Currently reading: Autocar's speed club - picture gallery
Autocar's fastest and most powerful drives

Out of all the production cars that have come and gone in the last decade, just 131 of them are worthy of entering the Autocar Speed Club. 

“Zero-to-sixty miles-an-hour in 2.6 seconds,” – easy to say, isn’t it? Heinously difficult to actually accelerate a car from a standing start to 60mph in the time it takes to say it, though. Not to mention costly. Just ask Bugatti. 

It’s widely accepted that the Veyron – the fastest production car ever tested by Autocar – will never contribute a single bean to VW Group coffers. And that’s in spite of the fact that the company has sold 450 examples of the car, combining coupes and convertibles, at between £840,000- and a cool £2mil-a-piece, raising… well, you do the adding up.

That’s what it takes to top our new Speed Club. Below you’ll find a collection of cars tested by Autocar over the last decade, all of which are born out of the single-minded pursuit of speed. These cars have, to the last line, set new standards on performance right across the car market. This – as far as we’re concerned – is the cutting edge. These are the fastest production cars in the world, as experienced by our test team.

And if you’re wondering if any of them actually matter to the motoring public at large, consider this: the aforementioned pursuit of speed in road cars has improved every new model you can buy today.

Materials and technologies first applied to performance cars – from aluminium and carbonfibre to turbochargers, direct injection and variable valve timing – are now being applied to superminis to save weight and boost efficiency. Active aerodynamics now feature on diesel hatchbacks, driving down fuel consumption. Traction and stability control systems originally conceived for the track save more lives on our roads by the day.

So the cars you’re about to read about aren’t just fast: they’re pioneers. And we salute ‘em.

Here, in order, is the full membership list of Autocar's Speed Club.

Bugatti Veyron SS - 2.5 secs, 268mph

Pagani Zonda R - 2.7 secs, 217mph

Nissan GT-R Track Pack - 2.8 secs, 196mph

BAC Mono - 2.8 secs, 170mph

Lamborghini Aventador LP700 4 - 2.9 secs, 217mph

Ferrari 599XX - 2.9 secs, 196mph

Ariel Atom V8 - 3.0 secs, 170mph

James Lewis-Barned / James Mortimore / Roberto Antonio Pace

Ariel Atom 3 Mugen - 3.0 secs. 150mph

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - 3.1 secs, 210 mph

McLaren MP4-12C - 3.1 secs, 205mph

McLaren MP4-12C Spyder - 3.1 secs, 204 mph

Pagani Huayra - 3.3 secs, 224mph

Ferrari 599 GTO - 3.3 secs, 208mph

Porsche 911 Turbo S - 3.3 secs, 196mph

New Stratos - 3.3 secs, 187mph

SRT Viper GTS - 3.4 secs, 206mph

Ferrari 458 Italia - 3.4 secs, 202mph

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera - 3.4 secs, 202mph

Ferrari 458 Spider - 3.4 secs, 199mph

Radical SR3 SL - 3.4 secs, 161mph

Porsche 911 GT2 RS - 3.5 secs, 205mph

Noble M600 - 3.5 secs, 225mph

Audi R8 V10 Plus S-tronic - 3.5 secs, 197mph

Porsche 911 Turbo - 3.5 secs, 193mph

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black - 3.6 secs, 196mph

Aston Martin One-77 - 3.7 secs, 220mph

Ferrari FF - 3.7 secs, 207mph

Ford Mustang Shelby - 3.7 secs, 202mph

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package - 3.7 secs, 202 mph

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT - 3.7 secs, 199mph

Audi R8 V10 Spyder -  3.7sec, 193mph

Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet -  3.7sec, 193mph

Tushek Renovatio T500 -  3.7sec, 193mph

Audi R8 GT Spyder -  3.8sec, 197mph

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster -  3.8sec, 197mph

Ferrari California -  3.8sec, 194mph

Porsche Panamera Turbo S -  3.8sec, 190mph

Caterham 7 Superlight R500 -  3.8sec, 140mph

Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Mk2 -  3.9sec, 200mph

Porsche 911 GT3 RS -  3.9sec, 193mph

Volvo S60 Polestar -  3.9sec, 186mph

Bentley Continental Supersports ISR -  4.0secs, 202mph

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 -  4.0sec, 180mph

Lotus Exige S -  4.0sec, 170mph

Lotus Exige Cup 260 -  4.0sec, 152mph

Toniq CB 200 -  4.0sec, 140mph

Aston Martin Vanquish - 4.1sec, 183mph

Mitsubishi Evo X -  4.1sec, 155mph

Bentley Continental GT Speed -  4.2sec, 205mph

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Zagato - 4.2sec, 190mph

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS PDK -  4.2sec, 188mph

Porsche Panamera Turbo -  4.2sec, 188mph

Jaguar XKR-S Convertible -  4.2sec, 186mph

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black -  4.2 secs, 186mph

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG -  4.2 secs, 186mph

Morgan Aero Supersports -  4.2 secs, 170mph

Audi S8 -  4.2 secs, 155mph

BMW M6 Coupe -  4.2 secs, 155mph

Bowler EXR S -  4.2 secs, 155mph

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Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG -  4.2 secs, 155mph

Aston Martin DBS Carbon Edition - 4.3sec, 191mph

Porsche 911 Carrera S - 4.3sec, 187mph

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 S Cabriolet - 4.3sec, 183mph

BMW M6 Convertible - 4.3sec,155mph

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Performance Pack - 4.3sec, 155mph

Mercedes-Benz SL500 - 4.3sec, 155mph

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe - 4.4sec, 191mph

BMW M3 GTS - 4.4sec, 190mph

Porsche 911 Speedster - 4.4sec, 190mph

Jaguar XKR-S - 4.4sec, 186mph

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe - 4.4sec, 155mph

BMW M5 - 4.4sec, 155mph

Tesla Model S - 4.4sec, 130mph

Aston Martin Vantage S - 4.5sec, 189mph

Porsche 911 Carrera S - 4.5sec, 189mph

Bentley Continental GTC V8 - 4.5sec, 187mph

Alpina B3 GT3 - 4.5sec, 186mph

Porsche Panamera GTS - 4.5sec, 178mph

Audi RS3 Sportback - 4.5sec, 155mph

BMW M3 F/E Competition Pack - 4.5sec, 155mph

Subaru WRX STI S206 NBR - 4.5sec, 155mph

Zolfe Classic GTC4 - 4.5sec, 140mph

Bentley Continental GT - 4.6sec, 198mph

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Aston Martin DB9 Volante - 4.6sec, 190mph

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS - 4.6sec,190mph

Porsche 911 Carrera S - 4.6sec, 190mph

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale - 4.6sec, 187mph

Aston Martin Virage Volante - 4.6sec, 186mph

Aston Martin DB9 - 4.6sec, 183mph

Lotus Evora S - 4.6sec, 178mph

Audi S6 - 4.6sec, 155mph

Audi RS5 - 4.6sec, 155mph

BMW M135i - 4.6sec, 155mph

BMW M3 Competition Pack DCT - 4.6sec, 155mph

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate - 4.6sec, 155mph

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate - 4.6sec, 155mph

Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG - 4.6sec, 155mph

Lotus Elise S - 4.6sec, 145mph

Allard J2X Mk2 - 4.6sec, 145mph

Westfield Sport Turbo - 4.6sec, 142mph

Grinnall Scorpion 3 - 4.6sec, 130mph

Alpina B5 S Biturbo - 4.7sec, 191mph

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport - 4.7sec, 186mph

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 - 4.7sec, 180mph

Jaguar XJ Supersport Speed Pack - 4.7sec, 174mph

Porsche Cayenne Turbo - 4.7sec, 173mph

Porsche Boxster S PDK - 4.7sec, 172mph

Audi RS4 Avant - 4.7sec, 155mph

Audi S6 Avant - 4.7sec, 155mph

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Audi S7 - 4.7sec, 155mph

Audi A8 L W12 - 4.7sec, 155mph

BMW 550d xDrive - 4.7sec, 155mph

Rolls-Royce Ghost - 4.7sec, 155mph

Alpina B5 Biturbo Touring - 4.8sec, 188mph

Audi R8 Spyder V8 - 4.8sec, 186mph

Maserati GranTurismo Sport - 4.8sec, 185mph

BMW 750i - 4.8sec, 155mph

Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG - 4.8sec, 155mph

Caterham 7 Supersport R - 4.8sec, 130mph

Alpina B3 S Biturbo Convertible - 4.9sec, 185mph

Maserati GranTurismo S MC - 4.9sec, 183mph

Ginetta G60 - 4.9sec, 165mph

BMW 1-series M Coupe - 4.9sec, 155mph

Chevrolet Camaro SS Cabriolet - 4.9sec, 155mph

Jaguar XJ Supersport - 4.9sec, 155mph

Jaguar XFR - 4.9sec, 155mph

Mercedes-Benz CL500 - 4.9sec, 155mph

Morgan Plus 8 - 4.9sec, 155mph

Vauxhall Maloo VXR - 4.9sec, 155mph

Vauxhall VXR8 GTS - 4.9sec, 155mph

Words: Matt Saunders

Links: James Lewis-Barned, James Mortimore & Ricardo Antonio Pace

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Comments
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NMGOM 29 July 2013

Missing the Point

kraftwerk - - - 

Yes, that's obvious. The point is: since Autocar is alleging a sampling of cars "across the market" and "cutting edge", why haven't they searched out the Z06, ZR1, Koenigsegg Agera R, AMG 45, SRT Viper, etc, to make sure they would have driven them before asembling this list?  Otherwise, what value does this list have for anyone outside the Autocar staff??  

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kraftwerk 29 July 2013

NMGOM wrote: kraftwerk - -

NMGOM wrote:

kraftwerk - - - 

Yes, that's obvious. The point is: since Autocar is alleging a sampling of cars "across the market" and "cutting edge", why haven't they searched out the Z06, ZR1, Koenigsegg Agera R, AMG 45, SRT Viper, etc, to make sure they would have driven them before asembling this list?  Otherwise, what value does this list have for anyone outside the Autocar staff??  

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Where does the piece claim that these 131 cars are from 'across the market'? And who in their right mind wouldn't think that a sample of 131 of the world's fastest cars wasn't fairly representative of the market anyway? The piece describes the selection as the cutting edge of the cars Autocar staff have driven, not of the market as a whole.  Were the list full of Perodua Kenaris and Fiat Ideas you might have a point. Did it never cross your mind that there is likely a more complex reason for any particular car not having appeared than simply 'Autocar didn't seek it out'?

Then again, for some people it's easier and more fun to pick holes than to just enjoy something for what it is.

fadyady 29 July 2013

No A45 AMG?

kraftwerk wrote:

Did it never cross your mind that there is likely a more complex reason for any particular car not having appeared than simply 'Autocar didn't seek it out'?

Well, Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe has driven the A45 AMG and its faster than several cars in this list. Can you please share with us the "complex reason" behind this omission?

kraftwerk 29 July 2013

fadyady wrote: kraftwerk

fadyady wrote:

kraftwerk wrote:

Did it never cross your mind that there is likely a more complex reason for any particular car not having appeared than simply 'Autocar didn't seek it out'?

Well, Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe has driven the A45 AMG and its faster than several cars in this list. Can you please share with us the "complex reason" behind this omission?

Nope. Can you?

fadyady 28 July 2013

Whatever?

Hey guys, is there a reason why the A45 AMG doesn't make your list?

Whatever you have against Merc, its still faster than many on this list.

badhop 28 July 2013

My wife have tuning Nissan

My wife have tuning Nissan GT-R, I couldn`t believe that it`s one of the quickest production car ever.