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The most powerful car of every decade

The power record of every decade from the 1900s to the 2020s, from the figures in the 1CARS catalog. The latest record holder is the Koenigsegg Gemera with 1,715 kW (2,332 PS · 2,300 hp).

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Power record by year, 1900–2026

04008001,2001,6002,000 1900192019401960198020002020 kW 1900: Mercedes-Benz 35 PS - 26 kW 1911: Vauxhall Prince Henry - 56 kW 1919: Hispano-Suiza H6 - 145 kW 1952: DeSoto Firedome - 220 kW 1953: Ferrari America - 221 kW 1955: Ferrari America - 265 kW 1957: Chrysler 300C Hardtop - 291 kW 1958: Lincoln Continental Mark - 298 kW 1960: Ford Galaxie - 317 kW 1963: Chevrolet Corvette - 324 kW 1967: Chevrolet Yenko Camaro - 336 kW 1987: Ruf CTR - 345 kW 1989: Vector W8 - 466 kW 1992: McLaren F1 - 491 kW 2000: Saleen S7 - 559 kW 2004: Koenigsegg CCR - 601 kW 2005: Bugatti Veyron - 736 kW 2010: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport - 883 kW 2013: Rimac Concept One - 913 kW 2016: Bugatti Chiron - 1,103 kW 2019: Bugatti Chiron - 1,177 kW 2020: Hennessey Venom F5 - 1,515 kW 2024: Koenigsegg Gemera - 1,715 kW
Each step is a new power record in the 1CARS catalog: 23 record holders, the latest the Koenigsegg Gemera (2024, 1,715 kW). Series and limited-run cars only.
  1. 1900: Mercedes-Benz 35 PS, 26 kW
  2. 1911: Vauxhall Prince Henry, 56 kW
  3. 1919: Hispano-Suiza H6, 145 kW
  4. 1952: DeSoto Firedome, 220 kW
  5. 1953: Ferrari America, 221 kW
  6. 1955: Ferrari America, 265 kW
  7. 1957: Chrysler 300C Hardtop, 291 kW
  8. 1958: Lincoln Continental Mark, 298 kW
  9. 1960: Ford Galaxie, 317 kW
  10. 1963: Chevrolet Corvette, 324 kW
  11. 1967: Chevrolet Yenko Camaro, 336 kW
  12. 1987: Ruf CTR, 345 kW
  13. 1989: Vector W8, 466 kW
  14. 1992: McLaren F1, 491 kW
  15. 2000: Saleen S7, 559 kW
  16. 2004: Koenigsegg CCR, 601 kW
  17. 2005: Bugatti Veyron, 736 kW
  18. 2010: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, 883 kW
  19. 2013: Rimac Concept One, 913 kW
  20. 2016: Bugatti Chiron, 1,103 kW
  21. 2019: Bugatti Chiron, 1,177 kW
  22. 2020: Hennessey Venom F5, 1,515 kW
  23. 2024: Koenigsegg Gemera, 1,715 kW

The most powerful car of every decade

13 decades
  1. 1900s 1900s: Mercedes-Benz 35 PS 35 PS I · 1900–1902 26 kW35 PS · 35 hp
  2. 1910s 1910s: Hispano-Suiza H6 H6 I · 1919–1933 8.0 l H6C I6 145 kW197 PS · 194 hp Specs: Hispano-Suiza H6 8.0 l H6C I6
  3. 1920s 1920s: Delage D8 D8 I · 1929–1940 4.1 l 76 kW103 PS · 102 hp Specs: Delage D8 4.1 l
  4. 1930s 1930s: Packard Twelve Twelve II · 1933–1939 134 kW182 PS · 180 hp
  5. 1940s 1940s: Tucker 48 48 I · 1947–1948 5.5 l flat-six Limited run · 50 built 124 kW169 PS · 166 hp Specs: Tucker 48 5.5 l flat-six
  6. 1950s 1950s: Lincoln Continental Mark Continental Mark III · 1958 7.0 l 430 Super Marauder V8 298 kW405 PS · 400 hp Specs: Lincoln Continental Mark 7.0 l 430 Super Marauder V8
  7. 1960s 1960s: Chevrolet Yenko Camaro Yenko Super Camaro · 1967–1968 336 kW457 PS · 451 hp
  8. 1970s 1970s: Chevrolet Chevelle SS Chevelle SS II · 1968–1972 7.4 l SS 454 LS6 336 kW457 PS · 451 hp Specs: Chevrolet Chevelle SS 7.4 l SS 454 LS6
  9. 1980s 1980s: Vector W8 W8 I · 1989–1993 6.0 V8 twin-turbo Limited run · 22 built 466 kW634 PS · 625 hp Specs: Vector W8 6.0 V8 twin-turbo
  10. 1990s 1990s: McLaren F1 1992–1998 Limited run · 106 built 491 kW668 PS · 658 hp
  11. 2000s 2000s: Bugatti Veyron 2005–2015 8.0 l 16.4 Limited run · 450 built 736 kW1,001 PS · 987 hp Specs: Bugatti Veyron 8.0 l 16.4
  12. 2010s 2010s: Bugatti Chiron 2016–2024 8.0 l Super Sport 300+ Limited run · 500 built 1,177 kW1,600 PS · 1,578 hp Specs: Bugatti Chiron 8.0 l Super Sport 300+
  13. 2020s 2020s: Koenigsegg Gemera Gemera I · 2024–present Limited run · 300 built 1,715 kW2,332 PS · 2,300 hp

Method and data

For each decade we take the most powerful car whose version or generation went on sale in that decade, using the power figures in the 1CARS catalog. Trucks, buses and commercial vehicles are not included. How we collect and check data

Download the full list (CSV) · Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit “1CARS” and link to this page. Spot an error? Tell us - we check every report.

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Questions and answers

What is the most powerful car of the current decade?

The Koenigsegg Gemera (Gemera I · 2024–present), with 1,715 kW (2,332 PS · 2,300 hp) - the record for the 2020s in our catalog.

How is this ranking compiled?

For each decade we take the most powerful car whose version or generation went on sale in that decade, using the power figures in the 1CARS catalog. Trucks, buses and commercial vehicles are not included.

Why is a model missing from the list?

A model is listed only when the 1CARS catalog has a confirmed figure for it. Models without an official figure stay out instead of getting an estimate, and the list grows as we add data. Concept cars, prototypes, one-offs and racing cars are not ranked; limited-run models are marked.