There’s no shortage of powerful cars on the market – but some simply blow the rest of the track away.
We’re talking hypercars with thousands – not hundreds – of horsepower packed under the bonnet. Cars that accelerate like a fighter jet, corner like greyhound, and can break 200mph with plenty to spare.
Chances are if you like cars, you’ll love hypercars for their gorgeous appeal and jaw-dropping performance. Admittedly, they are generally toys for the super-rich and most of us can only dream of owning one. But that doesn’t stop us gawping at their sheer beauty and admiring the ferocious speeds they can reach.
The battle to design and produce ever more powerful cars never ends either. As soon as one manufacturer claims the title for the world’s fastest and most powerful car, another comes along to knock it off its perch.
Choosing which cars to include in our list was difficult, given rare project cars, vehicles with unverified horsepower, and those specifically built for track racing are all possible contenders. But we have decided to leave those out along with any prototypes that may boast frightening performance figures but are never likely to see production.
Welcome to the world of the modern hypercar and our list of the 6 most powerful cars on the market.
What are the Most Powerful Cars on the Market?
1. Lotus Evija – 2,011hp
Not only is the Lotus Evija the most powerful electric car in the world, it’s also the most expensive. An electric motor on each wheel propels this British-made monster from zero-to 186mph in under nine seconds, while it takes only 18 minutes for a full ultrafast charge. The Evija is street-legal in the UK and is soon to be available in USA.
- Top speed: 218mph (limited)
- 0-62mph: Sub 3 seconds
- Engine: Four electric motors
- Transmission: All-wheel drive, single speed
- Torque: 1,704Nm
- Price: £2.4m
2. Rimac Nevera – 1,914hp
The Rimac Nevera – another all-electric beast – has less horsepower than the Lotus Evija but a higher top speed. It makes the Nevera the fastest electric production car in the world with some white-knuckle performance figures that were once a thing of fantasy.
Currently sporting 1,914hp (not something you take lightly), the Rimac Nivera establishes 0-62mph in a staggering 1.85 seconds. It’s also an electric supercar.
- Top speed: 258mph
- 0-62mph: 1.85 seconds
- Engine: Four electric motors
- Transmission: All-wheel drive, single speed
- Torque: 2,360Nm
- Price: £2.13m
3. Hennessey Venom F5 – 1,842hp
The first non-electric hypercar on the list, the Hennessey Venom FC growls like an angry Rottweiler that’s had its bone taken away. Boasting a massive turbo-charged engine, only a handful of these handsome machines are produced every year and US manufacturer Hennessey don’t build them for the UK market, so they are crazily quick and also extremely rare.
- Top speed: 271mph
- 0-62mph: 1.97 seconds
- Engine: 6.6 litre V8, twin turbo
- Transmission: Rear-wheel drive, 7 speed single clutch
- Torque: 1,617Nm
- Price: £3m
4. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport – 1,600hp
When you strap four turbochargers to a gigantic 8.0 litre W16 engine you’ll end up with a car that’s extremely quick – as Bugatti did with the Chiron Super Sport. Yet despite staggering acceleration and a scary top speed, the Super Sport also oozes luxury and comfort inside.
- Top speed: 273mph
- 0-62mph: 2.4 seconds
- Engine: 8.0 litre W16, quad turbo
- Transmission: All-wheel drive, 7 speed dual clutch
- Torque: 1,600Nm
- Price: £2.75m
5. Koenigsegg Regara – 1,480hp
Our first hybrid to make the list, the Koenigsegg Regara’s 5.0 litre, V8 powerplant is supported by three further electric motors that generate close to 1,500hp. One of its biggest quirks is that it doesn’t have a gearbox in the traditional sense, but a cleverly designed torque converter that makes it a big hit with petrolheads.
- Top speed: 250mph
- 0-62mph: 2.8 seconds
- Engine: 5.0 litre V8 + 3 electric motors
- Transmission: Rear-wheel drive, single-speed
- Torque: 1,280Nm
- Price: £1.5m
6. Tesla Model S Plaid – 1,020hp
Jumping back to the all-electric market, the Tesla Model S Plaid is a four-door family saloon with supercar performance – and at under £112,000 it’s considerably more affordable than its rivals on the list. Being a Tesla, the Model S Plaid is also loaded with technology to support daily driving and make journeys comfortable.
- Top speed: 200mph
- 0-62mph: 1.9 seconds
- Engine: 3 electric motors
- Transmission: All-wheel drive, single speed
- Torque: 1,420Nm
- Price: £111,950
Cars With the Least Horsepower
Horsepower is not always the most important factor for car owners. In fact, most car owners in the UK prefer to stick with compact, city cars with around 120-200bhp beneath the bonnet. In today’s new car market, the least horsepower you could expect from a car is 60bhp.
What these 6 cars lack in horsepower, they make up in efficiency and fuel consumption. If zipping around town is your priority, you may want to consider these.
1. Ford Fiesta – 60hp
One of the top selling cars in the UK, the Ford Fiesta whacks out only 60hp but remains hugely popular with new drivers and families alike.
- Top speed: 94mph
- 0-62mph: 16.9 seconds
- Engine: 1.25 litre, 4 cylinder
- Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 5 speed manual
- Torque: 109Nm
- Fuel economy: 54mpg combined
- Price: £16,093
2. Nissan Micra – 68hp
The Micra is not only cute to look at, but also economical. Admittedly, it’s unlikely to win any races on the track, but fuel economy is impressive, and it comes with a load of tech as standard.
- Top speed: 114mph
- 0-62mph: 15.9 seconds
- Engine: 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder
- Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 5 speed manual
- Torque: 160Nm
- Fuel economy: 44-51 mpg combined
- Price: £16,705
3. Toyota Yaris – 68hp
Another small car that will save you money at the bumps and it’s great for buzzing around. It may lack power on the motorway, but the Yaris is fun to drive at lower speeds and equipped with plenty of tech.
- Top speed: 106mph
- 0-62mph: 15.0 seconds
- Engine: 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder
- Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 5 speed manual
- Torque: 92Nm
- Fuel economy: 57mpg combined
- Price: £12,700
4. Mitsubishi Mirage – 69hp
The Mirage is another great little car for darting around town. With 65mpg combined, you won’t be refuelling too often and, at under £10,000, it’s also cheap to buy outright.
- Top speed: 107mph
- 0-62mph: 13.6 seconds
- Engine: 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder
- Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 5 speed manual
- Torque: 88Nm
- Fuel economy: 65mpg combined
- Price: £9,219
5. Smart Forfour – 70hp
This distinctive and stylish city car is the larger brother of the ForTwo. Not only is it a good looker, but it also returns excellent fuel consumption.
- Top speed: 94mph
- 0-62mph: 15.9 seconds
- Engine: 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder
- Transmission: Rear-wheel drive, 5 speed manual
- Torque: 91Nm
- Fuel economy: 54.3mpg combined
- Price: £21,940
6. Fiat Panda – 70hp
The Panda has been around for years and is still one of the best-selling small cars in the world. In fact, Fiat shifted over 110,000 Pandas in Italy in 2021 making it the country’s top seller that year.
- Top speed: 98mph
- 0-62mph: 14.7 seconds
- Engine: 1.0 litre, hybrid
- Transmission: Front-wheel drive, 6 speed manual
- Torque: 92Nm
- Fuel economy: 53mpg combined
- Price: £13,700
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