Having unveiled the first of the road-going Tuataras earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before SSC would test its v-max capabilities. After all, when a new hypercar is debuted, everyone is chiefly concerned with two metrics: its 0-60mph time and, of course, its top speed. Following a successful October 10th test run, the 1,750hp Tuatara has just raised the mark once again.
Averaging 316.11mph over a two-way run along the straight section of Route 160 between Las Vegas and Pahrump, the SSC Tuatara has officially set the land speed record as the world’s fastest production car. What’s even more impressive, though, is the fact that it had still had speed to spare. On the first run, it climbed to a blistering 301mph — no small feat by anyone’s standards, but not enough to qualify as an official world record. Determined to push it to its limits, British racing driver Oliver Webb then turned the Tuatara around for its second attempt, hitting an unheard-of 331mph at peak velocity. Taken together, the figure was more than enough to shatter the Bugatti Chiron’s 304mph top speed. And with more left in the tank, it’ll be a hard act to follow.
