13 Crazy Fast Sports Cars From the 2000s
The 2000s were a great time for sports car fans. Advancements in technology, design, and capabilities enabled automakers to build numerous finely-tuned machines engineered for mind-blowing performance and lightning-fast speed.
Having dominated the ’90s, the McLaren F1 was poised to again flex its muscles as the fastest sports car of the 2000s, but its reign was successfully challenged by competitors who stepped up their game. The Koenigsegg CCR was the first successful challenger, but was soon outshone by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, which was subsequently bested by the SSC Ultimate Aero TT.
By all benchmarks, these were the upper echelons of the sports car class back then. But they shared the spotlight with other top performers. Below are some of the crazy fast sports cars from the 2000s.
2007 SSC Ultimate Aero TT
After it toppled the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 in September 2007, the 2007 SSC Ultimate Aero TT held tightly onto its title as the fastest sports car for the rest of the 2000s, only relinquishing it in 2010 to the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.
That honor was earned courtesy of a mid-mounted, twin-turbo 6.3-liter V8 engine that developed 1,180-hp and 961 lb-ft of torque, ensuring a top speed of 256 mph.
2005 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4
Bugatti’s record-breaking quad-turbocharged W16 engine has become synonymous with 1000-plus power figures. However, back when the powerplant launched with the 2005 Veyron 16.4, it made a relatively modest 987-hp — a far cry from the colossal 1,825-hp output it’s known for today.
Make no mistake, the original W16’s output was prodigious in its day, so much so it was crowned the most powerful production car engine at the time, with that output enough to propel the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 from zero to 60 mph in a scant 2.6 seconds and see it reach a top speed of 253 mph.
2007 Koenigsegg CCXR
The Koenigsegg CCXR had the misfortune of being released around the same time as the headline-grabbing SSC Ultimate Aero TT, but it was a fast sports car in its own right. It had the same 4.7-liter twin-supercharged V8 engine as the standard CCXR but was designed to run on E85 and E100 ethanol fuel (it also uses 98 octane petrol) instead of the 91 octane fuel the CCX uses — making it the world’s first “green” supercar.
When fed ethanol, the CCXR makes an ECE-certified 1,004-hp and 782 lb-ft of torque. This, combined with the revised aerodynamic bodywork as well as advanced aerodynamic components like diffusers and a front splitter with an aerodynamic nolder, enabled the supercar to sprint to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 250 mph.
2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo
With “only” 750-hp and 700 lb-ft of torque from a 7.0-liter twin-turbo V8, this may be one of the least powerful car in this list, but the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo is quite deserving of its place as one of the fastest sports cars from the 2000s.
Its well-engineered powertrain includes everything from aluminum CNC-machined cylinder heads to an aluminum throttle body, titanium retainers, stainless steel valves, beryllium exhaust valve seats, and several other robust components that work together to ensure the engine operates at its best — and the result is seen in its performance — with the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo able to scoot to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 248 mph.
2006 Koenigsegg CCX
The CCX was the very first Koenigsegg model sold in the U.S. As such, it was conceived as a statement piece by the Swedish company. Its twin-supercharged 4.7-liter V8 made a whopping 806-hp and 679 lb-ft, routed to the wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.
While those numbers are impressive, where the Koenigsegg CCX truly shone was in its acceleration and speed capabilities, which gave it a smidge edge over the venerable McLaren F1. Acceleration from zero to 60 took 3 seconds flat, while top speed was a remarkable 245 mph, making the CCX about 5 mph faster than the F1.
2004 Koenigsegg CCR
While this list is admittedly skewing towards Koenigsegg, it’s a testament to the brand’s long-standing excellence and well-earned reputation. The 2004 Koenigsegg CCR, for one, was the first sports car to knock the McLaren F1 off the top spot as the fastest sports car in the 2000s, even though its own reign was relatively brief.
Its incredible performance is courtesy of a supercharged 4.7-liter V8 engine that generated 806-hp and 679 lb-ft. That output meant the CCR could sprint to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds on its way to a top speed of 241 mph.
2002 Koenigsegg CC8S
Not only was the CC8S Koenigsegg’s first-ever production car, but it was also the most powerful car at the time of its release. It derived motivation from a 4.7-liter twin-supercharged V8 engine that made an astounding 655-hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That, alongside the CC8S’ athletic and aerodynamic shape, ensured a top speed of 240 mph and a 60-second run in a respectable 3.1 seconds.
Only six units of the Koenigsegg CC8S were ever made, making it one of the rarest cars in the world.
2009 Zenvo ST1
The hand-built Zenvo ST1 was a remarkable sports car for a first try. It offered head-turning good looks with clean lines and aggressive stance, cutting-edge aerodynamics, as well as exhilarating performance backed by a 7.0-liter, twin-charged V8 engine that puts out 1,089-hp and 1055 lb-ft of torque.
Owners could pair the LS7-based motor with either a six-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters. 0-60 took 2.9 seconds, while top speed in appropriate track conditions was 233 mph.
2009 Gumpert Apollo Speed
If you were interested in sports cars at all, you may have had the Gumpert Apollo Speed as one of your favorite sports cars from the late 2000s, and it’s easy to see why. The Apollo Speed was a very intricate, highly sophisticated driving machine with a diminutive body designed with aerodynamics and exhilarating performance in mind.
The Gumpert Apollo Speed’s biturbo 4.2-liter Audi V8 engine makes 700-hp, which was enough to launch the sports car to 62 mph in 3 seconds flat. Top speed was an equally outstanding 224 mph.
2004 Ferrari Enzo
Italian superstar automaker Ferrari engineered the Enzo to be one of the all-time greats. So boundless passion and meticulous attention to detail went into this model, resulting in a supercar with striking aesthetics, advanced technology, and heart-pounding acceleration. The engine is a 6.0-liter naturally aspirated V12 that develops 651-hp, allowing the Enzo to sprint to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and achieve a top speed of 218 mph.
Enormous power aside, the Ferrari Enzo also comes loaded with impressive high-performance tech, including an advanced active aerodynamics tech that actively adjusts airflow to give drivers more control and stability at high speeds, a lightweight carbon fiber body, F1-inspired automated manual transmission, and carbon fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ceramic composite brakes.
2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque
The Pagani Zonda Cinque is a road-going version of the track-only Zonda R. It has an AMG-sourced 7.3-liter V12 that’s good for 669-hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, with that output finding its way to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission.
Acceleration from zero to 62 mph took 3.4 seconds, while the top speed is 217 mph.
The Zonda Cinque was the first road-legal car to feature a carbon-titanium frame. Only five examples of the Pagani Zonda Cinque were ever made.
2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Mclaren Stirling Moss
A limited edition of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss was named in honor of the renowned British racing driver, Sir Stirling Moss, who won many races for Mercedes-Benz in the 1950s. And it’s safe to say that this sports car’s impressive capabilities uphold Stirling Moss’s revered legacy in every way.
Inspired by the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, the 2009 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss features an elegant roofless silhouette. But that alluring, aerodynamic form conceals a beastly supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine that unleashes 641-hp and 605 lb-ft of torque.
Blessed with that ferocity, the 2009 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss rockets to 62 mph in a blistering 3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 217 mph. The Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss had a limited production run of just 75 units, making it a rare and highly coveted model.
2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 is a sports car that speaks volumes through the numbers in its name — the 640 stands for 640 Pferdestärke (PS), German for horsepower. In American speak, that translates to about 631-hp.
The Murcielago LP640’s staggering output is thanks to a 6.5-liter V12 engine that also generates 486 lb-ft of torque. With that, 0-60 mph is achieved in 3.6 seconds, and the top speed is reached at 211 mph.
