Fastest Sprinters in the Automotive World

Mass models that spend less than four seconds to type the first “hundred”

The updated BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E 63, the fastest business sedans of our time, made their debut last week. We decided to recall other mass-produced models with outstanding dynamics comparable to supercars a decade ago. The selection contains the fastest sprinters – cars of nine classes, which accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour in less than four seconds. 

Hatchbacks

In the hot hatch class, the new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is the leader. Four-wheel drive five-door with a “record” 2.0-liter “turbo-four” accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.9 seconds – the same amount is spent on starting acceleration by a 580-horsepower Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster with a 6.2-liter V12! Mercedes’ main rival is the outgoing generation Audi RS3 with 0-100 acceleration in 4.1 seconds.

Compact sedans

Introduced in March, the extreme Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm became the fastest compact sedan on the list. A four-door with rear-wheel drive exchanges the first “hundred” in 3.6 seconds – hurricane dynamics is achieved due to a 2.9-liter V6 turbo engine boosted to 540 horsepower and a body lightened by 100 kilograms. The closest competitor, the “track” BMW M3 CS, spends 3.9 seconds on a similar acceleration, but the Bavarian sedan was sold at half the price.

Business sedans

After the restyling, neither the BMW M5 Competition nor the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S became faster in acceleration from a standstill, so that parity remained. “Emka” with a 625-horsepower V8 4.4 engine gains 100 kilometers per hour in 3.3 seconds, the Stuttgart sedan with a V8 4.0 engine with a capacity of 612 horsepower is inferior to 0.1 seconds. However, the Tesla Model S Performance, comparable in size, is at least 0.8 seconds faster after the update – supercars will envy its accelerating dynamics.

Full-size sedans

Three years have passed since the premiere of the updated Mercedes-AMG S 63, but the executive sedan is still the fastest in its class in terms of acceleration. The first “hundred” submits to “Mercedes” in 3.5 seconds – behind is the BMW M760Li with a 609-horsepower V12 engine and 3.7 seconds, and even the new 571-horsepower Audi S8 in the back of D5 – it spends 3, 8 seconds.

Station wagons

Among the “charged” station wagons, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo super-hybrid stands out – it is the most powerful, fastest, and most expensive two-box in the segment. The power plant of the Panamera produces 680 horsepower so that the coveted “hundred” is subdued in 3.4 seconds. The Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Estate is 0.1 seconds slower, the new Audi RS6 Avant 0.2 seconds slower. 

Liftbacks

The fastest in our selection is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door Coupe liftback. Architecturally, the 639-horsepower five-door is close to the E-Class, but the Mercedes-AMG special unit was responsible for the development of the model. The result is 3.2 seconds in acceleration from standstill to 100 kilometers per hour. The same amount is claimed for the 625-horsepower BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe, but the Bavarian rival does not belong to liftbacks – it has a four-door coupe-like body. However, in the market, it is a competitor to the four-door AMG GT.

Compact crossovers

In the class of compact crossovers, the 510-horsepower Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio Verde are close in terms of the declared characteristics: the models shared only 2.3 seconds on the 21-kilometer Nürburgring North Loop, and the difference in acceleration from standstill to 100 kilometers per hour does not exceed 0.1 seconds. Mercedes-AMG is a little faster and exchanges “hundred” in 3.8 seconds. 

Full-size crossovers

The record-holder among serial full-size crossovers is the Lamborghini Urus. The Italian SUV with a 650-horsepower V8 4.0 engine reaches 100 kilometers per hour in 3.6 seconds. One-tenth of a second Lamborghini beats the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with a 6.2-liter compressor 717-horsepower “eight”. The Tesla Model X Performance electric crossover is at least 0.5 seconds faster than the Urus in acceleration from a standstill, but is inferior in maximum speed.

Quad cabriolets

Among the models with an open-top, there are examples that exchange the first “hundred” in less than three seconds, however, as a rule, we are talking about rare two-seater supercars with a hardtop. Among the cabriolets with a four-seater saloon and a soft top, the favorite is the BMW M8 Competition. The Bavarian two-door reaches 100 kilometers per hour in 3.3 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the updated Mercedes-AMG S 63 A217 Cabriolet, and half a second faster than the new Bentley Continental GT Convertible.