The SSC Tuatara is the American hypercar that briefly carried the title of fastest car in the world, pairing a 5.9 litre twin turbo V8 with a featherweight carbon body. SSC first earned its reputation in 2010 with the Ultimate Aero, then spent more than a decade developing the Tuatara into a 300 mph contender that now sits among the fastest production cars ever built.
What is the SSC Tuatara?
SSC North America followed up the Ultimate Aero, its 2010 record car, with the Tuatara after teasing the project for years. The production Tuatara finally arrived as a serious answer to Europe's hypercar elite, ranking among the world's fastest cars and trading blows with electric machines from Rimac, Lotus and Pininfarina. Its sculpted body is built around aerodynamics first, cutting through the air with one of the lowest drag coefficients in its class.
How fast is the SSC Tuatara and how much power does it have?
The Tuatara uses a twin turbo V8 producing up to 1750 HP on E85 fuel, with SSC quoting a top speed beyond 300 mph (483 km/h). According to the manufacturer's published figures on the official SSC North America Tuatara page, the engine revs to nearly 8,800 rpm, one of the highest limits of any production V8. In 2022 the car recorded a verified one-way run of 295 mph, as covered by evo magazine, cementing its place in the fastest car in the world conversation.
Engineering and chassis
The engine is a compact 5.9L V8, and thanks to the car's carbon construction the weight stays low, with SSC claiming around 1,247 kg. The transmission is a CIMA seven speed paddle shifter with a shifting time under one tenth of a second in track mode. Air suspension smooths out roads and speed bumps, while the rear wing doubles as a high speed air brake, lifting at an angle to slow the car under heavy braking.
Interior built for speed
As you would expect, the interior is purpose built for high speed driving rather than luxury. It does not carry all the bells and whistles of a Rolls Royce, because the two cars live in completely different worlds. At 483 km/h, comfort features take a back seat to focus, precision and control.
How much does the SSC Tuatara cost and how many were made?
The Tuatara is a strictly limited hypercar, with production capped at 100 examples and pricing reported around 1.6 million US dollars before options. That rarity, combined with its record breaking ambitions, makes it one of the most collectible American performance cars of its era.
Explore hypercars at TheArsenale
If the Tuatara fuels your appetite for extreme performance, browse the full curated cars collection at TheArsenale. Standout rivals include the V16 powered Devel Sixteen quad turbo hypercar, the F1 inspired Delage D12, and the electric RAESR Tachyon Speed, each pushing the limits of speed and design.
