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The SSC Tuatara is one heck of a sports car, and if you haven’t heard of it, you’re missing out. Made by SSC North America (formerly Shelby SuperCars Inc.), this car is a successor to the Ultimate Aero, and trust me, it’s everything you want in a hypercar. The Tuatara is powered by a 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which was originally a 6.9-liter powerhouse. The smaller engine’s got its perks, though – it allows for a crazy redline of 8,800 rpm. SSC claims the car can hit a top speed of 300 mph (483 km/h)+, which is just insane.

Now, let’s dive into the details – this car is as sleek as it gets. The Tuatara was first shown off as a concept at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and when the production version dropped in 2018, it was like a dream come true for car lovers. The design comes from Jason Castriota, who previously worked at Pininfarina. If that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. It’s got a carbon-fiber body, a seriously cool camera system instead of side mirrors, and a 300 mph speedometer inside – yes, really!

The car’s name is inspired by the Tuatara lizard from New Zealand, which has the fastest molecular evolution of any animal. Talk about setting a high bar, right?

The Performance Side of Things

Let’s talk speed. SSC has teamed up with Nelson Racing Engines and other experts to make sure the Tuatara isn’t just a pretty face. It has an insane drag coefficient of Cd=0.279 – the lowest in its class. The car has different driving modes, too: Sport, Track, and Lift. The Sport mode gets you a ride height of just 4 inches at the front – which is low, even by hypercar standards.

World Record Attempts: Did It Actually Hit 300 mph?

In October 2020, SSC claimed the Tuatara set a world record with a one-way speed of 331.15 mph and a two-way average of 316.11 mph. It was a crazy attempt, but there was some doubt about the results, so they had to re-run the test. Later, in January 2021, it hit a respectable 286.1 mph during a run in Florida, verified by satellite tracking. But the real highlight came in May 2022 when the Tuatara hit 295 mph, and this time, it was all legit.

Model Variants: The Striker and Aggressor

In May 2020, SSC unveiled two versions of the Tuatara designed for track performance. The Tuatara Striker adds extra aerodynamic components for improved downforce, while the Aggressor takes it up a notch with a 2,200 hp option and non-road legal features like racing seats. Talk about serious performance.