When we were young, we thought our poster cars were untouchable. The Ferrari F40, Porsche 959, and McLaren F1 seemed so far out-of-reach in terms of speed that they were like automotive gods in our eyes. Only a select few people got to be anywhere near them, let alone drive these supercars. That’s now changed.
Performance has become democratized, and now you’re able to do your shopping and pick up the kids from school in the same car that will annihilate a supercar on the drag strip, like a Tesla Model S Plaid, which you can pick up used for $50,000 these days.
Electric vehicles have taken this to an extreme, but we’ve made a list of both gas and EV sedans that will outperform or match the legendary Ferrari F40 to show you just how insane a four-door grocery-getter can be.
The fastest recorded time we could find for the F40 was 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, recorded byRoad & Track.
Bentley Flying Spur Speed
3.6 seconds
If you think about what Bentley stands for as a brand, it’s poise, the ability to eat up miles, and no-expense-spared luxury. The Flying Spur sedan might not be the first name you think of when you imagine a fast getaway, but in Speed trim, the twin-turbo 4.0L hybrid V8 power plant makes an impressive 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. That pushes this 5,822-lb beast to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds and up to a speed of 191 miles per hour.
Unlike those poster cars we mentioned, the Bentley Flying Spur takes the driver out of the equation to help you relax on a long journey. The seats have automatic climate control and postural adjustment is done on the fly to keep you feeling refreshed when you get out. Of course, all this performance is delivered while listening to some of the finest speakers ever fitted to a car, with full relaxation for every passenger. A quick getaway from the lights doesn’t require any stress, ever, in this limousine.
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
3.4 seconds
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is one of the most celebrated performance sedans of the 21st century. It’s one of the last stands for fast three-box cars as SUVs take over, and with a six-speed manual gearbox and magnetic dampers, the driver is in complete control. The 6.2L supercharged V8 produces 668 horsepower and a huge 659 lb-ft of torque. While the automatic may get to 60 mph in 0.2 seconds quicker than the manual, we’re still taking the slightly slower 3.6-second launch for the fun of rowing through the gears.
“The German competitors may boast quicker 0-60 times thanks to their all-wheel-drive systems and hybridization, but those features cause them to feel heavy compared to the Blackwing. Hopping into the Cadillac feels like a time capsule, a reminder of a time when weight and complexity were the enemies of performance.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz
Unlike the German sedans on this list, the Cadillac doesn’t have a lick of electrons helping it achieve its performance. That helps it not only slip in just under $100k before it’s discontinued, but it also delivers a rumbling American soundtrack that only a V8 could provide. Just like poster cars, expect this sedan to rise in value as people look back on the last V8 manual RWD sedan on sale in the US.
BMW M5
3.4 seconds
BMW’s Sheer Driving Pleasure marketing was retired a few years back, and that’s probably because the latest M5 doesn’t quite fit that bill. In our review of the Touring version of this 717-hp beast, we found that its 3.4-second 0-60 mph time is fun for about a week, but once the acceleration is over, it lacks a little personality. This 5,500-lb beast shows something we’ve been saying for ages: poster cars aren’t just loved for their speed, but how they make us feel.
“There’s a sense of detachment when driving it hard. The acceleration is intense and addicting, but after the first two or three thrill rides, there’s a clinical indifference to it all.”
– Christopher Smith, Senior Editor, CarBuzz
The twin-turbo V8 engine is paired with a single electric motor and a plug-in hybrid system, which makes it easier to live with and more attractive to business buyers, but it doesn’t quite stir the soul. Twenty-five miles of all-electric range and a 25 mpg combined rating in our testing are still impressive for a big machine like this, but we wish it were slightly more attractive as a fast BMW.
Dodge Charger Daytona
3.3 seconds
The shock and horror of making the Dodge Charger electric is slightly overblown, especially given how well it functions as a daily performance driver. 670 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque hit you instantly to help you accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just over three seconds, and it’ll keep accelerating to an 11.5-second quarter mile. All-wheel-drive certainly helps with that figure, but this muscle car can be switched out to RWD with the touch of a button.
This 5,828-lb sedan is a crime against weight-saving, but it’s simply where cars are going nowadays. While the Bugatti Veyron was laughed at for its 4,162-lb weight, it looks like a Lotus Elise compared to this silent muscle car. In fact, there’s a whole Elise-worth of extra weight on this car compared to the iconic W16 hypercar from 2005. The Dodge is a true show of force, and even if not everyone agrees with the removal of the V8 engine, you cannot deny how accessible it has made this sort of speed.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door
2.8 seconds
This car accelerates to 60 miles per hour faster than you can say its full name: Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance. This $200k sedan/coupe mashup is one of the fastest AMG models available today, and that’s because of F1-derived technology that pushes total power output to 831 horsepower. Up to five passengers can enjoy a 4.0L twin-turbo handcrafted V8 engine paired with a super-powerful electric motor that combined make 1,032 lb-ft of torque.
If the F40 was Ferrari’s performance-focused supercar that did away with driver aids, the Mercedes is at the other end of the spectrum. Direct cooling of the 400V battery system comes straight from the F1 car, and the whole unit weighs under 200 lbs. By the time you’ve reached the next corner in this car, the Ferrari F40 is still spooling up its turbochargers. In this car, turbo lag is a thing of the past, as the electric motor fills in any missing torque.
Audi RS e-tron GT
2.4 seconds
When a car shares its platform with the all-conquering Porsche Taycan, you know it’ll have a pep in its step. The Audi RS e-tron GT is a show of force from the German manufacturer famed for its technology, as 912 horsepower is contained through the usual quattro all-wheel-drive tech to deliver a 2.4-second 0-60 mph time. In fact, in our own testing when it was new, we clocked it at 2.17 seconds – and that’s simply mind-boggling.
“It’s violent. We’ve driven quick EVs before; they typically throw your skull into the headrest. This takes it a step further by trying to push your brain and other vital organs beyond your skin and into the rear seat.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, Former Editor-at-Large, CarBuzz
Your favorite supercars from decades ago are like dinosaurs compared to this fast sedan, and even when you approach a corner, the Audi simply carries the speed through, thanks to active hydraulic suspension that can lean into corners and keep the car level during launches. Even inside, it looks fast, with bucket seats and Alcantara as far as the eye can see, and red accents that make you feel like you’re driving something special.
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT
1.9 seconds
The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is an all-conquering EV sedan that makes light work of track records. In fact, this one has the production four-door EV record at the Nurburgring, Road Atlanta, Interlagos, and others. This car is all about performance, which is why there are no rear seats. Instead, it’s fitted with a roll cage and bracing to not only lower weight, but make it as stiff as a race car. Useful when you have 1,092 horsepower rushing through the powertrain.
In our first ride, we couldn’t believe how fast it accelerates but also how insanely fast it gets on the brakes and carries the speed through corners. That’s mainly because of 10-pot carbon ceramic brakes and Porsche’s Active Ride system keeping everything level. If the Ferrari F40 is all about an unfiltered, raw driving experience, the Porsche does things a little differently. It melts your face when you step on the gas.
Lucid Air Sapphire
1.9 seconds
The Lucid Air Sapphire is one of the most impressive vehicles of the 21st Century because of how understated 1,234 horsepower can look. This luxury sedan boasts a sub-two-second 0-60 mph time while offering creature comforts like massaging seats, oak veneers, and 18-way power seats. Unlike other performance EVs, the Lucid Air doesn’t skimp out on range, either, with a 427-mile maximum battery distance and a 200-mile charge coming in only 15 minutes.
Sure, a Sapphire costs $249,000, but what all of these sedans show is that electric powertrains (or good ol’ V8 motors in the Caddy) have democratized speed for everyone. The supercar era is over, as now almost any car can achieve hypercar performance without compromising on cargo space or luxury. Even the Lucid comes with carbon ceramic brakes, something that was reserved for track specials in years prior.
Sources: BMW, Porsche, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Dodge, Bentley, Cadillac
