10 highest horsepower cars in the world

Having the most horsepower is a great way to win a game of top trumps, or a Carwow drag race for that matter. There are loads of ways to extract maximum power from a car, whether that be adding an electric motor or just having a massive engine.

But which cars have the most horsepower? Well don’t expect to see any affordable family hatchbacks on this list. It takes a lot of complicated engineering to make the most powerful cars in the world, and you’ll pay a pretty penny to enjoy it for yourself.

Some of the cars with the most horsepower available on sale are:

1. Devel Sixteen: 5,007hp
2. Koenigsegg Gemera: 2,300hp
3. Lotus Evija: 2,000hp
4. Rimac Nevera: 1,914hp
5. Hennessey Venom F5: 1,842hp
6. Bugatti Tourbillon: 1,800hp
7. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut: 1,600hp
8. McLaren Speedtail: 1,070hp
9. Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: 1,034hp
10. Tesla Model S Plaid: 1,020hp

1. Devel Sixteen – 5,007hp

Here’s a car which caused a stir when it was first launched in 2017. The Devel Sixteen is fitted with a 12.3-litre V16 engine and four turbochargers, putting out an obscene 5,007hp.

For context, the Rimac Nevera is currently the fastest car Carwow has ever drag raced, and it has a ‘mere’ 1,914hp. There’s just one caveat though, and that’s the fact the Devel Sixteen hasn’t actually made it into production yet.

2. Koenigsegg Gemera – 2,300hp

The Koenigsegg Gemera seems tame compared to the Devel with less than half the horsepower, but it does actually exist so it’s the most powerful car you can buy right now. It has four seats as well, so you and three friends can enjoy the 2,300hp output.

Power comes courtesy of a 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with an electric motor chucked in for good measure. You’ll have to part with around £1.5m to find out what this power feels like on the road.

3. Lotus Evija – 2,000hp

Now for the first electric car on this list, the Lotus Evija is the most powerful production car the British brand has ever made – thanks to a healthy cash injection from Chinese owner Geely.

It has one electric motor on each wheel to make a combined 2,000hp and 1,704Nm of torque, and 0-60mph is dealt with in under 3.0 seconds. The price? Well you’ll have to spend over £2m for this ultra-rare hypercar.

4. Rimac Nevera – 1,914hp

The Rimac Nevera currently sits in joint first place on the Carwow drag race leaderboard alongside the McMurtry Spierling, thanks mostly to its quad electric motors which put out 1,914hp combined.

It’ll do 0-60mph in a blistering 1.84 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 256mph. It’s not just a stripped-out drag racer either, because the Nevera feels very nicely appointed inside – as it should with a £1.7m price tag.

5. Hennessey Venom F5 – 1,842hp

US hypercar maker Hennessey doesn’t really build cars for the European market, preferring to launch its models in North America where it has a larger customer base and wider recognition.

But then with only 24 examples of the coupe, and 30 open-top examples of the 6.6-litre V8-powered Venom F5 being built, Hennessey doesn’t really make cars for anyone, save those lucky enough to have a few million bucks in their back pocket, and the bravery to take on an 1,800hp+ monster.

6. Bugatti Tourbillon – 1,800hp

This is the successor to the iconic Bugatti Chiron, and unlike its predecessor it doesn’t have a W16 engine in the middle. The new Tourbillon uses a naturally-aspirated V16 unit with three electric motors to put out a combined 1,800hp and 2,300Nm of torque.

This translates to a top speed of 277mph, and 0-60mph is dealt with in under 2.0 seconds. It’s just as beautifully designed and built inside as you’d expect, and prices will start from an eye-watering £3.2m.

7. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – 1,600hp

Koenigsegg is the first brand to make this list twice, which is no surprise because it only builds bonkers hypercars. Unlike the four-seater Gemera, the Jesko Absolut is a track-honed hypercar.

It has a 5.0-litre V8 engine with 1,600hp – as long as you’re running on E85 race fuel. Fill up at the regular pumps and you’ll have to make do with just 1,280hp. This wild-looking machine will cost you £3.4m if you fancy adding it to your collection.

8. McLaren Speedtail – 1,070hp

Speedtail is a great name for a high-performance supercar, and this special-edition McLaren harks back to the much-loved F1 of the 1990s. It has the same central driving position as that car, and the design has been crafted to cut through the air as cleanly as possible.

Mounted behind the driver is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with an electric motor, and combined they make 1,070hp and 1,150Nm of torque. It’ll do 0-60mph in just 3.0 seconds, and the top speed is pegged at 250mph.

9. Porsche Taycan Turbo GT – 1,034hp

We’re moving into more mainstream territory now, because the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is a four-door family EV. What’s not so mainstream is the 1,034hp dual-motor powertrain, and the 2.2 second 0-60mph time isn’t to be sniffed at either.

You can get the Turbo GT with a Weissach Pack as well, which gets you some track-focussed upgrades. This version has no rear seats to save weight, which is an odd feature in a four-door saloon. This is the first car on this list to come in under a million pounds as well, with the Turbo GT starting from £186,300.

10. Tesla Model S Plaid – 1,020hp

When it comes to bang for your buck, the Tesla Model S Plaid is one of the best-value performance cars in the world. For around £65,000 you get a 1,020hp luxury EV which can do 0-60mph in under 2.0 seconds.

Sadly, you can’t order a Model S in the UK (for now) – although a small batch of left-hand drive models did find their way to UK shores. You can get a track package as well which includes upgraded brakes and a 200mph top speed.

Highest horsepower cars FAQs

What is the highest horsepower car in the world? 

On paper, the Devel Sixteen is the highest horsepower car in the world. It has a massive V16 engine with 5,007hp, however this car is still in development so the final car may have a different figure. The Koenigsegg Gemera is the next most powerful car on sale with 2,300hp.

Can a car have 5,000hp? 

Yes it can given a big enough engine. The Devel Sixteen’s 12.3-litre V16 has been tested at 5,007hp, meaning it’s possible to make a car produce this much power – getting that power to the road is another matter.

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