Depending on who you ask, the automobile has either evolved or devolved over the years. One aspect, however has largely remained a constant – speed. The top speed of a car is no wonder the leading boasting figure. Automakers have found ways to utilize aerodynamics and sophisticated suspension designs to improve a car’s handling, resulting in better cornering stability and faster lap times. The Nurburgring’s Nordschleife is where manufacturers perfect (or ruin) a car by chasing the best possible lap times.
How fast a car goes around a track is of little significance in the real world, but top speed is still important, provided you have the room to reach it and conditions allow it. When it comes to high-speed capabilities supercars and hypercars are at the top of the food chain. Such high-end exotics though, cost a fortune to own and maintain. However, there are quite a few sports cars that will let you go as fast as your nerves will allow. Here are the 10 fastest sports cars you can buy in 2023.
10 2023 Nissan Z: 155 Mph (Limited)
The 2023 Nissan Z continues the legacy of the Fairlady Z. As you already know, the internally-dubbed RZ34 shares much with the 370Z, including the chassis and six-speed manual transmission. There’s also a Mercedes-Jatco, nine-speed automatic, but regardless of which transmission you go for, the Z is limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).
Considering the 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 makes 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet (475 Nm), the Japanese, rear-wheel-drive coupe is capable of a lot more. But until someone unshackles the new Z, 155 mph is all you are getting. Still, at a $39,990 starting price, the Nissan Z is currently the most attainable way to get into the 400-horsepower club.
9 2023 Toyota GR Supra: 161 Mph
After 17 years of absence, Toyota brought back the iconic Supra name to life. The 2019 GR Supra shares a platform with the BMW Z4 as well as the capable B58, straight-six engine. Despite not being as Japanese as JDM fans wanted, the GR Supra’s performance is a strong argument. The 3.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-six is conservatively rated at 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet (499 Nm).
Initially, mated only to an eight-speed automatic, 2022 saw the return of the six-speed manual. Officially, the GR Supra has a claimed (limited) top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). A video from Shmee150, however, showed that the GR Supra actually manages 161 mph (259 km/h), verified by GPS.
8 2023 BMW M4 Competition: 174 Mph
Since 2014, BMW’s two-door models adopted even numbers for their designation. The two-door M3 became the M4 and in 2020, the second-generation, G87 M4 came along. Power from the S58, inline-six engine is rated at 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet (550 Nm) for the regular M4 and 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet (650 Nm) for the M4 Competition.
Typically, the speed limiter is set at 155 mph (250 km/h), but with the optional M Driver’s package, it goes up to 174 mph (280 km/h). The BMW M3 G80 is practically, the same car, but with four doors. An AutoTopNL videodemonstrates how an “unlocked” M3 gets close to 200 mph (322 km/h).
7 2023 BMW M2: 177 Mph
Since its introduction in 2015, the BMW M2 has been your entry-level to Bavarian M-cars. In 2023, BMW gave us the second iteration of the compact sports coupe, under the G87 chassis code. Now, with a more powerful, S58 engine that replaces the old model’s N55 and S55 units, power is rated at 453 horsepower and 406 pound-feet (550 Nm), spread across a wide RPM band.
With this nuke of a 3.0-liter straight-six, the M2 rockets to 60 mph (97 km/h) in as little as 4.1 seconds if equipped with the ZF, eight-speed automatic. The manual is just 0.2 seconds slower. Normally, the top speed is limited to 155 mph (250 km/h), but if you opt for the M Driver’s package, you’ll be looking at 177 mph (285 km/h) in no time.
6 2023 Chevrolet Camaro SS: 180 Mph
Sadly, 2023 is the last year in which the sixth-generation Camaro, as we know it, will be available for purchase. The future of the Camaro nameplate is confirmed to involve some degree of electrification and a sedan body style. Regardless, the Chevy Camaro managed to evolve into a proper performance car, largely thanks to GM’s Alpha platform.
With this, the Camaro’s cornering capabilities became the best of the Muscle car trio. More importantly, power still comes from a 6.2-liter, pushrod V-8. In its current, guise, the SS packs 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet 617 Nm). Depending on the transmission choice, 60 mph (97 km/h) blow by in as little as 4.0 seconds. There is no speed limiter, so the Camaro SS will do 180 mph (290 km/h).
5 2023 Lotus Emira: 180 Mph
Over the past few years, Lotus has reimagined itself. The British carmaker axed its iconic, lightweight models in order to introduce its first Evija EV supercar and its first e-SUV – the Eletre. In 2022, we got the Lotus Emira, which is a clear sign, the brand has not given up on ICE-powered vehicles. just yet The Emira is way more sophisticated and usable than the now-deceased Elise, Exige, and Evora, but still packs a mid-mounted Toyota-derived, supercharged V-6.
There’s also an AMG-derived M139, turbo-four available. The supercharged V-6 is paired with a six-speed manual while the German four-banger is mated to an AMG 8G automatic. With a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h), this is one of the fastest road-going cars Lotus has ever made.
4 2023 Jaguar F-Type R: 186 Mph (Limited)
Jaguar confirmed that 2024 will be the last year, in which you will be able to buy the fire-breathing F-Type. The two-seater luxury sports car from Jaguar dropped the supercharged V-6 in favor of a turbo-four, but the 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 remained. In its most powerful, P575 guise, the engine produces 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm), managed by an eight-speed, ZF automatic.
Since 2018 the most powerful versions of the F-Type can only be had with all-wheel drive. That’s because earlier, V-8 F-Types were referred to by some as “the British Viper”. Regardless, the current, most powerful variant can sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds on to a limited top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).
3 2023 Porsche 718 GT4/4.0: 189 Mph
Porsche’s entry-level model is often praised for being a better driver’s car than even the 911. While the topic is debatable, there’s no denying that the 718 is a capable car in any form. Even the base model is capable of 171 mph (275 km/h) with just 300 horsepower from a turbocharged flat-four. The range-topping GT4 variant features a 4.0-liter, naturally-aspirated flat-six, which is actually based on the 911 Carrera’s 3.0-liter, turbocharged flat-six.
With 420 horsepower and 317 pound-feet (420 Nm), when equipped with a PDK, the Porsche 718 GT4 can reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, on its way to 188 mph (302 km/h). With a six-speed manual, 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) takes 0.5 seconds more, but top speed goes up to 189 mph (304 km/h).
2 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera S: 190 Mph
With so many versions, it’s hard to pinpoint, which segment the Porsche 911 belongs to. In Turbo S form, it’s capable of thrashing most exotic cars while in GTS trim, it is a capable sporty grand-tourer. The price point of around $130,000 is where we can start talking about supercars and for less than that you can get a Carrera S.
In this form, the current 992 model packs 450 horsepower and 390 pound-feet (530 Nm) from a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six. The Porsche 992 Carrera S comes exclusively with an eight-speed PDK, which allows for a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint in 3.5 seconds. The top speed of the rear-engine sports car is equally impressive at 190 mph (306 km/h).
1 2023 Ford Mustang GT500: 195 Mph
At the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, Ford introduced the most powerful Mustang you could buy off a showroom floor. The Mustang Shelby GT500 packs a 5.2-liter, supercharged V-8, dubbed the “Predator”. All engines were hand-built and featured a 2.65-liter, roots-type supercharger on top. The result is 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet (847 Nm).
The engine is exclusively mated to a Tremec, seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. This wild Mustang can reach 195 mph (314 km/h), but in its home market, it’s limited to “just” 180 mph (290 km/h). What happened to the “land of the free”? Get it right and 60 mph (97 km/h) goes by in 3.4 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds quicker than the manual-only GT500 that came before it.