The Senna watches after you – and continues to look after you with its feedback, stability, and drivability until you reach speeds often reserved for prototype racing bikes. Driving is a physical challenge, but it’s also a great, memorable mental reward. And, although it’s less broad-batted and useable than other hypercars in its price range, its attention to the business of travelling fast around in two-and-a-half-mile circles is completely enthralling.
Number 2. Bugatti Chiron
Bugatti, the Volkswagen Group’s trophy brand, made history in 2005 by producing the world’s fastest production vehicle. The W16-powered, 987bhp, four-wheel-drive Veyron surpassed the 250mph mark. But it couldn’t and wouldn’t be the greatest performance automobile in perpetuity.
The Chiron makes its debut in 2016. Whereas the Veyron had an aluminium spaceframe, the Chiron boasts a lighter carbonfibre monocoque. Whereas the Veyron’s final variants produced less than 1200bhp, the Chiron produces around 1500bhp. And, while the Veyron left Bugatti’s peak speed yardstick at 268mph, the Chiron, in 1578bhp Super Sport guise, has moved what has becoming an increasingly hotly disputed global production car speed record beyond 300mph, where it now stands at 304.7mph.
And if you want a hypercar that makes breaking records seem simple, this is the one. Bugatti’s more powerfully blown 16-cylinder engine has some turbo lag to contend with and isn’t the sweetest-sounding of leviathan lumps – more departing hovercraft or express train than vehicle. When it begins to rise, though, it knows no restraint.
The ride is stiff, and the handling is probably a little lacklustre. But achieving such amazing speed as the Chiron does remains a monumental feat. It’s astonishing for being so commonplace.
Number 3. Porsche 918 Spyder
