Fast cars, girls love them and boys crave for them. Being the stylized image of all that is bad (which, of course, means good), powerful and testosterone-fuelled, cars have been a favourite toy for a lot of men (and quite a few women) since their invention.

What is it exactly that makes these beastly machines the target of such devotion and lust? What makes us look at machines that can make the fabric labels in our clothes disappear in the breeze with such awe and fascination? Perhaps it is all the unrestrained power waiting to be released by the tap of a foot, or perhaps the lush shapes and sensual curves of an attractive sports car.

What we do know for sure is that while most of us can only day-dream about riding behind the wheel of the fastest car in the world, some lucky fellows (who are liberal about how they spend their hard earned cash) will go to any length to taste that kind of speed and power. But how fast are the fastest cars in the world today? Better yet, which one is the king of speed, the prized target for adrenaline seekers around the world? Let’s find out with our top 3:

1. SSC Ultimate Aero

The top dog on our list has beaten the legendary Bugatti Veyron as the baddest, meanest and certainly fastest kid on the block. Boasting a max speed of 257 mph and shooting from 0 to 60 in the lighting fast speed of 2.7 seconds, it’s easy to be impressed with this bad boy.

The Ultimate Aero is eqipped with a Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp and will set you back (at least!) the modest sum of $654,400. If you are a fan of speed though, the SSC Ultimate Aero is the way to go. The car has been tested by the Guinness World Records and is guaranteed to tear away any apparel labels attached to your clothes and make your hair go back to the 80s.

2. Bugatti Veyron

Fast and light, the Bugatti is the second fastest but the most expensive. The Bugatti Veyron makes for more than a petty purchase with the base price of $1,700,000 (yes, that’s seven figures). The car has a maximum speed of 253 mph and goes from 0 to 60 in a measly 2.5 seconds which gives it a faster sprint than the Aero.

3. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

It’s fast and it’s sexy. It’s the car you want to show off. The Saleen S7 boasts an Aluminum V8 Engine with 750 hp and is as smooth as a red panther. At a base price of $555,000 the car is the most affordable on the list but will have you settling with 3rd place in terms of speed, with a max of 248 mph.