Performance machines from BMW and Mercedes-AMG dominate the list.
At Autocar India, we test a lot of cars across the price spectrum and have put some of the fastest ones in the country through our exhaustive testing methods. Using the test data we’ve captured so far, let’s take a look at the five fastest cars in India that you can currently buy, ranked by their 0-100kph time in descending order.
5. BMW XM
Tested 0-100kph time: 4.44 seconds
The radical-looking XM is the first SUV fully developed by BMW’s vaunted M division (only SUV on this list too), and marries a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 to a plug-in hybrid setup comprising a 25.7kWh lithium-ion battery. Combined, this powertrain delivers not only a whopping 653hp and 800Nm, but a WLTP-certified 61.9kpl fuel efficiency as well.
| BMW XM price and specs | |
|---|---|
| Price (Rs, crore) | 2.60 |
| Engine | 4.4-litre, twin-turbo, V8 petrol |
| Hybrid assist | Plug-in hybrid |
| Power (hp) | 653 (combined) |
| Torque (Nm) | 800 (combined) |
| Gearbox | 8-speed torque converter auto |
| Drive layout | AWD |
Despite it being an SUV and carrying the heft of a hybrid powertrain, the XM we reviewed zipped from rest to 100kph in just 4.44 seconds, which would make even some sports cars sweat. At Rs 2.60 crore, the XM is a pricey proposition for sure, but you’d be hard-pressed to find SUVs quicker and more fuel-efficient than this.
4. BMW M340i
Tested 0-100kph time: 4.39 seconds
Easily the most affordable car on this list by a wide margin thanks to CKD (completely knocked down) assembly, it isn’t difficult to see why the M340i is so beloved in India. The performance sedan is powered by BMW’s renowned 3.0-litre turbocharged ‘B58’ straight-six petrol engine, which funnels 374hp and 500Nm to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
| BMW M340i price and specs | |
|---|---|
| Price (Rs, lakh) | 78.20 |
| Engine | 3.0-litre, 6 cyls, turbo-petrol |
| Power (hp) | 374 |
| Torque (Nm) | 500 |
| Gearbox | 8-speed torque converter auto |
| Drive layout | AWD |
Our review of the 2025 M340i details how explosive the sedan’s power delivery is, allowing it to cross the 100kph mark from a standstill in merely 4.39 seconds. Considering the M340i isn’t even a full-blown M car, its performance is nothing short of thrilling, and the Rs 78.20 lakh BMW asks for it represents way better value than any other car here.
3. Mercedes AMG C 63 S E-Performance
Tested 0-100kph time: 3.68 seconds
The latest-gen AMG C 63 S attracted controversy over the replacement of the twin-turbo V8 from prior models in favour of Mercedes-AMG’s 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder ‘M139’ turbo-petrol engine mated to a plug-in hybrid system. Though this setup adds over 300kg to the AMG C 63’s weight, it develops a bonkers 680hp and 1,020Nm – the second-highest output here.
| Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E-Performance price and specs | |
|---|---|
| Price (Rs, crore) | 1.95 |
| Engine | 2.0-litre, 4 cyls, turbo-petrol |
| Hybrid assist | Plug-in hybrid |
| Power (hp) | 680 (combined) |
| Torque (Nm) | 1,020 (combined) |
| Gearbox | 9-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive layout | AWD |
As we noted in our AMG C 63 S E-Performance reviewthe super-sedan’s acceleration feels savage at full throttle, enabling a blisteringly fast 0-100kph time of 3.68 seconds. That’s just over seven-tenths of a second quicker than the M340i, which is technically the AMG C 63 S E-Performance’s closest rival in India since the Current-Gen BMW M3 isn’t sold here. However, the AMG C 63 S E-Performance’s Rs 1.95 crore price tag does make the 0.7-second 0-100kph advantage difficult to justify.
2. Mercedes AMG S 63 E-Performance
Tested 0-100kph time: 3.46 seconds
When the AMG division got its hands on the Mercedes-Benz’s standard S-Class luxo-barge, the resultant machine was a Jekyll-and-Hyde-coded 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid brute. Generating a colossal 802hp and 1,430Nm – the highest powertrain output on this list – the AMG S 63 E-Performance is undoubtedly the wildest limousine you can buy in India right now.
| Mercedes-AMG S 63 E-Performance price and specs | |
|---|---|
| Price (Rs, crore) | 3.34 |
| Engine | 4.0-litre, twin-turbo, V8 petrol |
| Hybrid assist | Plug-in hybrid |
| Power (hp) | 802 (combined) |
| Torque (Nm) | 1,430 (combined) |
| Gearbox | 9-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive layout | AWD |
We’ve driven the AMG S 63 E-Performance on several occasions and been baffled by the way it can instantaneously switch from sedate and luxurious cruiser to road-going rocket ship by tweaking a couple of settings. 0-100kph is dispatched in 3.46 seconds, which is manic considering the AMG S 63 E-Performance’s size and weight, though the Rs 3.34 crore asking price does make it the most expensive car here.
1. BMW M8 Competition
Tested 0-100kph time: 3.45 seconds
BMW’s handsome flagship coupe, the M8 Competitiontakes the top spot on this list by a 0-100kph margin of just 0.01 seconds over the AMG S 63 E-Performance. What makes this impressive is that the M8 isn’t equipped with any form of new-age hybrid system, just a good old 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 outputting up to 625hp and 750Nm that’s paired with an 8-speed automatic channeling that grunt to all four wheels.
| BMW M8 Competition price and specs | |
|---|---|
| Price (Rs, crore) | 2.52 |
| Engine | 4.4-litre, twin-turbo, V8 petrol |
| Power (hp) | 625 |
| Torque (Nm) | 750 |
| Gearbox | 8-speed torque converter auto |
| Drive layout | AWD |
When we put the M8 Competition through the ringer, it blitzed through 100kph from rest in a staggering 3.45 seconds, making the BMW grand tourer the fastest car in India that you can currently buy, as per our testing. With a price tag of Rs 2.52 crore, the M8 Competition is also the third most affordable car among this company.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
Also see:
