Gone are the days when gasoline-powered supercars dominated the leaderboard, with mind-boggling acceleration and top speeds, EVs are setting new benchmarks. The fastest-production EVs in the world have leveraged their electrified propulsion systems to facilitate their incredible performance capabilities. Leading the charge is the Rimac Nevera. It boasts almost 2,000 horsepower from four electric motors and hits 60 mph in under two seconds. It’s one of the quickest cars on the planet.
Whether two-door two-seater speedsters or four-door family sedans, from the Tesla Model S Plaid to the Lucid Air Sapphire, the unmatched power delivery creates a perfect driving experience. The electrified propulsion system is mostly connected with a single-speed automatic transmission in their quad-motor, tri-motor, and dual-motor configurations, except the dual-speed automatic transmission in EVs like the Aspark Owl.
Unlike internal combustion engines, the instant torque of electric motors translates to lightning-fast acceleration, which ensures their 0-60 mph acceleration times are usually less than their gas-powered counterparts, making them faster to 60 mph. With excellently designed platforms, and batteries typically situated at the bottom of the vehicle contributing to a lower center of gravity, weight distribution is optimized. The fastest production vehicles in the world are now mostly electrified vehicles, with instantaneous torque, optimized weight distribution, and advances in battery technology.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from the websites of the manufacturers of the models listed. These vehicles were selected and arranged in ascending order based on their top speed.
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10 McMurtry Spéirling
Top Speed: 190 MPH
The Spéirling was developed by McMurtry Automotive and designed by Andries van Overbeeke. Its name, “Spéirling,” means “thunderstorm” in Irish. With its dual-motor setup, it unleashes 1,000 horsepower. In a real world test conducted by Matt Watson of CarWow, the Spéirling hit 60 mph in 1.4 seconds.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Dual-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,000 HP |
|
Torque |
N/A |
|
Driveline |
Rear-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.4 secs |
|
Top Speed |
190 mph |
(Data was collected from McMurtry)
A unique feature of the Spéirling is its fan-powered downforce system, which generates over 4,400 pounds of downforce from a standstill. It’s equipped with a 60 kWh battery that produces 300 miles on the WLTP scale. The Spéirling set a new 39.08-second hill climb record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
9 Nio EP9
Top Speed: 194 MPH
Designed by Nio’s former senior design director, David Hilton, the Nio EP9 was developed and built in 18 months; a two-door coupé purely designed for track use to deliver mind-blowing performance. One motor is placed at each wheel, producing a total power output of 1,341 horsepower, and a 0-60 mph sprint in 2.6 seconds.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Quad-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,341 HP |
|
Torque |
1,092 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
2.6 secs |
|
Top Speed |
194 mph |
(Data was collected from Nio)
It holds records for the fastest lap by an electric vehicle at Circuit Paul Ricard, Circuit of the Americas, and Shanghai International Circuit tracks. It can drive for 265 miles before needing to be plugged in. The recharging process involves eight minutes of battery removal and replacement and 45 minutes of actual charging.
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8 Tesla Model S Plaid
Top Speed: 200 MPH
The Tesla Model S Plaid pushes the boundaries of speed and performance and, compared to the regular Model S, its extra motor pushes it to a peak power of 1,020 horsepower. This offers acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 1.99 seconds.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Tri-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,020 HP |
|
Torque |
N/A |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.99 secs |
|
Top Speed |
200 mph |
(Data was collected from Tesla)
Its top speed is 200 mph, while it can reach a quarter mile in 9.23 seconds at a speed of 155 mph. The Model S Plaid is also rated to an EPA-estimated range of 396 miles. It also showcases the cutting-edge technology that Tesla is known for, like enhanced autopilot, auto lane change, summon, and Autopark.
7 Lucid Air Sapphire
Top Speed: 205 MPH
The Lucid Air Sapphire uses a twin-motor rear-drive unit and a single-motor front-drive unit to deliver 1,234 horsepower and 1,430 pound-feet of torque. This can rocket it from zero to 60 mph in 1.89 seconds, achieving a quarter-mile time of 8.95 seconds at 158 mph. It also reaches a top speed of 205 mph.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Tri-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,234 HP |
|
Torque |
1,430 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.89 secs |
|
Top Speed |
205 mph |
(Data was collected from Lucid)
It’s also equipped with in-house developed torque vectoring control algorithms and traction control. It can drive an EPA-estimated range of 427 miles, with an ultra-fast 900V+ charging system. It uses 20- and 21-inch wheels in the front and rear respectively. It comes with a price tag of $249,000.
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6 Pininfarina Battista
Top Speed: 217 MPH
The Pininfarina Battista is a quad-motor electric hypercar that unleashes 1,900 horsepower and 1,696 pound-feet of torque which propels it from zero to 60 mph in 1.86 seconds. It continues to impress with a 0-124 mph time of just 4.75 seconds and a 0-186 mph sprint in 10.5 seconds. This continues to a top speed of 217 mph.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Quad-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,900 HP |
|
Torque |
1,696 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.86 secs |
|
Top Speed |
217 mph |
(Data was collected from Pininfarina)
It is fitted with a 120 kWh battery produced by Rimac Automobili, offering 296 miles of electric range. A 20-80 percent state-of-charge is achieved in 25 minutes. Its efficiency is heightened by the carbon fiber body which sits on a carbon fiber chassis, ensuring lightweight and nimble handling.
5 Lotus Evija
Top Speed: 218 MPH
The Lotus Evija is Lotus’ first-ever electric vehicle, and it runs on a quad-motor setup where each motor produces 503 horsepower, unleashing a combined power output of 2,011 horsepower. It uses a single-speed transmission on each motor to deliver unmatched performance and excitement.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Quad-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
2,011 HP |
|
Torque |
1,258 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
<3 secs |
|
Top Speed |
218 mph |
(Data was collected from Lotus)
The crowning excitement is a top speed of 218 mph which starts from a 0-60 mph acceleration time of under three seconds, climbing through a 9.1-second 0-186 mph sprint. It uses torque vectoring technology to improve cornering at speed. Lotus equipped the Evija with a 93 kWh lithium-ion battery that offers an electric range of 215 miles, according to WLTP standards.
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4 Deus Vayanne
Top Speed: 250 MPH
At the forefront of innovation, the Deus Vayanne uses an electrified propulsion system designed by Williams Advanced Engineering. This is a tri-motor setup featuring a single-speed single-motor front unit and a single-speed dual-motor rear unit that deliver 2,243 horsepower and 1,505 pound-feet of torque.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Tri-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
2,243 HP |
|
Torque |
1,505 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
<1.99 secs |
|
Top Speed |
250 mph |
(Data was collected from Deus)
It accelerates from zero to 60 mph in under 1.99 seconds and climbs to a top speed of 250 mph. Its 85 kWh battery pack offers a range of 310 miles, and with a DC fast-charging speed of 350 kW, allows for an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes. All these come for $2 million.
3 Tesla Roadster
Top Speed: >250 MPH
The Tesla Roadster is a two-door coupe with 2+2 seating. Its tri-motor setup, which consists of one at the front and two at the rear, delivers 7,376 pound-feet of torque to the wheels, allowing it to accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Tri-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
N/A |
|
Torque |
7,376 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.9 secs |
|
Top Speed |
>250 mph |
(Data was collected from Tesla)
It continues accelerating to a 0-100 mph time of 4.2 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 8.8 seconds, and a top speed of over 250 mph from its single-speed all-wheel drive configuration. It uses a massive 200-kWh battery to keep it on the road for up to 620 miles. To secure a pre-order, a $50,000 deposit is required.
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2 Aspark Owl
Top Speed: 257 MPH
The Aspark Owl is a quad-motor marvel equipped with a dual-speed automatic transmission, boasting 1,980 horsepower and 1,416 pound-feet of torque from its motors. At the wheels, 9,913 pound-feet of torque rockets it from a standstill to 60 mph in 1.72 seconds. It keeps rising to a 0-124 mph time of 4.76 seconds and a 0-186 mph time of 9.74 seconds.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Quad-motor |
|
Transmission |
Dual-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,980 HP |
|
Torque |
1,416 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.72 secs |
|
Top Speed |
257 mph |
(Data was collected from Aspark)
It can reach the quarter-mile in 8.73 seconds and then hit the top speed of 257 mph. Equipped with a 69 kWh battery pack, the Owl can travel 249 miles, and its fast-charging capabilities replenish 80 percent charge in 40 minutes at 200 kW.
1 Rimac Nevera
Top Speed: 258 MPH
The Rimac Nevera pushes the boundaries of performance with its quad-motor setup. 307 horsepower is produced by each front motor and 612 horsepower is produced by each rear motor, combining for a total power output of 1,914 horsepower that helps this magnificent EV accelerate to 60 mph in 1.74 seconds.
Performance Specifications
|
Motors |
Quad-motor |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
1,914 HP |
|
Torque |
1,726 lb-ft |
|
Driveline |
All-wheel drive |
|
0-60 mph |
1.74 secs |
|
Top Speed |
258 mph |
(Data was collected from Rimac)
It reaches 180 mph in 9.22 seconds after blistering the quarter mile in 8.25 seconds. Rimac’s intelligent all-wheel torque vectoring system helps it maintain its incredible speed in the corners. All the cutting-edge equipment in the Nevera is designed and developed entirely in-house, like the carbon fiber monocoque, and the integrated 120 kWh battery pack.
