Gone are the days when achieving 1,000 horsepower required extensive tuning and modifications. Thanks to advancements in engine technology, automakers can now produce road-legal vehicles with this level of power straight from the factory. Warning: these 1,000-hp cars often come with a higher price tag, as many fall into the supercar and hypercar categories.
In 2024, the market features both gasoline and electric-powered 1,000-hp vehicles, offering serious performance. Here are some of the top 1,000-hp car options available this year.
GMC Hummer EV Pickup
General Motors took the market by storm when introducing the GMC Hummer EV pickup. This truck provides significant power and offroading ability and is currently available as a two or three-electric motor. The dual-motor powertrain can produce 570 horsepower, but the tri-motor powertrain can reach 1,000 hp. Acceleration-wise, this 9,640-pound truck requires just 3.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour. Tri-motor models can also reach 381 miles on a single charge, which is quite a feat considering its size and power rating.
Koenigsegg Regera
The Regera has been in production since 2016 as a hybrid hypercar. Its nameplate, ‘Regera,’ means ‘to reign’ in Swedish, and it is not hard to see why, considering it’s one of the most potent yet road-legal cars. It features a twin-turbocharged 5.0 liter V8 engine set in the middle, with three electric motors. The result is 1,500 horsepower to the rear wheels. This is not linked to transmission, as the Regera uses Koenigsegg direct drive, similar to what one would find in an electric vehicle.
Lamborghini Revuelto
The Revuelto was introduced to the market in 2023, featuring stylistic aspects of the Murcielago, Diablo, and Countach. However, unlike the previous models, it is a plug-in hybrid that combines a mid-mounted V12 engine with three electric motors. Its powertrain system produces 1,001 horsepower, making it the most powerful Lamborghini on the market. This is linked to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive system.
Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale
Introduced in 2019, the SF90 XX Stradale is a two-seater hypercar with one trim level, the Spider Convertible. Ferrari made only 799 units of this supercar. The SF90 is quite expensive, starting at $528,764. Power comes from a combination of a mid-mounted V8 and three electric motors that consequently produce 1016 horsepower. Its powertrain is linked to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. According to Ferrari, its powertrain allows the Stradale to go from 0 to 60 within 2.3 seconds.
Brabus Rocket 1000
The Brabus Rocket is a custom AMG GT63 SE Performance model—one of the most powerful models built by the tuning company, with only 25 units made. It utilizes a modified version of the AMG 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, which links to a 204-horsepower electric motor to make 1,000 horsepower. Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard, as is a nine-speed automatic transmission. This car takes 2.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour.
Lotus Evija
The Lotus Evija is the world’s first pure electric hypercar, offering astronomical powertrain figures. It is powered by four electric motors that generate 1,972 horsepower and 1,254 pounds of foot torque. The motors are mated to a single-speed automatic transmission and governed by a four-wheel drive system. At 3,700 pounds, the Evija is the lightest EV hypercar currently in production.
Lucid Air Sapphire
Lucid Motors described the Sapphire as the world’s first fully electric super sports sedan capable of incredible performance feats. Twin motors at the back and a single motor in the front combine to provide 1,234 horsepower. This does not hamper range, considering the Sapphire can go 427 miles on a single charge. Performance-wise, it accelerates to 60 miles per hour within 1.89 seconds and achieves a top speed of 205 mph.
Tesla Model S Plaid
Tesla designed its flagship model to break range and performance records. Its tri-motor powertrain generates 1,020 horsepower, which is seamlessly transferred to the road thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. According to the automaker, the Model S Plaid also has the lowest drag coefficient in the world, allowing it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 1.99 seconds. Available for less than $76,000, the Model S takes the 1,000-plus horsepower rating out of the exotic car segment and makes it available to the masses.
Bugatti Mistral
The Mistral Roadster is the brand’s final W-16-powered model. Bugatti indicated that the roofless Mistral is based on the Chiron coupe and will be the fastest open-top production model. The engine is currently a quad-turbocharged 8-liter W16 that produces 1,578 horsepower. All-wheel-drive, it is linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds. Considering the model’s $5 million price tag and significance, only 99 units were made.
Rimac Nevera
The Croatian-built Nevera is one of the most potent hyper-EVs available. It utilizes a monocoque chassis with battery cells underneath the floor, and its four electric motors produce 1,813 horsepower. Rimac also indicates that the Nevera can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour within 1.85 seconds, the fastest acceleration time of any road-legal car. Considering its performance, the Rimac isn’t cheap, starting at $2.2 million.
Nio EP9
The EP9 is the fastest hypercar from the Chinese automaker. Electric motors are set to each wheel to generate 1,341 horsepower and 4,366 pounds per foot of torque. A motor on each wheel provides the EP9 with amazing torque vectoring, allowing it to corner at high speeds seamlessly. The EP9 is technically not road-legal but can be purchased for track use. It is expensive, though, at roughly $3 million per unit.
Czinger 21C
The 21C is a hybrid model developed by Czinger Vehicles, a hybrid sports model automaker. Its hybrid powertrain consists of a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 capable of reaching 11,000 rpm. Two electric motors at the front produce up to 1,233 horsepower. Its hybrid setup is connected to an automated 7-speed semi-sequential transmission, and the power is sent to the rear wheels.
Technology Has Ushered in a New Era
Technological advancements have enabled engines to produce extraordinary power outputs. A 1000-hp road car was unfathomable a few decades ago, but now it is a reality. Performance car manufacturers must keep pushing up the ante and testing limits. However, this technology doesn’t come cheap, as most of the cars on this list are priced at over $100,000.
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Mark Muhoro is a car enthusiast and writer who loves everything about automobiles. With over 11 years of experience in the automotive industry, Mark has become an expert in how cars work and what makes them special. He writes clear and interesting articles about cars for magazines and websites, making valuable contributions to renowned platforms like Vroom Magazine, Internet Brands, and Contentmotive.
