Ten years ago, the first thing that popped into every gearhead’s mind when the term ‘hybrid’ was mentioned was the Toyota Prius — a car that was hated for its ugly looks and mediocre performance despite having excellent fuel mileage. Fast forward to today, and hybrids are among the fastest, most powerful cars in the world.
Manufacturers have discovered the incredible potential of electric motors and are using them to add more power to their gas-powered supercars, taking their performance to new heights. Electric motors have also allowed manufacturers to power all four wheels in their supercars, further boosting performance. The following are ten of the fastest hybrids of all time, organized in ascending order of their top speeds.
10
BMW i8 – 155 mph
Via BMW
Arguably one of the best-looking German cars of all time, the i8 was an important car in BMW’s history, as it proved that the German automaker could produce a world-beating electrified sports car. Announced at the 2009 International Motor Show in Germany, the i8 kicked off the hybrid supercar era and inspired other manufacturers to build similar cars.
Via BMW
At the heart of the i8 was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine borrowed from the Mini Cooper supplemented by one electric motor for a combined output of 367 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Thanks to the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic, the i8 is super light and aerodynamic, which is why it has a top speed of 155 mph.
9
2016 Acura NSX – 191 mph
Via pinterest
The original NSX revolutionized the supercar industry when it arrived in the early ’90s with advanced technologies and an amazing driving feel. The new NSX arrived almost three decades after the original, and while many gearheads feared the Japanese marque wouldn’t be able to match the original’s greatness, they were wrong.
Via Caricos
Introduced in 2016, the new NSX is just as impressive as its predecessor as it employs one of the most advanced hybrid drivetrains ever. It comes with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 powering the rear wheels and a pair of electric motors powering the front wheels. The combined output is 573 hp, enough for a 191-mph top speed.
8
Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid – 196 mph
Via: Cnet
As a four-door wagon, the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid may not qualify as a supercar, but its blistering performance figures make it look like one. The Panamera features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a 134-hp electric motor.
Via netcarshow.com
A combined output of 689 hp means that the Panamera S E-Hybrid is the second most powerful car in Porsche’s lineup after the Taycan Turbo S. With a top speed of 196 mph, the Panamera S E-Hybrid is a family car that can easily crush opponents on the track.
7
Ferrari SF90 Stradale – 211 mph
Via Ferrari
Named after the famed SF90 F1 race car, the SF90 Stradale is the first-ever plug-in hybrid Ferrari and one of the most important cars in the company’s history. Under the SF90 Stradale’s hood lives a potent 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing a staggering 769 hp on its own. Ferrari topped that off with three electric motors producing 217 hp.
Via Ferrari
The SF90 Stradale produces a total of 986 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, giving it a top speed of 211 mph. Thanks to real-time torque vectoring, the SF90 Stradale is also one of the best-handling cars today.
6
Porsche 918 Spyder – 214 mph
Via Mecum Auctions
2013 was an outstanding year for hybrids, as it saw the release of the firsts three supercars to have hybrid drivetrains. Porsche built one of the three cars — the 918 Spyder — and it made history when it broke the Nürburgring lap record with a time of just six minutes and 57 seconds.
Via Mecum Auctions
The 918 Spyder comes with a 4.6-liter naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine supplemented by two electric motors. Total output is 894 hp and 944 lb-ft of torque, giving it a top speed of 214 mph.
5
Ferrari LaFerrari – 217 mph
Via Romans International
The second hybrid supercar introduced in 2013 came from Ferrari, and it was truly special. The LaFerrari, as it’s called, represents the pinnacle of Ferrari’s engineering knowledge and represents the company’s vision of what a supercar should be.
Via Mecum
At the heart of the LaFerrari is a 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 coupled with a 161-hp electric motor, making it the first-ever Ferrari hybrid. With 949 hp on tap, the LaFerrari is the most powerful naturally aspirated Ferrari ever. Ferrari also equipped the LaFerrari with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which ensures that the electric motor is available at any speed.
4
McLaren P1 – 217 mph
Via Silverstone Auctions
The third part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of hybrid supercars introduced in 2013 was the incredible McLaren P1. Everything about the P1 was amazing — from the design to the F1-derived technologies and the Drag Reduction System rear wing.
Via Silverstone Auctions
Unlike the naturally aspirated LaFerrari, the P1 relies on two turbochargers to boost power output from the 3.8-liter V8 to 727 horsepower. Electric motors then push that up to 903 horsepower and 719 pound-feet of torque, making the P1 a beast on the road. The primary purpose of the P1’s electric motor is to offer “torque fill” — where the motor kicks in during turbo lag gaps to provide a seamless surge of acceleration.
3
Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 – 217 mph
Via CNET
The Sian is one of the most important cars Lamborghini has ever built, as it’s their first hybrid and also the most powerful Lamborghini ever. Based on the Aventador SVJ, this superb hypercar comes with a 774-hp V12 borrowed from the Aventador paired with an electric motor.
Via Luxury London
Interestingly, the Sian uses supercapacitors to store energy instead of the more traditional lithium-ion batteries. This means that the power is discharged more rapidly, which is perfect for a supercar as it boosts performance. The Sian also has an electronically controlled AWD system and a self-locking rear differential to improve handling.
2
McLaren Speedtail – 250 mph
Via: YouTube
The Speedtail is another superb car that proves that McLaren is miles ahead of other manufacturers when it comes to building extreme supercars. Developed as a successor to the iconic McLaren F1 of the ’90s, the Speedtail is McLaren’s fastest sports car ever and one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars today.
Via YouTube
The Speedtail draws power from a modified M840T hybrid drivetrain generating a crazy 1,036 hp, giving it a top speed of 250 mph. Everything about the Speedtail is designed with pure speed and aerodynamic efficiency in mind, from its shape to the rear-view cameras that retract and the hydraulically-actuated active rear ailerons.
1
Koenigsegg Regera – 251 mph
Via autonxt.net
Since Koenigsegg was founded in the ’90s, its main goal has been to build supercars with unmatched speed, so it’s no surprise that the Regera tops our list. Introduced in 2016, the Regera was designed to be more practical and luxurious than the rest of Koenigsegg’s hypercars, trading weight reduction and on-track performance for a smooth power curve and instant torque delivery.
Via: WSupercars
The Regera has a fire-breathing 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood with 1,100 hp on tap. That wasn’t enough, so Koenigsegg added three electric motors, resulting in a combined output of 1,797 hp. Regera means “to reign” in Swedish — a perfect name for the car.
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About The Author
Martin Peter
(92 Articles Published)
Martin is a seasoned content creator who has been writing about cars for over a decade, and has been in love with them for even longer. Growing up, Martin was surrounded by gearheads who instilled a deep love and understanding for cars in him at a young age. He loves to learn and write about all the developments happening in the auto industry – especially in the EV space. When he’s not writing about cars, he likes to spend quality time with his wife, kids, and fur baby.
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