SSC Tuatara sets new production car speed record of 282.9 mph – Robb Report

On January 17, with many of us watching the NFL playoffs, Dr. Larry Caplin focused on a 2.3 mile stretch of concrete at Kennedy’s Johnny Bohmer proving ground. Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. Same track once used for space shuttle landings, Caplin took his own SSC Tuatara hypercar to a new production car speed record, registering two passes in opposite directions averaging 282.9 mph – a feat officially announced this morning by SSC North America.

The accomplishment eclipses the old 277.87 mph benchmark set by the Koenigsegg Agera RS in 2017. Bragging rights almost went to Bugatti in August 2019, when a Chiron charged at 304.77 mph. Unfortunately for the French marque, the car was not a production version, and it only traveled one way (two are officially required).

Even SSC North America recently had a claim dismissed. In October, engineer and company founder Jerod Shelby (no connection to Carroll) and his crew brought the 1,750-horsepower carbon-fiber Tuatara to Nevada, initially bringing in an astonishing pair of races that together averaged of 316.11 mph. The potential milestone was quickly disputed, with Shelby shortly after admitting the inability to accurately verify the results.

“We couldn’t fully understand our data and we weren’t 100% able to come out and refute those doubts,” Shelby said. Robb Report by phone yesterday. “So we made the decision, internally, that the only right thing to do would be to go back to recording,” he said. “And this time, do it transparently.”

For the second trial, this transparency included GPS and measurement equipment from four separate companies, each bringing their own staff to set up and monitor the equipment without any involvement from the SSC North America team. “We did our research, and Racelogic seems to be the most respected GPS measurement company out there,” Shelby said, “so we wanted them to be the third party to publish all the data and verify the results.” Racelogic did just that, issuing its own press release and providing video documentation for each run.

At exactly 2:38:09 local time, Caplin reached 279.7 mph northbound. Another 50 minutes, 42 seconds later, it overtook at 286.1 mph southerly on the same section, both speeds faster than that of the space shuttle on touchdown. Perhaps most impressive is that Caplin is not a professional driver; instead, he’s the first customer to buy a Tuatara, which starts at $ 1.6 million.

For the October attempt, Caplin handed the car over to racer Oliver Webb, but asked to take the wheel himself for the final try. Shelby recalls asking him, “You want to add the variable of a customer behind the wheel, and one who has spent almost no time at 200 mph?” According to Shelby, Caplin’s response was simply, “You know, what if we get it right? How big would it be?

The Florida workouts were done after the car’s engine, a 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 1,242 lb-ft of torque, was detuned for significantly less horsepower – at first. “We pulled a lot of power out of the car and got used to Larry,” Shelby explained. “As he got more and more comfortable, we kept adding power.”

The team also had a different approach to acceleration. “When we were in Nevada, we took the car very slowly and easily to about 180 km / h, and then we only had full throttle for about 20 seconds,” Shelby said, adding that in Florida the track was much shorter and called for switching to ‘drag racing mode’ which means’ a full boost for 40-50 seconds from a stop, and the car still accelerated as if a rocket was attached . “

Surprisingly, this performance was achieved with the full power of the car made available only in the middle of seventh gear, leaving room for a huge improvement when it comes to Shelby: “We already have plans to go back and feel that , if we give it all the power now, we have a really good chance at 300mph – just in that little 2.3 miles.