What Is the #1 Fastest Car in the World?

The SSC Tuatara holds the top spot among production cars by a verified two‑way run, averaging 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 17, 2021, with speeds independently logged by Racelogic and other telemetry firms. For single-direction runs, Bugatti’s Chiron Super Sport 300+ reached 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) in 2019. Officially, Guinness World Records still lists Koenigsegg’s Agera RS—277.87 mph (447.19 km/h) in 2017—as the standing production-car record. The “#1 fastest” therefore depends on which benchmark you use: two‑way average, single‑run peak, or Guinness certification.

Why the “fastest car” title is complicated

In top-speed racing, the definition of “fastest” isn’t universal. Sanctioning bodies and manufacturers don’t always use the same rules, and different test venues impose different constraints. That’s why several cars can credibly claim a version of the crown at once.

The most common criteria used to judge “fastest production car” are outlined below to clarify what each claim actually means.

• Two-way average: A record-qualifying speed is typically the average of two runs in opposite directions to cancel wind and gradient advantages.
• Independent verification: GPS/VBOX or certified test equipment (e.g., Racelogic, Life Racing, TÜV) must log and validate speeds.
• Production spec: The car should be series-produced and road-legal, not a one-off prototype heavily modified beyond customer spec.
• Test venue and length: Shorter runways limit achievable speeds; long test tracks (like Ehra-Lessien) allow higher terminal velocities.
• Tires and safety: OEM-approved tires and appropriate safety equipment matter for legitimacy and comparability.

Taken together, these factors explain why one car may own the highest single-direction number while another holds the recognized two-way record.

Current record holders by metric

Verified two‑way production‑car record

SSC Tuatara — 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h) average, achieved January 17, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center’s Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds (Shuttle Landing Facility). The run was instrumented by Racelogic VBOX and corroborated by additional data systems, and it surpassed Koenigsegg’s 2017 two‑way benchmark.

Highest single‑direction speed by a production car

Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ — 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) on August 2, 2019, at Volkswagen’s Ehra‑Lessien test track, driven by Andy Wallace and measured under TÜV supervision. Because it was a one‑way run in a pre‑production, safety‑equipped car, it did not qualify as a two‑way production‑car record.

Standing Guinness World Records production‑car title

Koenigsegg Agera RS — 277.87 mph (447.19 km/h) two‑way average on a closed Nevada highway on November 4, 2017, verified by Racelogic. This remains the Guinness-listed production-car top-speed record, reflecting the most recent fully certified submission under its criteria.

Fastest production EV (top speed)

Rimac Nevera — up to 258 mph (412 km/h), achieved at Germany’s Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP) proving ground. While EVs more often battle in acceleration metrics, the Nevera holds the headline top-speed mark among production electric hypercars.

At-a-glance: who’s fastest by what measure

To help compare like with like, here are the leading benchmarks across the main ways “fastest” is judged today.

• Fastest two‑way average (production car): SSC Tuatara — 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h) — KSC/Florida, 2021.
• Highest single‑run top speed (production car): Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ — 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) — Ehra‑Lessien/Germany, 2019.
• Guinness World Records holder (production car): Koenigsegg Agera RS — 277.87 mph (447.19 km/h) — Nevada/USA, 2017.
• Fastest production EV (top speed): Rimac Nevera — 258 mph (412 km/h) — ATP/Germany.
• Notable contenders without a verified two‑way record as of 2025: Hennessey Venom F5 (claimed 300+ mph), Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut (projected 300+ mph).

Each entry reflects a specific standard—two‑way average, single‑direction maximum, formal Guinness certification, or EV category—so rankings shift with the metric.

What to watch next

As of 2025, several manufacturers are developing or testing 300‑mph‑capable cars, but real estate is the limiting factor: very few venues offer the distance needed for safe, independently verified two‑way attempts. Koenigsegg’s Jesko Absolut and Hennessey’s Venom F5 are the most closely watched potential challengers; Bugatti’s next‑generation hypercar program is focused more on holistic performance than outright v-max, but could influence future attempts.

Summary

If you’re asking for the fastest production car by the strictest widely used standard—a verified two‑way average—the SSC Tuatara is #1 at 282.9 mph. If you care about the absolute highest number ever recorded in a single pass, Bugatti’s Chiron Super Sport 300+ leads at 304.773 mph. And if you want the standing Guinness World Records holder, it’s Koenigsegg’s Agera RS at 277.87 mph. The crown can change with the rules you apply—and with the next credible, independently verified attempt.