View our slide show of the world's fastest cars

Ferrari 599 GTB
Top speed: 205mph

Ferrari is renowned for building world-beating front-engined GT cars – and its latest is undoubtedly its greatest.

Thanks to advanced suspension which uses magnetic fluid to firm and soften almost instantaneously, the Ferrari 599 GTB handles like a boulevard cruiser one moment and racing car the next.

And the Ferrari 599 GTB has supercar baiting speed – thanks to its incredible engine which was first designed for the Enzo supercar.

It’s a glorious 6-litre V12 engine with 612bhp and 448lb/ft of pulling power, accelerating it from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and on to its top speed of 205mph.

Check out this video of the magnificent Ferrari 599 GTB:

Mercedes SLR 722 McLaren
Top speed: 209mph

Mercedes’ fastest ever production car is the 650bhp Mercedes McLaren SLR 722 Edition – a tuned version of the SLR supercar.

It takes its name from the 7.22am starting time of British racing hero Stirling Moss and co-pilot Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes 300 SLR at the 1,000 mile Mille Miglia road race in 1955.

The 722 Edition now pumps out 650bhp courtesy of its 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine and hits a top speed of 209mph.

Carbon ceramic brakes, lightweight wheels and various components crafted from weight-saving carbon fibre culminate in a loss of 44kg.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
Top speed: 211mph

Supercars are all about performance and street presence – and the Murcielago LP640 is a strong performer in both fields.

Finished in stealth-bomber grey paint it looks like the creation of a Hollywood prop maker.

No surprise then it’s the personal car of Bruce Wayne in the latest Batman movie, The Dark Knight.

The Murcielago LP640 certainly has the performance to catch Gotham City hoodlums, with its 6.5-litre V12 accelerating it from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 211mph.

View images of Batman's cars

Pagani Zonda F Roadster
Top speed: 214mph

The exquisitely finished and rare Pagani Zonda F Roadster was the world’s fastest convertible until the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport was launched this week.

With a top speed of 214mph you might want to keep the roof on for high speed runs – unless you wear a helmet.

A 7.3-litre V12 engine built by Mercedes and tweaked by Pagani produces more than 600bhp in a car which weighs the same as a small hatchback.

At a more relaxed pace the luxury of its stitched leather cabin and intricately laid out dashboard can be appreciated fully.

Gumpert Apollo
Top speed: 224mph

Because of its startling looks and new-kid-on-the-block status, the Gumpert Apollo has had to prove itself to the world the hard way.

And, it has succeeded. Those looks are more functional than flowing and produce downforce which pins its wide tyres onto the tarmac.

It handles like a junior Le Mans racing car and its top speed of 224mph is fast enough to keep up with the real deal on the Mulsanne straight.

An Audi 4.2-litre V8 with two turbochargers dishes out the 690bhp needed for such a huge Vmax.

Bristol Fighter T
Top speed: 225mph

Mysterious British car manufacturer Bristol has produced one of the world’s fastest cars – but only a handful look likely to be built.

Using the 8-litre V10 engine from the Dodge Viper and fitted with two turbochargers, the Fighter T produces a massive 1,012bhp.

And the Bristol produces more power than a Bugatti Veyron, sending it all through the rear-wheels and features a drag coefficient of just 0.27 compared with 0.39 for the Veyron.

Bristol claims a theoretical top speed of 270mph and has limited the Fighter T to a “more than sufficient” 225mph.

View our slide show of the world's fastest cars

Saleen S7
Top speed: 248mph

Most would be happy with the 7-litre V8 with 550bhp found in the original Saleen – but this is the world of supercars.

Saleen has boosted power to 750bhp by bolting on two turbochargers and made the Saleen S7 a real contender in the supercar top trumps stakes.

It’s a seriously big car with a long tail to aid aerodynamics – but it’s light too, thanks to a stunning carbon fibre body.

And it recently appeared on the silver screen in the summer blockbuster Iron Man.

View images of the cars of Iron Man

Koenigsegg CCXR
Top speed: 250mph

By converting the hugely potent 4.7-litre supercharged V8 engine from the CCX to run on biofuel, Koenigsegg has teased 1,018bhp and 740lb/ft from its motor.

The boost comes courtesy of biofuel’s higher octane rating than conventional fuel – and makes the CCXR the ultimate green car, sort of...

It costs a cool £1m plus VAT and Koenigsegg claims it should be faster than a Bugatti Veyron – although this has yet to be proven.
 
The thoughtful chaps at Koenigsegg also provide a five year warranty and servicing package.

Bugatti Veyron
Top speed: 253mph

Cars have been getting so fast a new word has been invented to talk about them – ‘hypercar’. The Bugatti Veyron epitomises this word – it’s a car which can make traditional supercars look silly.

Each Veyron reportedly costs Bugatti £5m to make, and then sells for around £1m.

View our slide show of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

While it sounds like an accountant’s nightmare, it has been an engineering exercise which has given Volkswagen new technologies to play with and more coverage than ten ad campaigns.

Some thought its top speed of 253mph would never be bettered, but it was only a matter of time...

SSC Ultimate Aero TT
Top speed: 257mph

In October 2007 the SSC Ultimate Aero TT hypercar became the world’s fastest car.

Driven along Highway 221 in Washington, USA by 71-year-old driver Chuck Bigelow it recorded an official record speed of 256.19mph in two passes which were judged by Guinness World Records.

The production and record breaking SSC Ultimate Aero uses a 6.2-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to produce an adrenaline drenched 1,183bhp and 1,094lb/ft of pulling power.

And SSC believe it can go even faster on a smoother road in controlled conditions.

View our slide show of the world's fastest cars