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John Mahoney13 Aug 2018
NEWS

SSC teases production 1300kW Tuatara hypercar

US hypercar maker is finally ready to launch its new hypercar, and it will have a crack at world's fastest car record

US hypercar maker SSC has teased three new pictures of the production-ready 2019 Tuatara it will launch at Monterey Car Week on August 24.

First revealed back in 2011, the Tuatara -- named after a Kiwi lizard that has the fastest-changing DNA of any animal on earth -- is thought to have been completely re-engineered to ensure it will successfully challenge Koenigsegg and become the world's fastest car.

Claimed to have been developed for an "unmatched drag coefficient" and "track-level handling", the Tuatara's creators say its American-made hypercar is projected to "easily surpass the current world record".

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If true, that means the SSC will eclipse the Koenigsegg Agera RS that back in November 2017 clocked an incredible 458km/h on a closed road in Nevada.

The Tuatara was originally set to launch back in 2013, but its delay was attributed to "years of methodical engineering" that has allowed the SSC to give it "unparalleled performance".

It's not known what will power the SSC hypercar, but the engine is thought to be a development of the car-maker's own mighty twin-turbo 6.9-litre V8 that powered the concept version.

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If so, power and torque will be turned up from the 2011 show car's 1007kW/1733Nm to around 1270kW.

Originally founded as American Shelby Supercars back in 1999 by Jerod Shelby, ASS was forced to rename itself SSC North America in 2012 after a trademark dispute with the estate of Carol Shelby, who is no relation to the hypercar maker.

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