There is no supported, apples-to-apples top 25 in the available research. MotorTrend’s March 31, 2025 ranking covers the 12 quickest quarter-mile results it has recorded; Chevrolet later reported an even quicker Corvette ZR1X result, but under different conditions and as a manufacturer-reported figure.
Elapsed time (ET) is the primary measure of how quickly a car covers the quarter mile; trap speed is a separate measure. The table identifies the source and test context rather than treating different outlets’ results as one universal ranking.
MotorTrend’s 12 quickest quarter-mile results
These are the cars and displayed times in MotorTrend’s March 31, 2025 ranking. They are MotorTrend test results, not a claim to rank every production car. The publisher reports times to one decimal place in its ranking; the more precise figures noted in its article explain the order of some cars with the same displayed time.
| MotorTrend order | Model year and variant | Quarter-mile ET | Trap speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S (Lightweight) | 10.0 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 2 | 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance | 10.0 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 3 | 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder | 10.0 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 4 | 2022 Ferrari SF90 Spider | 9.8 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 5 | 2014 McLaren P1 | 9.8 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 6 | 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari | 9.7 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 7 | 2023 Ferrari 296 GTB Assetto Fiorano | 9.6 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 8 | 2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano | 9.6 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 9 | 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid | 9.3 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 10 | 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT | 9.3 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 11 | 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire | 9.3 sec | Not stated in the supplied ranking |
| 12 | 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach | 9.2 sec displayed; 9.23 sec in article text | 150.1 mph |
MotorTrend gives unrounded times of 9.269 seconds for the production 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire and 9.343 seconds for the 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid. Those figures explain why the Lucid appears ahead when both display as 9.3 seconds. The source explicitly excludes a prototype Sapphire result from its ranking.
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A newer result: Chevrolet’s Corvette ZR1X
In a January 13, 2026 release, Chevrolet reported that the 2026 Corvette ZR1X ran 8.675 seconds at 159 mph on a prepped surface, using pump gas, standard-equipment tires, and production 50-state street-legal engine calibration. Chevrolet also reported multiple back-to-back runs under 8.8 seconds. These are manufacturer-reported results, not an entry in MotorTrend’s ranking.
Chevrolet separately reported an 8.99-second run on an unprepped surface for a ZR1X with the available ZTK Performance Package. Keep the surface and configuration attached to that figure; it is not interchangeable with the prepped-surface result. Chevrolet quoted Corvette development engineer and test driver Stefan Frick saying the team was motivated to “break into the eights.”
Chevrolet’s release also compares the ZR1X with several other high-performance cars, but that comparison does not establish a common independent test across those models.
Why quarter-mile times are difficult to compare
ET measures the time to cover the distance, while trap speed records speed near the finish. A quick launch can improve ET without producing the highest trap speed, so the two figures answer different questions. Results also depend on the exact model, tires, surface, weather, launch setup, and test procedure.
MotorTrend says it captures data using a Racelogic Vbox at 20 Hz or 100 Hz. It typically selects a vehicle’s single best acceleration performance, or a best pair of passes on a windy day, without blending different runs. That procedure is not the same as every other publisher’s method.
Car and Driver’s testing explanation describes street-condition acceleration testing, averaging the best runs in opposite directions to account for wind, correcting acceleration results to 60 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level, and including rollout in standing-start times. Its results should not be silently merged with MotorTrend’s.
For example, Car and Driver’s 2025 retrospective reports a 9.1-second, 155-mph quarter mile for a Lucid Air Sapphire fitted with optional Pirelli Trofeo RS tires, and says that ET tied its Bugatti Chiron Super Sport result. The tires and publisher matter: this differs from MotorTrend’s production Sapphire result and is not proof that one car has a universally settled time.
How to read a quarter-mile ranking
- Check the exact model year and variant, plus any options or tires used for the run.
- Look at ET first when the question is which car covered the distance quickest; treat trap speed as a separate figure.
- Identify whether the number comes from an instrumented publication test or a manufacturer report.
- Check whether the run was on a prepped or unprepped surface and note any disclosed rollout, correction, or run-selection method.
- Avoid treating small time differences from different tests as a reliable head-to-head result.
FAQ
What is the fastest car in the quarter mile?
In MotorTrend’s March 31, 2025 list of its own tested results, the 2025 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach is shown at 9.2 seconds, with a more precise 9.23-second time and 150.1-mph trap speed in the article text. Chevrolet later reported an 8.675-second prepped-surface result for the 2026 Corvette ZR1X; that is a manufacturer-reported result under different conditions, not a directly comparable MotorTrend test.
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The quickest stated time is Chevrolet’s reported 8.675 seconds for the 2026 Corvette ZR1X on a prepped surface. Chevrolet also reports 8.99 seconds for a ZR1X with the ZTK Performance Package on an unprepped surface. The source and conditions should accompany either number.
Why do published times for the same car differ?
Test procedures and conditions differ. Tires, track surface, weather, rollout, atmospheric correction, launch setup, and whether a publisher selects a best run or averages runs can all affect the result. Car and Driver and MotorTrend disclose different methods, so their figures should be attributed rather than combined as if they came from one test.
Does trap speed determine the quarter-mile winner?
No. ET is the primary measure for which car completes the quarter mile sooner. Trap speed is useful context about speed at the finish, but a higher trap speed does not necessarily mean a lower ET.
Is there a verified top 25 in this research?
No. The available ranked publication list contains 12 MotorTrend-tested results. The additional Chevrolet and Car and Driver figures use different sources and contexts, and the evidence does not establish 25 cars under one consistent comparison rule.
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