The SSC Tuatara has come a long, arduous journey to series production. First announced almost a decade ago, production was delayed, preventing the first models from falling into the hands of customers. That changed last year when SSC (Shelby SuperCars) showed the first production car. Now, at the Philadelphia Auto Show, SSC has unveiled the first of 100 series Tuatara series hypercars.
It took some time for the Tuatara to become a reality, but we have known about many of its performance data for some time. The Tuatara is powered by a 5.9-liter V8 with two turbochargers. It produces 1,774 hp (1,305 kilowatts) with E85 fuel and 1,369 hp (1007 kW) with 91 octane. The power is supplied by a robotic CIMA seven-speed gearbox that can shift gears in less than 100 milliseconds. With a dry weight of 1,247 kilograms (2,750 pounds) and a drag coefficient of 0.279, the SSC Tuatara should be exceptionally fast.
The Tuatara uses carbon fiber for the exterior and for the monocoque. In places, the carbon fiber structure is also exposed. Jason Castriota, who designed designs for Ferrari, Saab and Maserati, worked with SSC on the design and aerodynamics of the hypercar. The butterfly doors, which are operated hydraulically at the push of a button, are just as wild in design as the rest of the car.
Inside there are amenities such as a premium audio system, touchscreen infotainment, air conditioning, power windows and a tilting steering wheel. The touchscreen also provides access to driving modes, vehicle diagnostics and much more. The shift paddles are hidden behind the steering wheel, which is equipped with a shift light indicator. According to the SSC, someone up to 1.98 meters tall can fit in comfortably even with a racing helmet.
SSC will only build 100 Tuatara hypercars. The company did not release pricing information on its debut; however, the company already planned to charge $ 1.3 million each in 2013. This is an important car for SSC and a worthy successor to the SSC Ultimate Aero, which held the Guinness world record for top speed until the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport dethroned it. SSC believes the Tuatara can reach 300 miles an hour (483 kilometers an hour). One can be excited.
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