2016 Tesla Model S P90D – Zero to 60 mph: 2.8 seconds
The quickest car on our list won’t burn a drop of gasoline as it rockets from zero to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds. The electric Tesla Model S P90D with Ludicrous Mode creates 532 horsepower using strong electric motor torque and all-wheel drive to quietly leap from the start line.
Ludicrous Mode is a $10,000 add-on to the Model S P90D’s $109,500 base price. Without it, you’ll have to endure an extra .3 seconds on the way to 60 mph as the standard P90D takes 3.1 seconds to get there.
The Model S P90D seats up to seven with optional rear jump seats and can travel up to 253 miles on a single charge, according to EPA estimates. It is the top-rated model in our rankings of luxury large cars.
The Tesla model S is assembled in Fremont, California.
2016 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – Zero to 60 mph: 2.95 seconds
When properly equipped, Chevy’s Corvette Z06 is the quickest mass-produced gasoline-only powered vehicle made in the U.S. today. Fitted with the Z07 performance aerodynamic and tire package and an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Z06 can launch from zero to 60 mph in just 2.95 seconds.
If you feel the need to shift your own gears, a Z06 with the Z07 package and a seven-speed manual transmission takes 3.2 seconds to get from zero to 60. Power comes from a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that produces 650 horsepower. Pricing for the Z06 starts at $79,400.
All that Z06 power seem over the top? The base Corvette Stingray is priced from $55,400. It’s certainly no slug, getting from zero to 60 in 3.7 seconds when equipped with the automatic transmission. The Corvette is No. 3 in our rankings of luxury convertibles and tied for No. 3 in the luxury sports car category.
The Chevy Corvette Z06 is manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
2016 Acura NSX – Zero to 60 mph: estimated about 3 seconds.
Acura hasn’t released an official zero to 60 mph figure for their new all-wheel drive supercar, but journalists who have driven it have reported times from just under to just over three seconds. Whether their numbers are accurate or not, it’s safe to say the 2017 NSX is wicked fast.
The impressive performance comes from a wildly complex powertrain that uses three electric motors to help launch the car until twin turbochargers bring the 3.5-liter engine to full power. Between all of the power systems, the NSX produces 573 horsepower. Its lightweight body structure is constructed of mainly aluminum, with high-strength steel and carbon fiber used for some parts.
Pricing for the 2017 NSX starts at $156,000. Check all of the boxes on the option sheet, and the price will top out at $205,700.
The Acura NSX is built in Marysville, Ohio.
2016 Tesla Model X – Zero to 60 mph: 3.2 Seconds
The second Tesla model on our list is the country’s fastest SUV, blasting from zero to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds using only electric power. The Model X features falcon doors, seats seven, and can travel as far as 250 miles on a single charge, according to EPA estimates.
The Model X has some features not normally found on a vehicle that can travel at warp speed, including the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds. It can carry multiple golf bags in its front trunk, and 77 cubic feet of cargo behind its rear seat.
When you’re on the road, charging your Tesla is free when you use the brand’s Supercharger network.
The Tesla Model X is assembled in Fremont, California
2016 Dodge Viper GTC – Zero to 60 mph: 3.4 seconds
There’s a monster under the Viper’s massive hood. It’s a rumbling 8.4-liter V10 engine capable of rocketing the car from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, according to instrumented testing by Car and Driver magazine. Get your Viper now, as it’s reportedly leaving production in 2017.
Dodge wants each Viper to be unique, so it’s offering the “1 of 1” customization program where they promise that they will not build two identical cars from among their 25 million different build combinations. The Viper is ranked No. 15 among 15 cars in our luxury sports car segment.
Pricing for the Viper starts at $89,995 and reaches $120,895 for the ACR Coupe.
The Dodge Viper is built in Detroit, Michigan.
2016 Cadillac CTS-V – Zero to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds
The Cadillac CTS-V is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That is, until you stomp on the gas, unleashing the 640 horsepower from the 6.2-liter supercharged V8. It’ll get you from a stop to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, all while keeping you comfy in the Cadillac cabin.
The high performer is based off of the Cadillac CTS sedan which is tied for No. 1 in our listing of luxury midsize cars.
Designed to compete with European sports sedans, the CTS-V is more than just a straight line performer. It features the latest version of GM’s Magnetic Ride Control for exceptional handling on the track or twisty back roads. Pricing for the CTS-V sedan starts at $83,995.
The Cadillac CTS-V sedan is built in Lansing, Michigan.
2016 Cadillac ATS-V – Zero to 60 mph: 3.8 seconds
On a mission to unseat the venerable BMW M3, the Cadillac ATS-V brings a twin-turbo V6 to the fight, cranking out 464 horsepower with very little turbo lag to slow its 3.8-second journey from zero to 60 mph. The ATS-V shares many components with its larger CTS-V brother.
The ATS Sedan is tied for No. 8 of 15 vehicles in our luxury small cars segment. It’s smaller than many in the segment, both in terms of passenger and cargo room. The high-performance V-model features Magnetic Ride Control and Brembo brakes, making this speed demon as much of a threat in the corners of the racetrack as it is on the straights.
The Cadillac ATS-V sedan is built in Lansing, Michigan.
2017 Mercedes C63 AMG S – Zero to 60 mph: 3.9 seconds
The hot rod version of the Alabama-built C-Class sedan makes it to the list with a zero to 60 mph time of 3.9 seconds. The Mercedes C63 AMG S sedan carries a big punch under its hood with an AMG-tuned twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 503 horsepower.
The C63 AMG S is the top trim level of the C-Class sedan that is tied for the No. 2 spot in our rankings of luxury small cars and is the winner of our 2016 Best Upscale Small Car for Families award. Base price for the C63 AMG S is $71,900.
Riding on 19-inch staggered wheels, the C63 AMG S features three-mode adaptive suspension and a seven speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Mercedes C63 AMG S is built in Vance, Alabama.
2016 Shelby GT350R — Zero to 60 mph: 3.9 seconds
It might come as a surprise that Ford’s latest street-legal race car is relatively slow compared to Corvettes and Cadillacs. But the Shelby GT5350R is designed to dominate the racetrack, not the dragstrip, maintaining strong performance lap after lap for hours on end.
In Car and Driver magazine’s instrumented testing the Shelby GT350R gets from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The slightly tamer and more street-drivable Shelby GT350 takes a still-impressive 4.3 seconds to reach 60 mph (in Car and Driver’s testing).
Both carry Ford’s most powerful non-turbo or supercharged engine ever produced. The 5.2-liter V8 produces 526 horsepower. The GT350R model gains performance through enhanced aerodynamic features and aggressive weight reduction, including the use of carbon fiber wheels.
If you can’t quite pull off the $47,795 base price of the GT350 or $61,295 price of the GT350R, Ford offers several other trim levels of the Mustang. Prices start at $24,145 for the V6 Mustang and $32,395 for the 435-hp Mustang GT. The GT Coupe can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.4 seconds, according to Car and Driver.
The Mustang Coupe holds the No. 3 position in our rankings of sports cars and was a finalist for the U.S. News & World Report 2016 Best Sports Car for the Money award.
All Ford Mustang, Shelby GT350, and Shelby GT350R models are built in Flat Rock, Michigan.
2016 Chevy Camaro SS – Zero to 60 mph: 4.0 seconds
With an impressive roar, the 2016 Camaro SS launches from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds when equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It won’t be the quickest Camaro for long. Chevy has introduced two new models that should shave at least a few tenths off the SS’ best time.
The Camaro 1LE package for the SS features enhanced suspension tuning, Magnetic Ride Control, an electronically controlled limited slip differential, and massive Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. Chevy hasn’t released official zero to 60 mph figures for the 1LE package yet but has already talked about taking seconds off racetrack lap times in development testing.
Even quicker should be the Camaro ZL1 Coupe and Convertible with a 640-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 under the hood. Power will be put to the huge rear tires through an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Camaro claims the No. 2 slot in our rankings of sports cars.
All Camaros are assembled in Lansing, Michigan.
2016 BMW X5 M – Zero to 60 mph: 4.0 seconds
Our last two entries on the list of fastest American cars come from an unlikely place: South Carolina. But that’s where BMW builds the growly X5 M. While some on this list seem to claw their way to 60, the X5 M effortlessly sprints there in 4.0 seconds without any drama.
Powered by a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, the X5 M lays its 567 horsepower to the street through all four wheels while retaining much of the sporty character of a rear-wheel drive performance car. The X5 holds a tie for the No. 2 position in our listing of luxury SUVs with 3 rows. (It’s also tied for No. 5 in luxury midsize SUVs and tied for No. 8 in the luxury crossover SUV segment.)
Prices start at $98,800 for the X5 M.
All BMW X5 models for worldwide distribution are built in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
2016 BMW X6 M – Zero to 60 mph: 4.0 seconds
The BMW X6 M is an SUV with a healthy dose of sport, but little utility. It’s a whole lot of fun to drive though, with 567 horsepower under the control of your right foot from the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood. Zero to 60 mph is achieved in 4.0 seconds.
BMW has found success with the sloping roofline, hatchback SUV formula used by X6 M, but the X6 lineup is only tied for the No. 14 position out of 18 in our rankings of luxury midsize SUVs, largely due to its cramped back seat and lack of cargo space. It’s tied for the No. 21 position in our rankings of luxury 2-row SUVs and No. 21 out of 28 in the luxury crossover SUV segment.
Prices start at $102,200 for the X6 M.
All BMW X6 models for worldwide distribution are built in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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The Quickest Cars Built in the U.S.A.
Donald Trump has been shouting that we need to make America great again. But if you’re a lover of fast cars, America’s already a pretty awesome place to be. We’ve surveyed the market to find the fastest cars built in America today, from muscle and sports cars to lightning quick SUVs.
The country was once known for its Detroit-built, low-tech, yet powerful and fast muscle cars. But the landscape has changed, and the fastest cars made in the U.S. now come from across the country – from California’s Tesla to Detroit’s Dodge Viper and South Carolina’s BMW X5 M.
Take a lap to see the quickest of the quick. We’ve ranked them by their acceleration from zero to 60 mph using data from manufacturers and reliable independent testers. When you’ve found the right rocket ship for your favorite drive, be sure to check out U.S. News & World Report’s Best Price Program and our new car deals page so you don’t pay too much.
You’ll note that there are a few notable nameplates missing from this list. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat, Dodge Charger Hellcat, and Ford GT are gifts from our neighbors to the north, all built in Canada. To make this list, you have to be built right here in the U.S. – now that’s something that should make Mr. Trump happy.