When it comes to comparing the performance capabilities of the world’s fastest cars, there are many better ways to do it than just looking at their 0-60 mph times. Yet, this flawed metric remains the one most people end up using. In-gear acceleration, quarter-mile sprints, and overall lap times both give a more rounded view of a fast car’s capabilities, but a car that can smash to 60 mph in record time is still going to get a lot of attention. Just ask the Dodge Challenger Demon. Whereas insane top speeds and lightning-quick Nurburgring lap times are hard to replicate or achieve in practice, a simple drag race between traffic lights is all it takes to settle which is quickest to 60 mph.
Updated May 2022: The combustion engine as we know it might be close to extinction. Despite supercar manufacturers trying to perfect their combustion engines’ performance potential, most of them still have troubles catching up to a Tesla. We’ve updated this list with even more supercars with slower 0-60 mph times than a Tesla.
0 to 60 times tend to favor cars with massive power and all-wheel-drive traction, something that can give an early advantage to unlikely vehicles. The Tesla Model S Plaid is one of them; it’s essentially a luxury family sedan with seating for up to 5 occupants, yet it handily out-accelerates most of the world’s fastest supercars away from the lights. That initial advantage may be lost as speeds head into triple digits, but that’s rarely relevant in the real world.
Tesla claims a 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds for the Plaid Edition, and many magazines and Model S owners have been able to reach around this figure, so for our purposes, we’ll be comparing times vehicles have obtained via testing, instead of only comparing manufacturer-quoted figures to keep things as fair as possible. Another thing to bear in mind is that to attain the very best results, the battery needs to be adequately charged, the temperature needs to be right, and the launch procedure needs to be carried out just so. Having said that, the launch procedures of most supercars can be a bit of a pain, too, so a race between closely matched cars can go either way.
21 Lamborghini Countach (4.8 Seconds)
There are so many super-quick sports cars out there today, so it’s worth starting off by putting things into perspective. The much-loved Countach was one of the fastest supercars of its era.
The 25th Anniversary Edition had a 455-hp 5.0-liter V12 and sounded like it would rip the very fabric of time apart. Yet, it took more than twice as long to get to 60 mph as a modern-day Tesla, that’s definitely ludicrous.
20 McLaren F1 (3.0 Seconds)
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The 627-hp 6.1-liter V12 McLaren F1 rewrote the record books when it arrived in 1992. Before it, cars like the Lamborghini Countach and the Ferrari F40 were thought to be pushing the boundaries of what was technologically possible.
With a featherweight chassis, no launch control, a manual gearbox, and the limitations of rear-wheel-drive traction, the F1 never really gets into its stride until it’s well on the way to its 240+ mph top speed. Despite this, its 3.2-second 0-60 mph time was unchallenged for over a decade and remains mightily impressive to this day. It still takes quite some doing to beat its sprint times at higher velocities, but the most powerful Model S is quicker to 60 mph. Few would’ve predicted that in 1992.
19 Ferrari 488 (3.0 Seconds)
Turbocharging has spread to just about every corner of the supercar world; the allure of extra power and (potentially) greater efficiency is a desirable mix.
The 488 uses its twin turbos to great effect, and thanks to an ECU that helps it feel almost as natural as the previous 458, it offers the best of both worlds. The engine is now a downsized 3.9-liter V8, but it makes a massive 661 hp and gives the 488 the kind of acceleration that was the preserve of hypercars only a few years back…
18 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (3.0 Seconds)
One thing Americans are exceedingly good at is sticking massive engines inside sports cars. With the latest C8 Corvette, they’ve also shown the world that they can do corners, too. The Z06 is a true giant slayer in its ability to match European exotics in the performance stakes while costing a fraction as much.
The 6.2-liter V8 is aided by a supercharger, so it makes 650 hp and an equally impressive 650 lb-ft of torque. The fact that you can have it with a 7-speed manual transmission is a rare treat nowadays too.
17 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (2.85 Seconds)
The ZR1 cost $40,000 more than the Z06, and it’s a good example of the diminishing returns you get for your money at this level. Power is up to 755 hp and torque swells to 715 lb-ft. Not massive gains then, the 0-60 mph time improves by a mere fraction of a second, too. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll see that the ZR1 is even more ferocious at higher speeds and especially on the track. To achieve this, it gets a lot of detail upgrades over the Z06; notable items include magnetic ride control and plenty of carbon-fiber aero components. The available ZTK performance package adds a high-downforce wing and a massive front splitter. The taller hood and that front splitter are why the ZR1 is banned in Europe. We think it’s because they’re scared of it.
16 2019 BMW M5 (2.8 Seconds)
Such is the march of progress that the latest twin-turbo 600-hp 4.4-liter V8 M5 can match a supercar icon like the F1 to 60 mph. This is, in part, thanks to the massive 553 lb-ft of torque and all-wheel-drive drivetrain. The 8-speed automatic transmission actually shifts slightly slower than the previous DCT unit, but despite this, the M5 is as quick as most supercars off the line. It’s also the only not-quite-supercar on our list. It’s here as a representative of what the best internal combustion engines can achieve today. When it comes to that pesky sprint time, it just can’t match the Tesla.
15 2021 Nissan GT-R NISMO (2.7 Seconds)
The GT-R is one of the kings of the 0-60 mph sprint. It has a brutally effective launch that leaves anything within its price range floundering in its dust. Despite having been around since 2007, the latest updates help keep the range competitive.
The NISMO trim adds even more aggression with track-biased upgrades and power cranked up to 600 hp. The internet is full of 1000+ hp GT-Rs blasting down the quarter-mile, and even this mental NISMO variant will need a few 100 hp more to successfully take down a Tesla in those first few meters.
14 2021 Acura NSX (2.7 Seconds)
Most manufacturers used to claim rather optimistic power and acceleration figures for their sports cars back in the day. The Acura may well be producing a combined 573 hp from its complex gas/electric motor powertrain, but the claimed 2.7-second 0-60 mph time has rarely been achieved by anyone outside the factory walls. Now, it may well be capable of such a quick time, but even then, it would be trailing a Plaid between the lights. The NSX is still a magnificent technological achievement, combining three electric motors, a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, and a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission into one seamless and ballistic package.
13 Ferrari LaFerrari (2.7 Seconds)
This hybrid monster uses a 789-hp 6.3-liter V12 and a 161-hp KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) unit that sends a combined 963 hp to the rear wheels.
The LaFerrari may cover the 60 mph sprint in a similar time to the 488 Pista, but it then pulls away from both it and the Tesla to blast through the quarter-mile in under ten seconds. It’s one of a handful of non-turbo cars that can achieve that sort of feat, and the next hypercar from Ferrari is unlikely to feature a similar setup.
12 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento (2.6 Seconds)
This list wouldn’t have been complete if you didn’t at least mention one supercar that isn’t road legal but still is no match for the Plaid in a straight line. The Sesto Elemento is the most hardcore Lamborghini ever created; it consists purely of carbon fiber – hence its name – has a barebones jet fighter-inspired cockpit, and a vicious naturally aspirated 570-hp 5.2-liter V10 strapped in the middle of it. This Lambo racecar weighs just 2,200, but its 2.6-second 0-60 time still isn’t adequate enough.
11 Koenigsegg Regera (2.6 Seconds)
Koenigsegg have only ever built ballistic supercars. Their Agera RS held most of the production-car top-speed and top-acceleration records. The next-gen Regera takes this formula and adds hybrid technology into the mix.
It features a 5.0-liter V8, which is aided by two turbos and an electric motor to produce approximately 1500 hp. Like the P1, it also has the ability to travel for short periods on electric power alone.
10 Porsche 911 GT2 RS (2.6 Seconds)
The GT2 RS is quite simply the biggest and baddest 911 ever built. This 700-hp race car for the road is currently the Nurburgring production-car lap record holder. The 0-60 mph time is really only a sampling of what this crazy rear-wheel-drive machine is all about. It may be the most expensive 911 on sale, too, but its performance capabilities still embarrass hypercars costing many times as much.
9 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (2.5 seconds)
Who would have thought that the day would come so soon that an electric 4-door saloon would outrun Lamborghini’s flagship model, the Aventador SVJ. The SVJ is powered by a ghastly naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 that’s good for 760 hp. All of its power is sent to all four wheels via a single-clutch automated manual gearbox, and as a result, you’d be reaching 60 mph from a standstill in 2.8 seconds… which is almost slow in comparison to all the other cars on our list.
8 McLaren P1 (2.5 Seconds)
Hybrid hypercars combine the instant torque from their electric motors with high-powered gasoline engines to produce massive power figures and ballistic acceleration figures. The 916-hp P1 was one of the first such hypercars, and it combines these two technologies to devastating effect.
The 0-60 mph time is largely limited by the amount of power that it can put down through its rear wheels. The P1 is also capable of driving on electric power for a few miles, which is great if you want to sneak out of your neighborhood in the early hours for a quick morning blast.
7 Bugatti Veyron SuperSport (2.5 Seconds)
The SuperSport is one of the few recent supercars that have an equal amount of impressive acceleration and top-end speed; it has a massive 1,200 hp to do it, after all.
Whereas the Model S has two sets of electric motors and a bank of batteries, the Veyron uses an 8.0-liter W16, four turbochargers, and eleven radiators to get the job done. People who suffer from range anxiety should also be aware that a Veyron does 3 MPG when traveling at its maximum speed. Take it easy, and that figure ‘shoots’ up to 8 MPG.
6 Lamborghini Huracan Performante (2.4 Seconds)
The Performante may seem just like a mildly updated Huracan, but the detail changes add up to something very special.
Whereas the base model has been criticized for a lack of drama, the Performante is a visceral performance machine.
Its visual aggression is backed up by supreme on-track capabilities. The 5.2-liter V10 produces 640 hp, and the AWD system helps it clock a sub-3-second 0-60 mph time.
5 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport (2.3 Seconds)
The Chiron Super Sport produces 350 hp more than the Veyron SuperSport, and when push comes to show, it is a remarkable improvement.
Whatever the reason for its times, the Model S Plaid will have Chiron drivers sweating up to the 60 mph mark, just like they would in a Veyron. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that in any other situation, a Chiron will be more than a match for the Tesla, as they’re neck and neck when it comes to quarter-mile races, and the Chiron would demolish the Model S in every other way.
4 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon (2.3 Seconds)
The Dodge Demon used to be the quickest accelerating production car a few years back, and it gave the old Model S P100D a proper beating, but with the new Plaid edition rolled out, things are a bit different. It may be useless around corners, but we still love it for its totally over-the-top 840-hp V8 engine, and 2.3-second 0-60 time. We’d normally suggest that all-wheel-drive could further improve its times, but that wouldn’t work here – the front wheels don’t stay on the ground long enough.
3 2022 Porsche 911 Turbo S (2.2 Seconds)
The Turbo 911 models have long been the overachievers in the upper echelons of the sports-car world.
The combination of a rear-hung turbocharged flat-six and AWD traction give them serious acceleration off the line, and the latest Turbo S is no different. This version produces 640 hp from its 3.7-liter twin-turbo engine and emits its power to all four wheels via Porsche’s impeccable PDK transmission.
2 Porsche 918 Spyder (2.2 Seconds)
This is another car that’s recorded times as quick as 2.25 seconds in private hands. The Spyder is all about racetrack finesse and hybrid tech, but it’s still a devastatingly effective dragster.
It uses a bespoke 608-hp 4.6-liter V8 and two electric motors to produce a combined 887 hp. Only 918 units were built, and they’re already trading hands for much more than the original $845,000 asking price, this truly is one of the best hypercars ever to be built.
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Marnus Moolman
(102 Articles Published)
Marnus Moolman is a young aspiring automotive writer from South Africa who is making a name for himself, despite his young age. Currently, he is studying to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting to pursue his lifetime dream of running his own automotive detailing establishment.
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