After what seems like an eternity, SSC North America has finally pulled the wraps off its Tuatara hypercar at Pebble Beach. After teasing the car back in January, the Tuatara is now in a more production ready form.
SSC’s last car, the Ultimate Aero, dethroned the Bugatti Veyron back in 2007, achieving a record speed of 256mph. The Veyron Supersport and Hennessey Venom both surpassed that record in 2010.
SSC unveiled a concept version of the Tuatara at Pebble Beach back in 2011, intent on reclaiming the record. However, news went quiet soon afterwards.
Despite being named after the fastest evolving land animal, the Tuatara has had a very slow gestation period. Now SSC has provided details on its new machine.
The powertrain consists of a twin-turbocharged 5.9-liter V8 engine, mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox. On E85 ethanol, power is a monstrous 1,750hp. On pump gasoline, the Tuatara makes a more modest 1,350hp.
The Tuatara’s power figure on ethanol fuel will make it one of the most powerful road cars ever made, beating the 1,500hp Bugatti Chiron and 1,600hp Hennessey Venom F5.
Tipping the scales at just 2,750lb, SSC reckon the Tuatara will do over 300mph. Achieving such a speed will require a seriously slippery body, which is why the Tuatara claims class-leading aerodynamics.
With a drag coefficient of just 0.279, the Tuatara comfortably beats the Chiron (0.36) and Venom F5 (0.33).
Styling on the Tuatara remains close to that of the concept, but now with the addition of extra rear cooling vents.
The 100 unit production run will take place at a new facility in Richland, Washington, with SSC taking pre-orders now. No prices were announced, but expect a healthy seven-fugure sum.
With the Koenigsegg Agera RS sitting atop the speed charts, the Tuatara faces stiff competition. With the Venom F5 also staking a claim towards a speed record, the race to 300mph just got a lot more exciting.
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