When the auto industry was starting in the early 20th century, the main goal automakers had back then was to provide a means of transport that was faster than horses. Once that was sorted out, the next question many automakers had was "How fast can these things go?" This question has always served as a huge motivator for automakers when developing their finest cars, and the best part is, there's never really a definite answer as the automakers keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

This pursuit of speed has led to the exciting rise of supercars. Supercars are the upper echelon of the auto industry – they have jaw-dropping designs, and the most powerful engines, and are equipped with the most advanced technologies to ensure that they can hit record-breaking top speeds. Supercars are typically produced in limited numbers, which is why they can fetch multi-million-dollar price tags. With every top automaker wanting a slice of the pie, it can be hard for gearheads to keep up as we've seen multiple supercars debut in recent years and many more are in development and coming soon. Let's explore some of the coolest supercars in the world today and some of the features that make them stand out.

10 CZinger 21C V Max

Performance

• 0-60: 1.9 seconds
• Top Speed: 253 mph (claimed)

Every once in a while, a new automaker comes along and introduces technology that's so advanced that it pushes the entire industry forward. American startup Czinger is looking to become one of those companies with its lineup of supercars designed using artificial intelligence and produced using 3D-printing technology. Czinger's first model is the 21C, and it's among the most highly anticipated supercars coming in the next few years.

Many expect the 21C to be among the fastest American cars ever when it debuts, particularly when equipped with the V Max body style option. The V Max trades the massive amount of downforce generated by the rear wing in the regular 21C for a more streamlined body designed for maximum top speed. The 21C V Max has a bespoke 2.88-liter twin-turbo V8 engine paired with two electric motors to generate a combined 1,250 hp, allowing for a claimed top speed of over 250 mph.

Specifications

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The Czinger 21C Is Awesome

9 Rimac Nevera

Performance

• 0-60: 1.74 seconds
• Top Speed: 258 mph

Electric cars have come a long way in just a decade. Not many took electric cars seriously about a decade ago when options were few. Now every top automaker seems to have an electric car in its lineup. Electric cars are so advanced nowadays that they're starting to obliterate the best ICE supercars in performance. The Rimac Nevera shows that perfectly.

The Rimac Nevera is an electric hypercar built by Croatian automaker Rimac in 2021. The Nevera draws its power from four electric motors placed at each wheel producing a combined 1,914 hp, giving it insane performance. The Nevera can accelerate to 60 mph in a literal blink of an eye – 1.74 seconds – and goes on to hit a top speed of 258 mph.

Specifications

8 Koenigsegg One:1

Performance

• 0-60: 3.2 seconds
• Top Speed: 273 mph

When Christian von Koenigsegg established Koenigsegg in 1994, he never would have imagined that his little company would be competing with the Bugattis of the world just three decades later. Fast forward to today, and the Swedish automaker is now the king of performance. Koenigsegg cars are built for speed, which is why they dominate our list today.

The 'slowest' Koenigsegg on our list is the One:1 – a special version of the Agera that Koenigsegg built in 2014. According to Koenigsegg, the One:1 was the 'world's first megacar' as its 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 made 1,000 kW (equal to 1,341 hp).

Specifications

7 Koenigsegg Agera RS

Performance

• 0-60: 2.8 seconds
• Top Speed: 277.87 mph

After the One:1, Koenigsegg went back to the drawing board and developed yet another version of the Agera – the Agera RS. Koenigsegg billed the Agera RS as 'the ultimate track tool' as it combined some of the best features of the One:1, Agera R, and Agera S.

The Agera RS used the same 1,341-hp engine as the One:1 and has many lightweight features and track-oriented technologies to help improve top speed. These improvements came in handy for the Agera RS in 2017 when it broke the production car speed record with a two-way average of 278 mph.

Specifications

RELATED: The World’s Best Koenigsegg Collection In Switzerland Is Simply Insane

6 Koenigsegg CC850

Performance

• 0-60: 2.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 280 mph (claimed)

Aaaand, it's another Koenigsegg! But unlike the two models mentioned above, the CC850 is yet to hit the streets. Koenigsegg unveiled the CC850 in 2022 as a special edition model to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the CC8S.

The CC850 is based on the Koenigsegg Jesko and uses its 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 cranking out 1,366 hp on E85 fuel. The CC850 also uses the Jesko's multilink front and rear suspension, rack and pinion steering, and Koenigsegg's proprietary nine-speed Light Speed Transmission system.

Specifications

5 SSC Tuatara

Performance

• 0-60: 2.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 295 mph

American automaker SSC North America has always wanted to become the top supercar manufacturer in the country. SSC is obsessed with beating Bugattis and Koenigseggs to the production car speed record, and it has done so several times. The first SSC model to break the speed record was the Ultimate Aero TT in 2007 when it beat the Bugatti Veyron's record, and that fete inspired the automaker to build its next big thing – the Tuatara.

SSC unveiled the Tuatara in 2020 and took it on a world-record speed run shortly after. The Tuatara achieved a record-breaking 316-mph two-way average the first time but after some industry experts and automotive YouTubers expressed their doubts and caused a huge controversy, SSC had to repeat it. The Tuatara did another speed run in 2022, achieving a two-way average of 295 mph, cementing its position as the fastest American car ever.

Specifications

4 Hennessey Venom F5

Performance

• 0-60: 2.5 seconds
• Top Speed: Over 300 mph (claimed)

If you love custom American cars, you've heard of Hennessey. Hennessey specializes in 'making fast cars faster' and typically modifies American muscle cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs. In 2017, Hennessey established the Special Vehicles division to build supercars from the ground up.

The first car Hennessey Special Vehicles built was the Venom GT, but many gearheads didn't really like it as it was heavily based on the Lotus Exige. The second car is the real winner. Dubbed the Venom F5, this supercar is a ground-up creation by Hennessey and comes with a proprietary 7.4-liter 'Fury' twin-turbo V8 blurting out 1,817 hp and 1,193 lb-ft of torque. Although official tests aren’t done yet, Hennessey claims that the Venom F5 will be the first American car to hit 300 mph.

Specifications

3 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+

Performance

• 0-60: 2.2 seconds
• Top Speed: 304 mph

Although the likes of Koenigsegg and SSC have given it a bit of competition, Bugatti has held the production car speed record for the longest time in the 21st century thanks to the Veyron. Bugatti wanted the Chiron to follow in the Veyron's footsteps, so it built the Chiron Super Sport 300+ to chase the production car speed record set by the Koenigsegg Agera RS in 2017.

The Chiron Super Sport 300+ used Bugatti's 1,580-hp quad-turbocharged W16 engine to push itself to a top speed of 304.7 mph in 2019, making it the fastest Bugatti ever. However, this result couldn't go into the Guinness Book of World Records as it was a unidirectional run.

Specifications

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why The Bugatti Chiron Is The Hypercar Of Choice For Billionaires

2 Bugatti Bolide

Performance

• 0-60: 2.2 seconds
• Top Speed: 311 mph (claimed)

The Bugatti quad-turbocharged W16 engine has pushed the automaker to the top of the hypercar world. Unfortunately, the automotive world is shifting to more eco-friendly powertrains, which spells doom for this incredibly powerful engine. But before Bugatti says goodbye to the engine, the automaker is building one last supercar to give it a proper send-off – the Bolide.

The Bugatti Bolide is a track-focused hypercar built for pure speed. It uses the same engine as the Chiron Super Sport 300+ above, but it makes 1,824 hp thanks to various upgrades – 277 hp more than the Chiron Super Sport 300+. This power combined with the Bolide's advanced aerodynamic design gives it a projected top speed of 311 mph.

Specifications

1 Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut

Performance

• 0-60: 2.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 330 mph (claimed)

Surprise! A Koenigsegg tops our list today. Koenigsegg is the official holder of the production car top speed record thanks to the Agera RS, and with the upcoming Jesko Absolut, the Swedish marque is looking to extend its lead even further.

The Jesko Absolut is a high-speed version of the Jesko that promises to hit top speeds of up to 350 mph in the right conditions. The Jesko Absolut uses the same engine as the standard Jesko but has several modifications aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency and stability at high speed.

Specifications