Fastest on four wheels

Bentley GT continental speed

The new GT Continental Speed is the first Bentley that can exceed 200 miles per hour; that’s 322 kilometres per hour for metrically-inclined people. It has a 600 brake horsepower (612PS) engine that can propel this not-very-light car to 100 kilometres per hour in just 4.3 seconds. The engine, which delivers more power and torque than the one on the regular Continental GT, also uses specially designed lightweight superstrong materials.

Too fast for India? Where in India can you possibly find a road where you can go hit the 326 kmph top speed of this beast? Honestly, we feel that is a rhetorical question. Speed, as Jeremy Clarkson put it, is a primal need of the human race. Owning a motorcar that can touch that top speed is a lot better than not owning one.

How exclusive? Well, according to Satya Bagla of Bentley Motors, New Delhi, only two or three of these machines are earmarked for Indian customers in the first year of production. It was launched on August 1, 2007. Price: Bagla won’t say, but expect an on-road price upwards of Rs 2.3 crore.

Engine: 6000cc W-12

Power: 600 bhp

Length: 4804 mm

Wheelbase: 2745 mm

Porsche 911 Carrera S

The punchy 3.8 litre six-cylinder engine at the back of this car manages to get this, the quintessential supercar, up and running very fast, very quickly.

The car can hit a top speed of 293 kmph, and it can go from 0-100 kmph in 4.8 seconds. The problem with the Porsche is that it requires 93-octane petrol, which is not that widely available. Bharat Petroleum has Speed93, but better fuel means better performance. Price: Around Rs 80 lakh

Engine: 3824cc six-cylinder inline

Power: 355 bhp six-gear automatic

Length: 4427 mm

Wheelbase: 2350 mm

BMW 530i

Who says you need to have a sports car to go fast? The BMW 530i is a respectable executive car—until you press the accelerator down to the plush carpeting; then, this car suddenly transforms into a speed demon.

The top speed is restricted to a “manageable” 245 kmph, but when you crack the ton in under nine seconds, you know that this car means business. Price: Around Rs 60 lakh

Engine: 2979cc six cylinder inline

Power: 231 bhp

Length: 4841 mm

Wheelbase: 3128 mm

Mercedes Benz SL500

The Germans have restricted the top-speed on all their cars to a “manageable” 250 kmph. You can get a heavily modified AMG version of these cars with an unrestricted top-speed (of 300-plus kmph), but those are special imports.

The regular SL500 more than meets the desire of most people—this highly exclusive two-seater coupe manages to hit 100k in around six seconds. Price: Around Rs 1 crore.

Engine: 4966 V8

Power: 306 bhp five gear automatic

Length: 4535 mm

Wheelbase: 2560 mm