5 Niche Hypercars That Would Leave The Holy Trinity In Their Dust

Since Koenigsegg felt it necessary to point out that it makes cars that are quicker than the LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder, we thought we'd look at a few niche manufacturers to see what else is going super fast these days

Darren Cassey

24 Nov 2015

Ever since Top Gear tried and failed to get the hypercar ‘Holy Trinity’ together, the automotive world has been obsessed with getting the LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder in the same room for a showdown. Well, finally Chris Harris managed it (around the same time as similar efforts from Salomondrin and Supercar Driver), and the result is predictably awesome. In fact, the final part of the video, where Harris is joined by Tiff Needel and Marino Franchitti to hoof all three around Portimao at the same time, might just be one of the best bits of car film in years.

Koenigsegg disagrees, however. The Swedish car manufacturer is a bit put out that it’s not been involved in all the discussion about the fastest cars in the world, and wants its customers to know that regardless of the fact it’s overlooked, it is actually faster than all three of its rivals.

This got us thinking. What cars from less mainstream manufacturers have been rudely excluded from all this hypercar hype?

1. Koenigsegg One:1

5 Niche Hypercars That Would Leave The Holy Trinity In Their Dust

Koenigsegg’s very own answer to the Holy Trinity, the One:1, is so-called because it has 1360hp and weighs 1360kg. It’s an absolute weapon, offering about 50 per cent extra power than the three hybrid hypercars and it’ll sprint from 0-186mph (0-300kmh) in 11.922sec, about three seconds faster than the Ferrari can manage.

2. Pagani Zonda R

Okay, so the Zonda R isn’t strictly road legal, but then neither is the McLaren P1 in track mode. This thing has a 6.0-litre AMG-sourced V12, the body is almost exclusively made from lightweight carbonfibre, and it’s bloody fast around a track. Just check out its Nurburgring time; 6m 47sec compared to the 918 Spyder’s 6m 57sec. Exactly 10 seconds faster around the ultimate proving ground.

3. Hennessey Venom GT

Back in January 2013, the Hennessey Venom GT was the Guinness World Record holder for the 0-186mph (0-300kmh) sprint, clocking a time of 13.63sec - that was three years ago and still faster than the LaFerrari can manage today.

The Venom is made by completely reworking a Lotus Exige and fitting a 7.0-litre V8 capable of an eye-watering 1244bhp.

4. Zenvo ST1

Zenvo is a super niche manufacturer based in Denmark, which built just 15 of its solitary ST1 model. Under that angular, gawping body is a 6.8-litre V8 making in excess of 1000bhp. The Zenvo has a bit of trouble getting its power down (hitting 62mph a fraction slower than its established rivals), but once the tyres dig in it’s gone, hitting 200kmh about a second faster than the LaFerrari can hit 150kmh. Hurtig. (That’s rapid in Danish… obviously.)

Take a Porsche 911 and modify it to the point where you might as well have started from scratch, and you probably still won’t end up even close to this thing. It has a six-cylinder boxer engine with twin-turbochargers, and is available in a variety of tunes up to around 1400bhp.

9ff claims that it has managed to break a 13-second 0-300kmh time in a GT9, which would make it a solid two seconds faster than the Ferrari. I can’t find proof of that, but I wouldn’t question the legitimacy of the claim when you watch this classic Chris Harris video in a sub-1000bhp version. Just listen to the noise it makes!

Comments

9ff- 9 Freakin’ Fast!

Rekt! Airhorn noise. Airhorn noise. Airhorn noise. Airhorn noise

This will leave every car (and the driver) in smoke.

One car comes to mind.

Holy Trinity is made up of the hybrid supercars only. This is their glory there were lots of other cars that were faster than the previous gen holy trinity but it doesn’t matter because the whole point of calling them so is to acknowledge the fact that they come from these legendary race oriented families, set new bars in terms of innovation and have a same goal which they try to achieve with a futuristic approach unlike the conventional turbo/supercharge only setups.

The P1 in track mode is not not street legal? In what country is that? As far as I know there’s no minimum height requirements in the EU. I’m pretty sure that no car will pass homologation by any authority if it can be made “illegal” by a push of a botton. The Zonda R is not street legal as you already mentioned so why compared it to street legal cars? Compare it to the LaFerrari FXX K and let’s see how that goes for ya. Your list lost all credibility as soon as your statement of the P1 being illegal in track mode. All in all I’d say quite a bullshit list with absolutely no clear comparison guidelines. At one point you compare the lap times of one car, Zonda R for example and how it is faster than the 918 (again, a completely bogus comparison where you start comparing a street illegal car to a P1, claiming that it is not street legal in track mode and then ending your argument with the lap times of the Porsche 918. What the hell is that about!?) and then with the next car you compare acceleration times because clearly those cars can’t match the “holy trinity” on track… Sounds like an article a 17 year old GTR fanboy would write…

In Singapore=None of the Holy Trinity are available for purchase, also they’re not street legal, and so are the cars listed here, so count yourself lucky to even SEE one of the cars roll past you.