[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ssc-tuatara\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ssc-tuatara\/","headline":"300mph Top Speed: SSC Tuatara","name":"300mph Top Speed: SSC Tuatara","description":"SSC\u2019s next supercar could break the 300mph barrier Although the SSC brand may not be as well-known as Bugatti, Koenigsegg or McLaren, they\u2019re about to put themselves back on the map with their next car. The SSC Tuatara is set to be the fastest supercar in the world come mid-2019, boasting the very best state-of-the-art technology and aerodynamics allowing it to take the number 1 spot for fastest production car in existence. What are the stats? The Tuatara houses a […]","datePublished":"2018-09-06","dateModified":"2018-09-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/feature-image.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/feature-image.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ssc-tuatara\/","about":["Cars","HYPERCAR","LATEST CAR NEWS","SUPERCARS"],"wordCount":545,"keywords":["Koenigsegg Agera RS","SSC Tuatara","Tuatara"],"articleBody":"SSC\u2019s next supercar could break the 300mph barrierAlthough the SSC brand may not be as well-known as Bugatti, Koenigsegg or McLaren, they\u2019re about to put themselves back on the map with their next car. The SSC Tuatara is set to be the fastest supercar in the world come mid-2019, boasting the very best state-of-the-art technology and aerodynamics allowing it to take the number 1 spot for fastest production car in existence.What are the stats?The Tuatara houses a custom-built 5.9 L V8 that\u2019s capable of producing up to 1,750 bhp when running on E85 flex fuel and redlines at 8,800 rpm. It\u2019s RWD, mid-engined and weighs around 2,750 lbs (1,247 kg). It uses a 7-speed semi-auto transmission, twin-turbochargers and dual water to air intercoolers.The Tuatara has a fairly low drag coefficient, sitting at just Cd=0.279. To put that into perspective, the Koenigsegg Agera RS (current record holder for top speed) has a drag coefficient of 0.33 and the Bugatti Veyron has a coefficient of 0.36. However, it\u2019s still not as impressive as a Prius\u2019 coefficient of 0.25.Although the drag coefficient is already lower than that of the Veyron and Agera RS, SSC say that \u201cthere\u2019s still work to be done\u201d.Who are SSC?Formerly Shelby SuperCars Inc. (not related to Ford\u2019s Shelby), SSC are the only supercar manufacturers to be based in America. Probably best known for their other supercar, the Ultimate Aero, which still stands today as the 3rd fastest car in the world, with a top speed of 256mph. Around the time of its release in 2006, it was the fastest production car in the world.SSC\u2019s CEO Jerod Shelby had this to say:\u201cWe wanted the engineering to exceed anything we had done before and what our competitors are doing, but the overarching goal was 300mph.\u201d\u201cThe knowledge I have of our competitors, I feel that we\u2019re the only ones that really have a legitimate shot because of the drag numbers and the horsepower that we\u2019re producing.\u201dWith that said, it sounds like they\u2019re fairly confident that the Tuatara will become the fastest car in the world. To do so, the car will have to be able to exceed 277.87 mph which was achieved by the Koenigsegg Agera RS in 2017.What does Tuatara mean?The name itself comes from a lizard found in New Zealand. The Tuatara (pronounced too-ah-tah-rah) is a one-of-a-kind animal and the only species in their order of reptiles due to their unusual characteristics, such as lack of external ear holes, a holey skull and their ability to live past their 150th birthday.As for why SSC named their next record-breaking car after this lizard…we\u2019re not exactly sure. They are known for being the fastest-evolving creature known to mankind, but other than that there\u2019s nothing particularly \u201cfast\u201d about this creature. They\u2019re often referred to as the world\u2019s most interesting reptile, so perhaps that\u2019s what SSC was going for. Or, maybe someone at SSC just likes lizards\u2026Come midway through next year and we should be seeing this amazing car in action.We\u2019re sure to hear more about how this crazy machine develops, so to stay up to date, you\u2019re already in the right place here on Motor-Vision."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"300mph Top Speed: SSC Tuatara","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/ssc-tuatara\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]