SSC North America, is a small automotive manufacturer based in Richland, Washington. Many petrolheads know it from the Ultimate Aero, its first hypercar, which held the title of fastest production car from 2007 to 2010. But starting in 2009, SSC launched Project Exceed, with SSC CEO & Lead Designer Jerod Shelby stating : "The team needed to undo everything we achieved with the Ultimate Aero, so for the Tuatara we worked with the best of the best, in every part of the car. So not only did we achieve our original goals, we exceeded ourselves.". The Tuatara, then, is the brainchild of a collaboration between the top people in the American automotive industry.
The body of the car, as well as its aerodynamic design, was designed and developed in collaboration with acclaimed designer, Jason Castriota. Having been involved in the design of several Ferrari and Maserati models, Jason was the ideal person who would not only create an impressive and functional design, but also a car that would remain ageless over time, which is more than we can say for the Ultimate Aero design. Similarly, the science of aerodynamics and thermodynamics was not only enough to be incorporated into the Tuatara's sleek design, but also to set new limits on what is possible in terms of aerodynamic drag coefficient. "The end result of the Tuatara's aerodynamic package sets it apart from any other competitor. Not only does it have a Cd factor of 0.279, but it maintains the same aerodynamic balance from 100mph up to well over 300mph, creating a perfectly stable car that inspires great confidence in the driver.", says Castriota.
Underneath the Tuatara's carbon body, there is a carbon monocoque, which ensures both maximum safety and the best possible torsional rigidity, creating the proper base on which the SSC hypercar is built. The monocoque fully embraces the driver and passenger, creating the base on which the entire interior is built, but also connects all the other sub-sections of the car. Because carbon is a material that deserves to be seen, whether it looks a little or a lot, the designers made sure it was part of the interior decor. For over a century, Washington State has been the "home" of many aerospace leaders. SSC took the opportunity to work with companies located in the same city as the Tuatara to create both the frame and the main body of the Tuatara with the best materials available from the aerospace industry and its most stringent standards. Another valuable partner in this project was Customs Factory from Nevada, with whom SSC created the frame and body of a car that sets a new standard in the automotive industry. And with Koenigsegg (and Bugatti, albeit to a lesser extent) as its main competitor, this is no small feat.
Jerod Shelby, started SSC North America because of his passion for performance and speed. As such, the Tuatara fully embodies this philosophy through the team's efforts to create a car that will set new standards in speed, performance and handling. For this unique creation, the people at SSC wanted to create a unique engine that showcased everything they wanted. So, SSC engineers worked with Tom Nelson, founder of Nelson Racing Engines, starting from scratch. From the innovative intake system, to the unique flat-plane crank V8 design, the two companies created a twin-turbo V8 engine, producing 1350 horsepower on 98ra gasoline (the U.S. equivalent of 91) and 1750 horsepower using E85. The engine is mated to an automated 7-speed manual transmission (yes like the good old single clutch, but without all its annoying drawbacks), which manages to make shifts in under 100ms in Track Mode.
After two decades of achieving high performance, SSC's effort to blend explosive performance with practicality for everyday use is still admirable. The key element reflected in the Tuatara's design and performance is the explosive nature of a hypercar, yet one that 'calms down' at the touch of a button. Its main pollution is the sports fashion, in which the gearbox makes smooth and gentle shifts, while the car's height is 10.2cm at the front and 11.4cm at the rear. At track mode, the suspension is lowered to 6.95cm at the front and 8.25cm at the rear, changing the suspension geometry to a purely track-focused use. In addition, the rear spoiler, changes its angle and height depending on speed in order to create maximum vertical aerodynamic load without generating excess alloys, and also acts as an air brake during deceleration. Finally, the Front Lift Mode, raises the front end by an additional 4 cm, making it easier to enter and exit parking lots and other steeply sloping areas, enhancing the Tuatara's practicality.
Along with unrivalled levels of performance, the Tuatara aims to offer both comfort and connectivity to the driver and passenger. Its dihedral doors are designed not only to create a striking image when the door is opened, but also a large opening in space to make entering and exiting the cabin easier. The driver, in front of him, has a fully digital dashboard, which can display all kinds of information with some of its displays being fully customisable, depending on what information the user wishes to view. On the central console, there is a touchscreen through which all the individual systems and settings of the car can be controlled, as well as the entertainment system which offers satellite navigation and mobile phone connection functions such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the "bubbles" created during the design of the interior and exterior create a space that can comfortably accommodate people up to 2 meters high, something that few supercars and hypercars can offer.
The SSC Tuatra represents a decade-long effort by hundreds of people to create a supercar that will set new limits in every aspect of the car. A 100% Made In USA car that represents a new milestone for the American automotive industry. Jerod Shelby, at the launch of the Tuatara, said: "I am very proud of my team. We created, the complete package - looks, performance and art - all in one car. The last 10 years have been a journey to excellence, all of which makes today (referring to February 7, the day the Tuatara debuted) all the sweeter and more significant. And this, is just the beginning!".
SSC North America, will produce 100 numbered copies of the Tuatara, all entirely hand-built at the company's headquarters in Richland, Washington. The company is represented in North America (USA & Canada) by Manhattan Motorcars, one of the most iconic names in the luxury car business in the USA. An extensive list of extras, allows for complete personalization of each Tuatara, with packages for high speed oriented & track focused use, being available.
A little stone, or rather a cherry on top of this text, would be my personal opinion about the record and this particular car. It is truly admirable, as much as it is a feat, to manage to build a car that can reach 533 km/h, while having more to give. But, no matter how remarkable the effort, it will always lack that something. You won't have the quality of materials or assembly of a Bugatti, just as you won't have the super-sophisticated technology of a Koenigsegg. I wonder if anyone would be willing to pay close to $3 million for something that is yes, but? Some collector will give it. Or a YouTuber. But, they're not a representative sample of petrolheads. I'd eat it in a Jesko, though...
