We’ve Got A New King Of Speed With the SSC Tuatara Hypercar

Published October 20, 2020
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Unlike the previous record holder, the SSC Tuatara achieved the average speed in two opposite direction passes

The record attempt was carried out at State Route 160 outside Las Vegas with Oliver Webb behind the wheel.
It averaged 301.07 mph (484.53 kmph) on the first run with the opposite direction yielding a top speed of 331.15 mph (532.93 kmph).
It is powered by a 5.9-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 1750PS with a 7-speed AMT gearbox and a drag coefficient of 0.279.

North American company Shelby SuperCars is no stranger to chasing top speed records. In fact, the SSC Ultimate Aero was the car that finally overthrew the Bugatti Veyron as the fastest production car on September 13, 2007. Now, they’ve done it again, with the SSC Tuatara hypercar setting a record 316mph (508.73kmph) average top speed to make it the fastest production car in the world!

The biggest positive of this feat is that unlike the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which achieved the previous record of 490.48kmph in a single direction run at the famous Ehra-Lessien in Germany, the SSC Tuatara did it in two opposite direction passes at State Route 160, outside Las Vegas.

Piloted by British racing driver Oliver Webb, the SSC Tuatara averaged 301.07 mph (484.53 kmph) on the first run with the opposite direction yielding a top speed of 331.15 mph (532.93 kmph). This averages out to 316.11mph (508.74kmph) and breaks the godly 500kmph speed barrier. What’s more, Oliver Webb claimed there’s room for higher top speed!

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What helped the SSC Tuatara achieve this is a 5.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine producing a beefy 1750PS of outright grunt with E85 fuel (1350PS with 91 Octane fuel), paired to a 7-speed AMT gearbox. Power isn't everything, though. It's also helped by the carbon-fibre bodywork which gives it a weight of only 1,247kg and a drag coefficient of 0.279.

With SSC laying down its latest marker for the fastest production car in the world, it's now down to the upcoming Hennessey F5 and the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut to try and beat that. Meanwhile, here’s an on board of the record attempt: