SSC CLAIMS NEW SPEED RECORD

The S SC Tu a tara has snatched the title of the world’ s fastest production car, smashing the Bugatti Chiron’s previous record with a run that topped out at 331mph.

The American-built SSC Tuatara set an average speed of 316.11mph over two runs, beating the Bugatti Chiron Superspor t’s single run of 304.77mph, which was set in 2019.

Using a seven-mile stretch of closed public road near L as Vegas, British driver Oliver Webb hit 301.07mph on his first run before reaching a maximum speed of 331.15mph on the return leg, for an average of 316.11mph.

The Tuatara also claimed three other world titles in the process – the fastest flying mile on a public road (at 313.12mph), the fastest flying kilometre on a public road (at 321.35mph) and the highest speed achieved on a public road (331.15mph).

In accordance with world record rules, the SSC Tuatara used on the runs was a complete production car, using road tyres and non-race fuel.

Getting the Tuatara to hit more than 330mph involved a combination of a massively powerful drive train, lightweight construction and smart aero dynamics. The car is powered by a bespoke 5.9-litre twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 producing 1,750bhp, which is directed to the rear wheels via as even-speed “computerised” manual transmission.

The carbon fibre monocoque and body panels mean the Tuatara weights just 1,247kg – less than a Ford Focus – and a focus on aerodynamics means it has a drag coefficient of just 0.279.