Hybrid cars are made to be efficient, which usually means that they are rather boring and slow. However, not all hybrids are equal, and some of them are the most powerful cars in the world.
Even though the quickest cars in the world are electric, and the ones with the highest top speed are solely powered by combustion engines, these hybrid cars are not far from them. The most powerful hybrid car in the world is the Koenigsegg Regera, a Swedish hyper that costs an eye-watering $2 million.
The second most powerful hybrid car in the world is the jaw-dropping Ferrari SF90 Stradale which costs just a smidgeon over $600k. The third most powerful hybrid car in the world is the even better-looking Ferrari LaFerrari which now costs $2-3 million.
Next on the list is the $1.5-2 million McLaren P1, a British hypercar made to compete with the likes of the Ferrari LaFerrari and another incredibly powerful hybrid hypercar, the $1 million Porsche 918 Spyder.
Koenigsegg Regera
Koenigsegg is a Swedish automaker known for developing outrageous multi-million dollar hypercars, and the Regera is certainly one of them. Powered by an in-house developed 5.0L twin-turbocharged V8 mated with two electric motors total the output at just over 1500hp or 1119 kW.
However, the true party piece of the Koenigsegg Regera is not the engine itself, rather a revolutionary gearbox that Koenigsegg calls ‘’Direct Drive’’. Direct drive virtually turns the Koenigsegg Regera into a single-speed rocketship capable of 250mph.
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
From Modena Italy comes the mighty Ferrari SF90 Stradale. This tour de technology showcases what a Ferrari from the future looks like. A completely updated interior with futuristic screens and state-of-the-art technologies make the SF90 feel like a Grand Tourer supercar from the future.
However, thanks to the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine and two electric motors, the SF90 pushes out 986hp which lands the SF0 at number 2 of the most powerful hybrid supercar list. The SF90 is considered as a current Ferrari flagship, however, almost everyone agrees that the SF90 is nowhere near as desirable as the LaFerrari.
Read about how fast a hybrid accelerates.
LaFerrari
Although the SF90 does offer more power, the now-iconic LaFerrari offers more of everything else. At a sticker price of $1-2 million, the LaFerrari is one of the most expensive Ferrari models ever to be released, but the demand for the LaFerrari was so high that used prices skyrocketed up to $5-6 million for the Aperta versions.
The LaFerrari was part of a so-called ‘’Holy Trinity of hypercars’’ which also consists out of the McLaren P1 and the Porsche 918 Spyder. Power comes from a screaming 6.5L naturally aspired V12 engine mated to a pair of electric motors for a combined output of 963hp.
McLaren P1
The McLaren P1 is arguably the greatest McLaren model since the rebirth of the brand. Thanks to a menacing design and a rear-wheel-drive platform, the P1 was nicknamed ‘’The Widowmaker’’. It’s just sad that all the newer McLaren hypercars are nowhere near the P1 when it comes to excitement.
As far as power is concerned, the P1 pushes out a combined 916 horsepower out of a 3.8L twin-turbo V8 engine and a pair of electric engines. This engine is mated to a lightning-fast 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with launch control.
Porsche 918 Spyder
Likely one of the best supercars to ever come out of Germany, the Porsche 918 Spyder is a sight to behold. Out of the ‘’Holy Trinity of hypercars’’ the 918 is the one with the highest amount of fastest lap times when compared to the P1 and the LaFerrari, all of that while being the most comfortable one of the three.
The 918 offers a naturally aspirated 4.6L V8 engine mated to a pair of electric motors for a combined output of 887hp. The best thing about the 918 is the fact that it’s the most comfortable car of the trio, and it could also be used as a roadster if you opt to take the removable roof panels off.
Is a hybrid car better than an electric car?
FAQ Section
How important are horsepower and torque?
It depends on what you want from a car. To be honest, cars are essentially transportation devices that need less than 200hp to do everything in a legal manner. However, if you look at cars solely through reason and logic, these types of cars are not for you, and that’s okay.
Horsepower and torque are important for those who enjoy driving a powerful car, a car that makes them feel like they are in control of something substantial and full of grunt. If you love spending time at racetracks or drag strips, power and torque are extremely important, and they should be.
Are electric cars better racing cars?
Since the introduction of the Formula E racing organization, many people have started asking questions if electric cars are the future of racing. Any way you look at it, electric cars are more powerful, they offer 100% of power at any given moment, they are smoother throughout and they don’t need as much maintenance.
However, electric cars lack emotion, and that’s just the reality. Is it truly racing if there are no thunderous engine sounds and if everything does not smell of fuel and rubber? The emotional aspect of racing can not be replicated with electric cars, but that does not mean that EV and ICE racing cant co-exist.
What makes a good hybrid?
After discussing the most powerful and least efficient hybrids on the market, it’s time to discuss what makes a good hybrid. Even though these aforementioned cars are amazing in almost every regard, they are not what a true hybrid is supposed to be. They should primarily focus on efficiency and lack of harmful emissions, not power and speed.
As such, a great hybrid is one that cleverly transitions between the combustion engine and the electric motor in order to gain the best efficiency ratings out there. A good hybrid is a car so smooth that one could mistake it for a full-on electric car.