SSC TUATARA WILL EVENTUALLY ADD AWD, ELECTRIFICATION

The SSC Tuatara hypercar recently hit a confirmed 295 mph earlier this month. However, the company isn’t stopping there as they are planning on launching a small production electrified model, which will not be part of the 125 Tuataras set to be produced by the end of 2025.

SSC CEO and founder Jerod Shelby spoke with Motor Authority and gave some information on the electrified SSC Tuatara. Development is already underway, though Shelby wasn’t ready to talk about the production timeline. However, the car is entirely independent of the non-electrified Tuatara’s production timeline.

Shelby stated that the electrified model would feature electric front hub motors, which will mean that the new version of the Tuatara will be an all-wheel-drive car. The current models are rear-wheel drive only. That should assist the electric car with taking off the line and accelerating even faster than it already would. It’s also worth noting that the electrified model may or may not bear the Tuatara nameplate, which hasn’t even been decided yet. The electrification of the hypercar won’t be for obtaining top speed but will instead enhance other areas of the vehicle’s dynamics, including acceleration, trackability, and other low-speed characteristics. In other words, it’ll be a “more well-rounded vehicle.”

SSC Tuatara Striker: Reveal And Details

Shelby has also revealed that the first Tuatara Striker will be unveiled in August at The Quail Gathering at Pebble Beach. The Striker set to be unveiled was purchased by a celebrity, though exactly who has not yet been announced. The Tuatara Striker is a high-downforce version of the regular Tuatara and is a body kit upgrade instead of a standalone model. The upgraded aerodynamics include a fixed rear wing plus a revised diffuser. The Striker models will have 1,000 lb of downforce at 160 mph. For comparison standard, Tuatara‘s have 362 lb of downforce at the same speed.

SSC is also planning a new and larger production facility that will be operational around 2025. It will be used for a second model, which Shelby described as a “little brother” to the Tuatara. However, the location for this new facility has yet to be announced.