In the age of modern technology, it seems like everything is getting faster. Computers, trains, and even internet connections are zooming toward the future while trying to beat out their competition when it comes to speed. Contemporary car companies are no different, and therefore no stranger to this phenomenon. The need for speed is a common trend for both manufacturers and consumers, trying to keep up with the latest buying trends in hopes of beating former Guinness Book world records for a chance to be the fastest.
Any car faster than a Tesla can be considered on the list of fastest cars in the world. When it comes to battery-powered competition, only the Hybrid Electric McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid, Ferrari LaFerrari Hybrid, and McLaren Speedtail Hybrid can go faster than a Tesla.
The Tesla Y, Tesla S, and upcoming Tesla Roadster are among the most powerful vehicles in production today. According to Elon Musk, CEO and Tesla and SpaceX founder, Tesla’s fast all-electric cars are filling the need of the two main types of electric vehicles: large transport trucks and fast passenger urban transport cars. While Teslas are certainly doing this today, there are still a few electric cars that do manage to surpass Tesla’s battery-powered top speeds.
Electric vs. Gas-Powered Vehicles
When comparing the speed of cars, it is important to understand which cars are electric and which ones are still powered by gas engines using fuel. Battery-powered cars and gas cars are essentially in two different categories since they are made differently and have completely different internal operating systems.
All-Electric Battery-Powered Vehicles
With a battery-powered car, the need for fossil fuels is essentially eliminated. All-electric cars allow people to drive using solely electric energy, including the possibility of charging their cars from home or even using solar energy to make their cars operate. All-electric battery-powered cars tend to have very fast acceleration. The electric motor of these vehicles provide instant torque. Combustion engines cars on the other hand, have far less torque and it’s not immediate.
Accessible Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars are some of the most easily accessible cars for everyday driving. They utilize similar batteries of an all-electric car while also relying on fuel powered engines like a regular combustion-based car. Hybrid cars can charge their own batteries while pressing on the brake pedal while still driving. The first-ever hybrid-electric vehicle available for purchase by the general public was the very popular Toyota Prius, however there are now hybrid hyper cars produced.
Traditional Gas-Powered Vehicles
Today, traditional gas-powered vehicles are still created in the vein of how they were first invented when Carl Benz patented his gas engine vehicle in 1886. These cars operate by igniting a small explosion or spark within the car’s engine, referred to as a combustion engine. This happens because the oil is mixed with air in a chamber that causes the oil to ignite, which in turn starts the car and keeps it running. Pressing on the gas pedal allows for more fuel to flow, allowing the car to go faster and gain speed. While all-electric cars have reached some incredible speeds in the past few years, most of the world’s fastest cars are still gas-only vehicles.
The Fastest Electric and Hybrid Cars
The 2013 Hybrid Electric McLaren P1
In 2013, the British car company McLaren Automotive released its gas-electric hybrid sports car. With a top speed of 217 miles per hour, it has made Forbes Magazine’s number 18 top fastest car of 2020. Technically an upgrade to the McLaren F1 automobile, the P1 is a plug-in capable hybrid electric car equipped with a state-of-the-art twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
While the Tesla Y can reach up to 150 miles per hour and the 2021 Tesla Model S can reach up to 163 miles per hour, the McLaren P1 is only able to beat two of the three major Tesla models. The upcoming Tesla Roadster is still projected to be faster than the McLaren P1, with a top speed of over 250 miles per hour.
The 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid
The 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid is the perfect car for anyone craving both luxury and speed. Coming in at a strong number 17 on the Forbes list, this plug-in hybrid is both battery-powered and reliant on its mid-size engine.
The 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder packs a punch with its 875 total horsepower. It can go zero to sixty in just 2.1 individual seconds and has a top speed of 218 miles power, just one mile per hour higher than the 2013 McLaren P1. Compared to a Tesla, the Porsche 918 Spyder can out-race both the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model S but won’t match up to the coming speed of the Tesla Roadster.
The 2013 Ferrari LaFerrari Hybrid
Made in Marinello, Italy, Ferrari is known as the car brand of Italian celebrities and movie stars. Ferrari is a brand all about good quality and flash, and the Ferrari LaFerrari delivers just that. This car was developed with a hybrid system called the Hy-Kers system, combining its classic V12 engine with electric capabilities.
The Ferrari LaFerrari hybrid’s top speed is 220 miles per hour, allowing it to be considered much faster than both the Tesla S and Model 3 Tesla performance versions. However, it doesn’t stand a chance to the 2021 Tesla Roadster’s top speed of 250 miles per hour.
The 2020 All-Electric Faraday FF91
With a top speed of 250 miles per hour, the 2020 all-electric Faraday FF91 catches the 2021 Tesla Roadster is an exact speed tie. While it is definitely faster than the 2020 Tesla Model 3’s 162 miles per hour performance top speed and the 2020 Tesla Model S’s 163 miles per hour top speed, a race between the Faraday FF91 and the Roadster would need to be called by the millisecond.
Tesla has yet to produce the new Roadster, so there’s still a good chance they make further refinements. If the SpaceX package does come to fruition, there’s a good chance it will give the extra boost to push it over the top.
The 2020 McLaren Speedtail Hybrid
Costing approximately a whopping two million dollars, the 2020 McLaren Speedtail hybrid car is a product of Britain’s McLaren Automotive. This sleek two-door vehicle is the fastest car ever built by McLaren and boasts going zero to 186 miles per hour in only 12.8 seconds.
It has both an electric battery and a V8 engine and has a top speed of 250 miles per hour, just like the Faraday FF92 and the 2021 Tesla Roadster. Coming in at number 10 on the Forbes fastest cars in the world list, it definitely represents hybrid and electric cars well.
The All-Electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
With multiple models to choose from, Ford has truly outdone themselves with the all-new, all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Offering three different model options. This Mustang is considered one of the more affordable luxury cars, starting at $42,895 with MSRP. Going zero to sixty miles per hour in 5.2 seconds, the Mustang Mach-E offers hands-off driver’s assist and is a completely electric and battery-powered SUV.
The 2021 Tesla Model S and 2021 Tesla Model X Plaid
The Tesla Model S and Model X are two of the most groundbreaking cars in all-electric engineering. The Model Y is a small SUV that runs completely on battery-powered electricity. It has a top speed of 150 miles per hour and starts at around $50,000 to purchase. The Model S is a five-seating luxury car that has become the most popular electric car of all time, with over 20,000 sold in the United States during 2020 for around $70,000. Its top speed is 163 miles per hour, making it fast but not faster than most other new hybrid or electric cars.
The 2021 Tesla Roadster
In 2017, Tesla CEO Elon Musk showed the 2021 Tesla Roadster concept to the world for the first time. Able to go zero to sixty miles per hour in under 1.9 seconds, this all-electric two-door sports car really is the future of renewable energy luxury. It has a top speed of 250 miles per hour, making it the fastest all-electric car in the world apart from the Faraday FF91.
While it isn’t anywhere close to being the fastest car ever made, with many gas cars beating its top speed, it definitely deserves to be put on the list of the fastest cars of the year. It is expected to start out at $200,000.
The Fastest Cars in the World
While there aren’t very many all-electric or hybrid cars that can beat the new and improved 250 miles per hour top speed of the 2021 Tesla Roadster, there are a few gas-reliant cars that are much faster. These combustion-engine only cars include three of the top fastest cars in the world:
- The 2014 Koenigsegg Agera R at 261 miles per hour
- The 2015 Koenigsegg Agera RS at 273 miles per hour, the third-fastest car in the world
- The 2017 Hennessey Venom GT at 270.49 miles per hour
- The 2019 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ at 304.773 miles per hour, the second-fastest car in the world
- The 2020 SSC Tuatara at 316.11 miles per hour, making it the fastest car in the world
The Future of Ground-Breaking Speed
While there are very few cars that are faster than the 2021 Tesla Roadster, the Hybrid Electric McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid, Ferrari LaFerrari Hybrid, and McLaren Speedtail Hybrid can all go faster than a 2021 Tesla Model S. It is obvious that with the new Mustang Mach-E coming out, the Tesla Company is about to get some competition in the world of all-electric vehicles.
While the 2021 Tesla Roadster has an amazing top speed of 250 miles per hour and can be beaten in speed only by other non-electric cars, there’s no telling how much faster the next Tesla will be with every coming year. Perhaps one day even taking the title of the fastest car in the world.