the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. However, its ‘claimed’ top speed of 311mph has yet to be proven.

Then there’s the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, which is touted to break all records but, again, has not showcased this on tarmac. The Swedish manufacturers affirm that the Absolut can hit a whopping 330mph, but have only ever run this on a computer simulation.

In fact, the SSC Tuatara, which is currently the second fastest car in the world (proven) also claims to hit 330mph, so who knows how the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut will actually hold up when it’s at full pelt.

Why ‘fastest’ can mean different things

The title of the ‘World’s fastest car’ can be quite subjective. Are we always judging this category by pure top speeds?

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ is the top-speed record holder, but the supercar brand revealed that it took 70 seconds of full-throttle pedal smashing to hit the 304mph peak.

So, it’s completely comprehensible that if you made the finish line a mere quarter-mile away, it wouldn’t be the fastest. In fact, it has already been beaten.

Here are the other world’s fastest cars, determined by different goalposts.

Fastest car accelerations in the world: 0-60mph times

Top speeds aren’t everything. Instead, it’s often whoever gets off the line quickest who is the first to the line. The early bird catches the worm.

So, many supercars have recorded their 0-60mph times to determine the fastest cars off the mark.

1. McMurtry Speirling – 1.5 seconds
2. Aspark Owl – 1.72 seconds
3. Rimac Nevera – 1.74 seconds
4. Lucid Air Sapphire – 1.93 seconds
5. Bugatti Tourbillon – 2 seconds

Again, this list enters the territory of ‘claimed versus proven’, as the Koenigsegg Gemera is slated to hit 0-60mph in just 1.9 seconds, but has yet to provide it’s working out.

The same goes for the Pininfarina B95, which also alleges to hit 60 in sub-two-second times, but hasn’t proven it on a track.

Fastest EVs in the world: Top speed

EVs are quickly catching up to the V16 quad-turbocharged engines in the Bugatti Chiron and Veyron.

In the case of the fastest EV in the world, the Rimac Nevera, only the Bugatti duo and the SSC Tuatara have outpaced it, leaving every other car in existence in its rear-view mirror.

1. Rimac Nevera – 258mph
2. Pininfarina Battista – 217mph
3. Lucid Air Sapphire – 200mph
4. Tesla Model S Plaid – 200mph
5. Lotus Evija – 200mph

There should also be a shoutout to the Aspark Owl SP600, mentioned in the quickest acceleration list, which has been video recorded to outpace every EV at 272mph but was not verified without Guinness or FIA officials at hand.

The upcoming Tesla Roadster 2 will likely have a thing or two to say about the EV speeds too.

World’s fastest car around the Nürburgring Nordschliefe

Finally, there are the non-supercar road cars that all jostle for their own crown.

Restrictions to speeds on certain corners rule out the likes of the Bugatti Chiron and Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, leaving the Mercedes-AMG ONE as the world’s fastest car around the 20km Nürburgring.

1. Mercedes-AMG ONE – 6:29.090
2. Porsche GT2 RS MR 991.2 – 6:43.30
3. Mercedes AMG GT Black Series – 6:48.04
4. Porsche GT3 RS 992 – 6:49.32
5. Lamborghini Aventador LP 770-4 SVJ – 6:49.42

For once, there’s no arguing against this list. All times are recorded and you can’t cut corners around the Nürburgring – literally.

EVs are yet to really make their mark on the Nürburgring though, and soon the Estrema Fulminea is looking to usurp the Porsche Taycan Turbo S’ time of 7:33.35.

So, there we have it.

Officially, the world’s fastest car is the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.

However, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut claims to have a higher top speed, while the McMurtry Speirling has the best acceleration, and the Mercedes-AMG ONE is the fastest car around the renowned Nürburgring.