in ,

THE SSC TUATARA MAY HAVE BROKEN THE 300MPH BARRIER

After Some High-Speed Tests This Past Weekend

SSC North America Tuatara
Image Via SSC.

When it comes to supercars, no feature is more gloated about than a given vehicle’s ludicrously high top speed. For years we’ve grown more obsessed with the pursuit of higher and higher figures, with cars like the Ferrari F40, the McLaren F1 and the Bugatti Veyron each representing a high mark in automotive history. However, some folks down in Nevada may have just etched themselves into the record books with the SSC Tuatara, an American hypercar.

According to some reporting by the Pahrump Valley Times, the Nevada Department of Transportation shut down part of Highway 160 for some SSC Tuatara high-speed testing this past weekend. The automaker went on to confirm to MotorTrend that they were indeed doing some testing, but they wouldn’t specify exactly what they were out there doing. Though we ask what else someone could possibly be doing with a supercar in the expansive Nevada desert?

5.9L twin-turbo V8 Engine built by Nelson Racing Engines
SSC Tuatura’s 5.9L twin-turbo V8 Engine built by Nelson Racing Engines. Photo VIA SSC.

This also happens to be the same chunk of highway where the Koenigsegg Agera RS was able to run a Guinness World Record-verified speed of 277.9-mph. This number was garnered by taking the average of two high-speed runs, one in each direction. This helps to account for any sort of wind assistance or drag that may affect the overall speed. Bugatti did not do this when they achieved 304.8mph with a highly-modified Chiron on the Ehra-Lessien test track.

The folks at SSC have been adamant that the Tuatara will be capable of smashing 300 mph, thanks in no small part to its powertrain. Supplied by Nelson Racing Engines, the 5.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 makes a ludicrous 1,750 horsepower and 1,280 lb-ft of torque. Given that amount of thrust and the beautiful sculpted bodywork, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this car has already managed to break 300 mph. We’ll just have to wait until the folks behind the SSC Tuatara are ready to share their findings with us.

Image Via SSC.

Written by Lucas Bell

Lucas holds a journalism degree from Wayne State University, and is a Automotive Press Association scholarship recipient. While an American muscle fan through and through, he once wrote a fascinating comparison review about eScooters.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ford GT GT40 Heritage Edition 2021 Jim Farley

BEING CEO OF FORD WON’T STOP JIM FARLEY FROM RACING

Ford Mustang Performance Pack 2

FORD MUSTANG GT PERFORMANCE PACK 2 DELETED FOR 2021, SAYS ORDER GUIDE