What is the #2 fastest car?
The #2 fastest car, by the most widely cited official standard for top speed, is the Koenigsegg Agera RS at 277.87 mph, behind Bugatti's Chiron Super Sport 300+ at 304.77 mph. This ranking reflects how top-speed records are counted and verified in mainstream automotive records as of 2025.
Defining fastest: categories and criteria
Top-speed records depend on definitions such as production-car status, whether the speed is a two-way average or a single run, and whether the car was tested on public roads or a closed test track. These distinctions determine which cars are listed as the world’s fastest and where the Koenigsegg Agera RS sits in the rankings.
Current official standings for top speeds (production cars)
These entries reflect the most widely cited, verifiable top-speed records for production cars. The order below goes from the fastest to the next fastest among credible, well-documented attempts. Note that some records involve one-way runs or special-track conditions, which affects their official status.
- Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ — 304.77 mph (490.48 km/h) achieved in 2019 on a track. This speed is often cited as the fastest production-car speed, but it was a one-way run and not an official two-way average.
- Koenigsegg Agera RS — 277.87 mph (447.19 km/h) achieved in 2017 on a Nevada highway using a two-way average. This is the official production-car top-speed record by Guinness World Records under the two-way rule.
- Hennessey Venom GT — 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h) achieved in 2014 at the Kennedy Space Center; widely cited as among the fastest production cars, though it did not set a two-way average on a public road.
In this framework, the Koenigsegg Agera RS is considered the #2 fastest car behind the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, when using the strict, two-way, on-public-road standard recognized by major record-keeping bodies.
Contested attempts and other notes
There have been ambitious claims that generated controversy over verification, methodology, or classification. The SSC Tuatara claimed 316.11 mph in 2020, but subsequent investigations found inconsistencies in timing and data, and it has not been recognized as an official two-way top-speed record by major authorities. As a result, the Tuatara is not counted among the verified official top speeds in the same way as the Agera RS and Chiron.
These developments illustrate why many outlets emphasize the two-way average on a public road or an authorized test-track run when ranking the fastest production cars. Until new, verifiable tests are published and independently confirmed, the Koenigsegg Agera RS remains the official #2 behind the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+.
Additional context: other fast cars and future targets
Automakers continue to push for higher top speeds with advanced aerodynamics, lighter materials, and more power. Debates about production-vehicle qualification, track vs. road testing, and verification standards will continue to shape future records. Some announced projects aim to surpass current leaders, but must pass stringent, independent verification to change the official rankings.
Summary
In summary, the second-fastest car by the most widely accepted official standard is the Koenigsegg Agera RS at 277.87 mph, trailing the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ at 304.77 mph. Records can vary based on definitions and verification methods, so enthusiasts watch for two-way average tests on public roads or certified track runs to confirm any new #2 or #1 standings.
