Is 200 mph the high-performance blue chip it used to be? In the late 1980s, you had to get behind the wheel of an uber-exclusive, no-frills supercar to go 200 mph, and even then you’d barely tick the mark.
Today, you can slide into the well-padded driver’s seat of a big-ass sedan, turn up your favorite song by One Direction, and hit 200 mph before the song is over.
Naturally we’re not suggesting you try this unless you’re a trained professional on a closed course. (We’re also not suggesting you listen to One Direction.)
In the last 25 years, reaching speeds of 200 mph has become much easier and less expensive. The performance gap between high-performance cars and exotic vehicles is narrowing as high-performance versions of everyday cars become available.
As advanced materials, active aerodynamics, and powerful forced-induction engines are integrated into regular sedans from top-tier high-performance cars, more ordinary vehicles will be capable of going faster than 200 mph.
We believe it’s important to acknowledge this shift, where achieving 200 mph is no longer extraordinary, by examining the current landscape of street-legal production cars that can reach this speed.
Let’s celebrate the cars that can achieve 200 mph today, and also honor the cars that originally set this benchmark. Additionally, we should recognize the enthusiasts who have long pursued these incredible speeds, as well as the aftermarket tuners who constantly strive for greater speeds beyond what’s indicated on a car’s speedometer.
If you’d like to learn about the production cars capable of hitting 200 mph today, keep scrolling, and then you can also read about the specialty cars and the earlier models that could reach this milestone.
2013-2015 Aston Martin Rapide S
Top speed: 203 mph
Once, while we were driving the 552-hp Aston, we got a fright when someone in the back seat asked us a question. We had completely forgotten about our back-seat passengers, and we had also forgotten that the car even had back seats. The Rapide S combines the performance and confidence of a well-balanced sports coupe with the spaciousness of a luxury sedan.
2013-2015 Aston Martin Vanquish
Top speed: 201 mph
The Aston Martin Vanquish is a stunning grand tourer that perfectly balances aggression and sexiness. Initially, it had a clunky six-speed automatic transmission, but now it features a smoother eight-speed automatic transmission that improves quick upshifts.
2014-2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S/Roadster
Top speed: 205 mph
“Don’t call it a baby Aston Martin. Whether it’s a coupe or a convertible, the V12 Vantage S has the power and capability to keep up with – and even surpass – its larger counterparts. While the Vantage may not be as visually appealing as the Vanquish, it’s just as enjoyable to drive hard.”
2013-2015 Bentley Continental GT Speed/GTC Speed
Top speed: 203-206 mph
Adding “Speed” to the end of a model name is nothing new for Bentley. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Bentley has given its popular Conti the “Speed” treatment. It is somewhat surprising, though, that this 5,115-pound two-door can exceed 200 mph. This is less surprising when you consider that it has 626 horsepower.
2016 Cadillac CTS-V
Top speed: 200 mph
The CTS-V sedan has always competed with the best and most powerful cars from Germany. However, with its new 640-horsepower engine, it can now outperform almost all of its German competitors on an autobahn. In fact, it can even surpass a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 on a sufficiently long straightaway.
2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
Top speed: 204 mph
The CTS-V might have to move out of the left lane when the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat comes up behind it. The Charger will undoubtedly be less civilized than the CTS-V, which is likely a point of pride. It has the same 707-hp supercharged V-8 as the Challenger SRT Hellcat (which, by the way, can only reach 199 mph).
2010-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia/Speciale
Top speed: 202 mph
Mid-engine Ferraris have always been stunning, but nothing from the past comes close to the elegance, grace, and desirability of the 458 Italia. Whether it’s the coupe, Spider, Speciale, or Speciale Aperta, they’re all like supermodels. The successor to the 458 Italia, the 488 GTB, is set to make its official debut at the Geneva motor show in a few weeks. The 488 GTB will be equipped with a 661-hp turbocharged V-8 engine and is rumored to have a top speed in excess of 205 mph.
2011-2015 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Top speed: 211 mph
The Ferrari F12 berlinetta is the latest grand tourer from Ferrari and is designed to be comfortable for long drives and fast enough to cross the country in just two days. Despite its advanced aerodynamics and Manettino dial, the F12 is both fast and user-friendly.
2012-2015 Ferrari FF
Top speed: 208 mph
“The FF is your best bet for reaching speeds of 200 mph on snow. It’s an innovative concept – a four-passenger, all-wheel-drive Ferrari that’s faster than a 458 Italia. Rumor has it that a sleeker, two-passenger version of the FF is in development. While the traction-packed F12 Berlinetta grabs our attention, we still appreciate the thought of a Ferrari with seating for four.”
2015 Ferrari LaFerrari
Top speed: 217 mph
The conventional V-12 powertrain in the LaFerrari produces 789 hp, while the electric motor outputs 161 hp. Together, they create a combined 950 hp. This hybrid powertrain incorporates KERS knowledge from Ferrari’s Scuderia racing efforts and is used in a street car. The LaFerrari also features a carbon-fiber driver cell, fixed seats, and side mirrors with ant-antennae design.
2012-2015 Lamborghini Aventador
Top speed: 217 mph
“Wow, the Aventador is a beast. It’s a powerful machine that achieves its primary goal – mind-blowing acceleration – quickly but not smoothly, much like an axe that needs sharpening. The 691-hp V-12 flagship exemplifies what Lamborghini is all about.”
2015 Lamborghini Huracan
Top speed: 202 mph
The replacement for the Gallardo can go from 0 to 125 mph in just 10 seconds. While we wouldn’t exactly call the smallest bull “civilized,” it’s definitely one of the most comfortable Lamborghinis we’ve been in. After naming it one of our 2015 All-Stars, we drove the Huracan 1,000 miles to and around Chicago, and our lower back felt no worse for wear.
2015 McLaren 650S Coupe/Spider
Top speed: 204 mph
The MP4-12C is no more; make way for the 650S. (At least it has a shorter name.) McLaren gave in to demands for “more power” and introduced the 650S shortly after unveiling the MP4-12C. Despite its V-8 engine displacing only 3.8 liters, the 650S produces 641 hp with the help of two turbochargers.
2014-2015 McLaren P1
Top speed: 217 mph
The McLaren P1 is the second astonishing hybrid hypercar in a trio, with the LaFerrari being the first and another model coming up next. It is equipped with a 727-hp, turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine paired with a 177-hp electric motor, delivering a combined horsepower of 904. Only 375 P1s are being produced, and the price for this remarkable car is $1.15 million.
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Top speed: 214 mph
The plug-in Porsche hypercar is more practical than its hybrid counterparts. It boasts impressive performance credentials – the 606-hp V-8, in conjunction with a 129-hp front and a 156-hp rear e-motors, enables the 918 to reach 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. Transitioning from the racetrack to the road is not jarring. Surprisingly, the 918 is quite enjoyable on the freeway, especially when its targa-style roof is removed and stored in the front trunk (frunk).
2013-2015 SRT Viper
Top speed: 206 mph
When SRT separated from Dodge and released the newest Viper under its own brand, we anticipated that the car would outperform its predecessors, and it certainly does. On a road course, an SRT Viper is one of the most thrilling cars to drive. However, taking it to 206 mph? Absolutely not.
2009-2012 Aston Martin One-77
Top speed: 220 mph
The One-77 made its debut in March 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show. It featured hand-shaped aluminum panels laid over a carbon-fiber monocoque and a 750-hp, mid-ship 7.3-liter V-12 engine mated to a six-speed automated manual transaxle. With a price tag of one million pounds, it’s no surprise that the One-77 turned heads. Production of the 77 limited-edition models of this Aston Martin concluded in 2012.
1999-2000Aston Martin VantageV8 V600 Le Mans
Top speed: 200 mph
Don’t forget that even Aston Martins can be not so pretty, but then you remember the Vantage V8 Le Mans. Only 40 of these pig-nosed coupes were built after the car was launched in 1999. The twin-supercharged V-8 could receive an optional power boost from the V600 package, allowing the car to reach a top speed of 200 mph. The Vantage V8 V600 Le Mans was the most powerful Aston Martin until the One-77.
2004-2007 Aston Martin Vanquish S
Top speed: 200 mph
What did spending $19,000 on an S model get you that spending $236,000 on a regular Vanquish didn’t? Well, the $19,000 upgrade brought a power boost (520 hp from 460 hp) due to larger injectors, improved connecting rods, and modified combustion chambers, as well as different gearing. However, we’re pretty sure that those who bought one of these might be regretting not saving $100,000 and cruising in a DB9 instead.
2009-2013 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed
Top speed: 200 mph
The acquisition by Volkswagen greatly benefited Bentley. Although the Continental Flying Spur Speed resembled a possibly less unattractive Volkswagen Phaeton, it performed like a Lamborghini. This 600-hp sedan marked the most powerful four-door Bentley had ever produced.
2010-2013 Bentley Continental Supersports
Top speed: 202-205 mph
The Bentley Continental Supersports is Bentley’s fastest and most powerful production car to date. While it may not look very different from the base Conti on Rodeo Drive, except for some additional holes in the hood, the 621-hp, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine sets the Supersports apart from the rest of Bentley’s lineup.
1991-1995 Bugatti EB110
Top speed: 213 mph
The EB110 is quite impressive considering it was produced during a time when Acura was considered cool and midsize trucks were actually small. It features a carbon-fiber monocoque, an all-aluminum body, pushrod suspension, all-wheel drive, and a quad-turbocharged V-12 engine that produces 561 hp. Only 139 of these Bugattis were made.
2005-2015 Bugatti Veyron (Grand Sport 16.4, Grand Sport Vitesse, Super Sport)
Top speed: 217-268 mph
The French femme fatale wearing a 200 mph speedometer. After the Ferrari F40, no supercar offered the same combination of performance and mystique to captivate and maintain the interest of an entire generation until the Veyron was introduced, merely six years after Volkswagen Group acquired the rights to the Bugatti name. A replacement model, the Chiron, is in the works.
2009-2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Top speed: 205 mph
The sixth-generation Corvette was nicknamed the Blue Devil after it was upgraded at Chevrolet’s factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to become a ZR1. The car was equipped with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produced 638 horsepower, partly due to a four-lobe supercharger mounted on top of the engine.
2008-2010 Dodge ViperSRT10 Coupe
Top speed: 202 mph
The Viper SRT10 was equipped with a V-10 engine. The fourth-generation Viper was introduced in 2008. Despite a slight increase in engine displacement from 8.3 liters to 8.4 liters, the power surge was significant, with an increase from 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque to 600 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque.
2002-2006 Ferrari 575M Maranello
Top speed: 202 mph
“Front-engine V-12 Ferraris will likely always be around, and each will be in the 200-mph club. Why? Because the Ferrari 575M Maranello set the 200-mph bar, and Ferrari doesn’t take steps backwards. The 575M had several variants, sold well, and set the stage for yet another front-engine V-12 Ferrari to take its place.”
2006-2012 Ferrari 599 GTB GTO
Top speed: 205-208 mph
This Ferrari had a front-engine V-12 and was more curvaceous than the flat-sided Ferrari it replaced. It had a 6.0-liter V-12 that produced 612 hp in the “base” GTB guise. The GTO, a road-going version of the 599XX racing car, produced 661 hp and also lapped Fiorano faster than the next Ferrari.
2002-2003 Ferrari Enzo
Top speed: 217 mph
Nobody ever referred to the Ferrari Enzo by its full name (Enzo Ferrari), and we’re not going to either. The Ferrari Enzo isn’t just a street-legal car pretending to be a racing car, but rather a racing car with a few extra aerodynamic features (all of which are functional, of course). The Enzo’s downforce of 1,700 pounds at 185 mph decreases to 1,300 pounds at higher speeds to help the car reach its top speed.
1987-1992 Ferrari F40
Top speed: 201 mph
The F40 was the first production car to reach 200 mph, and it captivated enthusiasts of its time. There are only two or three cars as magical and alluring as this Ferrari. Its allure remains as strong as ever, even if its top speed of 201 mph isn’t as intimidating as it used to be. The F40 itself is still as intimidating as the day we first drove it. And when we say intimidating, we mean frightening.
1995-1997 Ferrari F50
Top speed: 202 mph
The Ferrari F50 had a different setup compared to the F40. It had two fewer turbochargers but four more cylinders, making it more forgiving and giving drivers more confidence. The F50 also had a rounder look and a removable roof. Its 513-hp, 4.7-liter V-12 engine was derived from a 3.5-liter V-12 engine used in Formula 1.
2005-2006FordGT
Top speed: 205 mph
“Revisiting the 1960s rivalry between Ford and Ferrari, Ford Motor Company couldn’t revive the supercar that outperformed Ferrari back then unless its new car could match the performance of the Italian cars at that time. This was achieved with a mid-mounted, supercharged, 550-hp 5.4-liter V-8 engine.”
