Here are the most powerful cars we drove in 2021

We thought 2021 would be the year of the Formula 1-inspired road car. We thought we’d have the Aston Martin Valkyrie taking on the Mercedes-AMG Project One on road and track by now. Alas, neither Merc nor Aston could get their bonkers new hypercar flagships ready for a myriad of reasons that seem to involve VERY COMPLICATED ENGINEERING. Sad times.

Luckily, we haven’t exactly been short-changed on the power front. In fact, we’ve driven a number of cars with ridiculous horsepower figures and mind-bogglingly quick acceleration stats. You know the automotive world has gone power mad when 400bhp in a hot hatch seems normal. Yes, we’re looking at you Merc and Audi. Anyway, Check out the full list below for the most powerful cars we’ve reviewed in 2021…

“The last 3/10ths of the GT500’s throttle needs space. And very possibly wipe-clean seats. The throttle pedal itself is quite long, but push it all the way to the floor and the GT500 whistles a little from the ‘charger - a noise soon overwhelmed by the fraught, raw opera of the exhaust - and then sods off with some aggression.”

"Previous Black Series cars have been performers. Gregarious, big noise, big-character cars. This is different. It’s more focussed, more track ready. Because that’s what rivals, specifically the GT2 RS, are. It’s hard to escape the impression that Merc has decided to go all in on the Black Series, intent on taking it one step beyond where Porsche has gone."

“On a twisty mountain road, the Nevera basically summons up the sort of wieldiness you’d find in, say, the Porsche 911 Turbo, but punches out of a corner with the ferocity of something that has three times the Porsche’s horsepower (which it has). This hurricane force isn’t a surprise, but the agility, poise and its handling smarts are.”

“I don’t suspect many Battista owners will be queuing up to attend a track day, but I encourage them to do so and experience the limits. They’re in for a shock.”

“Mainly it’s about the engine, the response at 2,000rpm, the stridency from 4,000rpm and your total inability as the driver to shift up anywhere other than at the 8,500rpm cutout. You always hold on for that moment because it’s perfect, the build of power and noise into a sublime crescendo. Then pull a paddle and repeat, have the experience all over again.”

“If ever there was a British V12 to rival the Italians, here it is. Such torque and response low down (though it clearly doesn’t have excessive weight to move), and with a top end that just keeps going and going and going.”

“The new wave of electric hypercars - including the Chiron’s new roommate, the Rimac Nevera – might have it covered off the line, but the Super Sport’s roll-on performance, the way it scoots from 100mph to 200mph, is just different gravy. It feels more exciting too, with mechanical processes you can feel and hear and smell.”

“Opening the 812 Comp’s taps and unleashing all 819bhp is a near-spiritual experience. This V12 is even better than the standard 812’s.”

“The 804bhp twin-turbo V8 is responsive and utterly rampant in its delivery. The acceleration from 0-60mph (2.8secs) leaves you speechless. But when the traction is down and it’s really up to speed, romping between third and fourth gear is a Chiron-esque sensation as the 590lb ft of torque battering rams the breath out of you.”

“It sounds like the London Philharmonic Orchestra being fed feet-first into a blender.”

“Massive response, thunderous power and, beyond 4,000rpm, a sense that the acceleration has moved beyond the realms of the physically possible into a virtual world. Which is concerning. It leaves you, the driver, clinging on and desperately wanting to feel like you’re in charge.”

“In a regular GT3, acceleration is when you have a rest. In the GT3X, that’s gone, the physical forces on your body are not only more punishing, but the time spent actually covering a straight is much reduced.”