SSC is to reveal its long-awaited Tuatara hypercar at Pebble Beach later this month, but has part-revealed the car in murky preview shots.
The brand last showed an early version of car at the 2011 Pebble Beach celebrations. At that stage, it had a claimed power output of 1350bhp, courtesy of a 7.0-litre biturbo V8.
SSC claims the car's top speed will be "easily" in excess of 278mph. The firm plans to make a bid for the world record for highest speed in a production car - a record set in late 2017 by Swedish hypercar maker Köenigsegg in its Agera RS.
Rival American hypercar maker Hennessey claims that its Venom F5 can reach 300mph, so it’s likely that SSC’s top speed ambitions match this. Tyres have, until now, been a limiting factor in how fast a car can go, but Hennessey CEO John Hennessey revealed previously to Autocar that “Michelin is going to give us its full technical support to make sure we have a proper tyre for the speeds we want to run”.
SSC claims the Tuatara will have an “unmatched drag coefficient”, with the car’s slippery shape aiding it in reaching the record-breaking speeds it’s targeting.
In addition to this, SSC claims the car’s handling characteristics lend themselves to track use. There’s no word on whether the car is being lined up for the planned FIA hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship, scheduled for its inaugural season in 2020, although if the car did compete, it would have to cap its power output at 965bhp.
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300 mph where?
300 mph where?
Capping the 'Hypercar' power
There is something hateful and sad about any restricted machine.
To unlimited....?
If there wasn’t a Cap it would get like F1 the ones with the best technicians down to the humble tyre changer and yo7 don’t want Cars literally flying off the Track killing lots of People like what happened decades ago....
eseaton wrote:
It takes the shine off what should have been the ultimate race series.
There are several sedans driving around here with 1,300+ hp. As if racing cars on a track can't cope with similar outputs...
But on a Track....?
jason_recliner@,you haven’t thought this through mate.....
Peter Cavellini wrote:
A track is a controlled environment with run-off. If somebody can handle a 1,000 HP 919 around the Ring, and guys are driving 1,300, 1,500 HP Holdens and Fords around town, I think professional drivers on slicks will be able to handle 1,300 HP on a track.
'X claims...'
Hard to take the outrageous claims of this endless stream of companies who aim to make the 'fastest car in the world ever..' seriously when they're claims are always just a list of crazy figures alongside computer generated images.
Bob Cat Brian wrote:
SSC held the record previously. I take their claims seriously.
This thing should be stupendous.