Production car speed record
This is a list of the world's record-breaking top speeds achieved by a street-legal production car (as opposed to concept cars or modified cars). For the purposes of this list eligible cars are defined in the lists rules. This list uses the same definition as theList of automotive superlatives for the sake of consistency and because the term production car is otherwise undefined. The Benz Velo, as the first production car, is an exception.
Contents
[hide]Difficulties with claims[edit]
Comparing claimed speeds of the fastest production cars in the world, especially in historical cases, is difficult as there is no standardized method for determining the top speed and no central authority to verify any such claims. Examples of the difficulties faced were shown up in the dispute between Bugatti and Hennessey over which car was the world's fastest.[1]
Controversies[edit]
Bugatti Veyron limiter removal[edit]
The current Guinness World Records title holder, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, was certified for the average top speed achieved on a two-way run, registering 431 km/h (268 mph). Bugatti made 5 Veyrons named the World Record Edition out of the initial production run of 30 Super Sports, all of which would be able to achieve this speed if the limiter was removed. Bugatti did not sell any with the limiter removed. Initially, when challenged by Hennessey, Guinness decided the Bugatti was ineligible because the test car was deemed as being modified. Bugatti sought a review of the decision and Guinness, after a review by a panel of experts, considered removing the limiter was not a modification and thereby making the car eligible for their publication.[2]
Hennessey Venom GT one direction run[edit]
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In 2014, a Hennessey Venom GT was recorded as exceeding 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h), but as the run was in one direction only, and only 16 cars out of a planned total of 29 have been sold, it does not qualify under the Guinness Book of Records or this list's criteria as the world's fastest production car.[3][4]
List rules[edit]
Further information: List of automotive superlatives and List of fastest production cars § Notes for editors
Because of the inconsistencies with the various definitions of production cars, dubious claims by manufacturers and self interest groups, and inconsistent or changing application of the definitions this list has a defined set of requirements. For further explanation of how these were arrived at see the above link.
Post 1945 only[edit]
This list is also limited to post World War II production road cars. The Benz Velo as the first petrol driven car is the only exception.
Production car definition[edit]
For the purposes of this list a production car is defined as:
- being constructed principally for retail sale to consumers, for their personal use, and to transport people on public roads (no commercial or industrial vehicles are eligible);
- having had 25 or more instances made by the original vehicle manufacturer, and offered for commercial sale to the public in new condition (cars modified by either professional tuners or individuals are not eligible); and
- being street-legal in their intended markets, and capable of passing any official tests or inspections required to be granted this status.
Measurement of top speed[edit]
To establish the top speed for cars at least since the 1990s the requirement is, in addition to the above, an independent road test with a two-way run. The mean of the top speed for both runs is taken as the car's top speed.[5][6]
Record-breaking production vehicles[edit]
| Year | Make and model | Top speed of production car | Number built | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | Benz Velo | 12 mph (19 km/h)[7] | 1,200 | First production car |
| 1945 | Jaguar Mark IV 3.5 Litre Drop-Head Coupe | 95 mph (153 km/h)[8] | 560 | Manufacturer declared speed - needs independent verification. Autocar Magazine tested the Mk IV saloon car and reached 91mph.[9] |
| 1947 | Healey Type 2.4 | 110.8 mph (178 km/h)[10] | 100 | Tested by Autocar in 1947 |
| 1949 | Jaguar XK120 | 124.6 mph (201 km/h)[11] | 12,000 | Some publications cite the XK120's timed top speed as almost 133 mph / 214 km/h in 1949."[12] The XK120 that achieved this speed was a tuned prototype, not a production car. The production car reached 124.6 mph (201 km/h). |
| 1955 | Mercedes-Benz 300SL | 140 mph (225 km/h)[13] | 1,400 | Tested by Road & Track. |
| 1958 | Aston Martin DB4 | 141 mph (227 km/h)[14] | 1,110 | Tested by Autocar magazine in 1961. |
| 1959 | Aston Martin DB4GT | 152 mph (245 km/h)[15] | 75 | Tested by Autosport in December 1961. |
| 1963 | Iso Grifo GL 365 | 161 mph (259 km/h)[16] | over 400 | Tested by Autocar in 1966. A total of 412 Iso Grifos were built 1963-1974.[17] |
| 1965 | AC CobraMk III 427 | 165 mph (266 km/h)[18] | >25 | Tested by Car & Driver. Top speed described as observed |
| 1967 | Lamborghini Miura P400 | 171 mph (275 km/h)[19] | over 750 | Tested by Motor in June 1967. Over 750 units build in 1966–1973 period, which includes P400, P400 S and P400 SV models. |
| 1968 | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona | 174 mph (280 km/h)[20] | about 1,400 | Tested by Autocar in 1971. |
| 1974 | Lamborghini Countach LP400 | 179 mph (288 km/h)[21] | 158 | Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport |
| 1982 | Lamborghini Countach LP500 S | 182 mph (293 km/h)[22] | 323 | Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport |
| 1984 | Ferrari 288 GTO | 188 mph (303 km/h)[23] | 272 | Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport in 1985. |
| 1986 | Porsche 959 | 197 mph (317 km/h)[24] | 337 | Tested by Road and Track in 1987. The most common 959 Deluxe version reached 197 mph (317 km/h), the Sport version 198 mph (319 km/h). 29 were built in a performance-enhanced 515 hp sports version which reached 210.645 mph (339 km/h) tested by Auto, Motor und Sport at Nardo in 1988.[25][26] |
| 1987 | Ruf CTR | 212.509 mph (342 km/h)[25] | 29[27] | Tested by Auto, Motor und Sport at Nardò Ring in 1988 |
| 1993 | McLaren F1 | 230 mph (370 km/h)[28] | 64[29] | Without the rev-limiter, it was able to reach a top-speed of 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h).[30]
It still remains the world's fastest naturally aspirated production car in terms of top speed.[31]
|
| 2005 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 | 253.81 mph (408.47 km/h) | 300 | Recorded and verified by German inspection officials.[32] |
| 2010 | Bugatti VeyronSuper Sport | 257.87 mph (415 km/h) | 30 | Out of the initial production run of 30, 5 cars were named the Super Sport World Record Edition. With the electronic limiter turned off all 30 were capable of 267.857 mph (431.074 km/h). When sold they electronically limited to 257.87 mph (415.00 km/h). Pierre-Henri Raphaneldrove the unlimited car and its top speed was verified by Guinness World Records.[33][34][2] |
