As of mid-2026, Rosco McGlashan has not yet broken the 1,000 mph land speed record.
While he remains the holder of the Australian land speed record (achieved at 500 mph), his current project, the Aussie Invader 5R, is still in its mission phase. Recent reports and community visits to his garage in Mullaloo as recently as May 2026 confirm that the focus remains on the ongoing development and preparation of the rocket-powered vehicle for this monumental attempt. He continues to be recognized as a dedicated contender for the world record.
Has any car gone beyond this? How do Ferrari, Bugatti and Koenigsegg compare?
The short answer is no, no other vehicle has officially surpassed the outright world land speed record of 763.035 mph (1,227.985 km/h) set by the jet-powered ThrustSSC in 1997.
It is important to distinguish between land speed record vehicles and production cars (like those from Bugatti, Koenigsegg, or Ferrari). They represent two completely different engineering worlds:
Land Speed Record (LSR) Vehicles: These are bespoke, one-off engineering marvels designed for a single purpose: maximum speed on a long, flat surface (typically a salt flat). They often use jet or rocket engines and are essentially ground-based missiles.
Production Cars: These are road-legal vehicles engineered for a balance of speed, handling, comfort, safety, and reliability. Even the fastest “hypercars” are physically limited by tires, transmissions, and aerodynamics that allow them to be driven on public roads.
How Sports Cars Compare
Bugatti & Koenigsegg: These manufacturers represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering for consumers. Bugatti made history with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which exceeded 300 mph (489 km/h). Koenigsegg continuously pushes these limits with models like the Jesko Absolut, which boasts a theoretical top speed of over 310 mph (500 km/h). While these numbers are staggering for a car you can drive to the store, they are still less than half the speed of the ThrustSSC.
Ferrari: While Ferrari produces some of the world’s most successful track and road cars, they focus heavily on cornering, lap times, and the driving experience rather than just top-speed records. Their production cars typically do not compete in the “top speed wars” seen between Bugatti and Koenigsegg.
In summary: The ThrustSSC record remains the absolute ceiling for ground speed, while brands like Bugatti and Koenigsegg compete for the title of the fastest road-legal vehicle. The two categories are fundamentally incomparable in terms of purpose and technology.
More interesting questions
What is the sound barrier speed in MPH?
The speed of sound, often referred to as the sound barrier, is not a fixed number because it varies based on atmospheric conditions like temperature and altitude. However, at sea level under standard conditions (typically 15°C or 59°F), the speed of sound is generally accepted to be approximately 761 to 767 mph (about 1,225 km/h).
Because sound travels through air, colder air generally slows it down, while warmer air allows it to travel faster.
What’s the fastest the bloodhound competitor car has gone? Is it still developed by the university of Swansea?
The Bloodhound LSR project is a major competitor in the race to set a new land speed record. Here are the answers to your questions:
Fastest Speed Achieved:
The highest speed the Bloodhound LSR has reached during testing is 628 mph (1,011 km/h). This milestone was achieved in November 2019 during high-speed testing conducted at Hakskeenpan in South Africa.
Development and Status:
Swansea University: While Swansea University played a crucial role in the initial development and engineering of the vehicle (providing CFD modeling and design expertise), the project is no longer solely developed by them.
Current Management: The project underwent a significant change in 2019 when it was saved from administration and rebranded as Bloodhound LSR under a new entity, Grafton LSR Limited. The headquarters moved to the UK Land Speed Record Centre at SGS Berkeley Green University Technical College in Gloucestershire.
Project Outlook: The project has faced various challenges, including funding gaps, but remains active in its pursuit of the land speed record. As of 2025/2026, the team has been seeking further investment to complete the final stages of the record-breaking attempt.
What is the fastest that any man-made machine has gone?
The fastest man-made object ever recorded is NASA’s Parker Solar Probe.
By utilizing the Sun’s immense gravity through repeated flybys, the probe has achieved record-breaking speeds. It reached a staggering velocity of approximately 394,736 mph (635,266 km/h) during a swing around Venus. Its speed continues to increase as it performs closer orbits to the Sun; projections estimate it will reach top speeds exceeding 430,000 mph (approx. 191 km/s) as its mission progresses.
While a famous historical anomaly—the Pascal-B manhole cover—was once thought to be the fastest object due to a 1950s underground nuclear test that launched a steel plate at estimated speeds of over 130,000 mph, the Parker Solar Probe has officially surpassed this in terms of sustained, controlled spacecraft performance.
What about the fastest man-made machine on earth?
Fastest Ground Vehicle
The official world land speed record is held by the ThrustSSC, a jet-powered car driven by Andy Green. On October 15, 1997, it achieved an average speed of 763.035 mph (1,227.985 km/h), officially breaking the sound barrier on land.
Fastest Atmospheric Vehicle
If we look at vehicles traveling through the atmosphere (rather than on the ground), the records are significantly higher:
Fastest Manned, Rocket-Powered Aircraft: The North American X-15 holds the record for the fastest manned aircraft, reaching a speed of 4,520 mph (7,274 km/h) (Mach 6.7) in 1967.
Fastest Jet-Powered Aircraft: The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is widely recognized as the fastest air-breathing (jet-powered) manned aircraft, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 3.3 (over 2,190 mph).
Fastest Unmanned Aircraft: The NASA X-43 unmanned experimental aircraft reached a record-breaking Mach 9.6 (approximately 7,000 mph) during flight tests on November 16, 2024.
