The odd tale of $1.6 million SSC Tuatara supercar that was the world's fastest car, wasn't, then was again

Kristen LeeFeb 6, 2021, 19:01 IST

SSC Tuatara.James Lipman/SSC North America

SSC North America's $1.6 million Tuatara made three attempts at becoming the world's fastest production car.
The first one was disputed and during the second one, the car suffered mechanical problems.
It finally pulled off the feat during its third run at 282.9 mph.

It's not often an automaker claims it just broke the record for world's fastest production car. But when the internet calls BS on that record and the car has to try again, twice, then you really sit up and pay attention.

This is the saga of the $1.6 million Tuatara supercar from boutique automaker SSC North America. The car's first record of 316 mph was short-lived; it was almost immediately questioned by internet sleuths, to the point where SSC was forced review its video footage and GPS data, found discrepancies, and vowed to try setting the record again.

It wasn't until the company's third try that it finally set the record at 282.9 mph, though this was nowhere near the 316-mph claim it made the first time around.

What happened? How did we get here?

Read on for the full story.

The SSC Tuatara is the latest car from boutique American automaker SSC North America.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Priced at $1.6 million, it claimed to earn the title of "world's fastest production vehicle" on October 10.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

On a seven-mile stretch of public highway in Nevada, the Tuatara allegedly hit a top speed of 331.15 mph in one direction and 301.07 on the "slower run."

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

The feat was uploaded to the company's YouTube channel for all to see.

To be considered for an official world record, contestants have to submit the times for two consecutive runs and average them.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

The Tuatara averaged a speed of 316.11 mph.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Professional driver Oliver Webb was at the wheel.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

This was faster than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's 2019 run at the Volkswagen Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany, which achieved a speed of 304.77 mph.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

However, the Bugatti only ran once, not twice. So, it wasn't official.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

The official record was previously held by the Koenigsegg Agera RS, which achieved an average speed in both directions of 277.87 mph.

Koenigsegg Agera RS. Koenigsegg

The Tuatara is powered by a 5.9-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank V8 and produces a claimed 1,750 horsepower.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Only 100 of them will be built and priced starting at $1.6 million.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

But after the run, the questions started rolling in.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Internet sleuths on Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube cried foul, saying the car's record video footage seemed fishy - the displayed speed did not appear to match the car's true speed, they claimed.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Internet sleuths on Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube cried foul, saying the car's record video footage seemed fishy - the displayed speed did not appear to match the car's true speed, they claimed.

Among them was prominent automotive YouTuber Shmee, who said, "If the Tuatara did what [SSC] said it did, it would take seconds to prove it."

SSC Tuatara Shmee. Screenshot via Shmee150/YouTube

In its own defense, SSC said that it used technology from Austrian GPS data-measuring company Dewetron to chart the car's speed.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Dewetron pushed back, however.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

"Dewetron did not validate any data from world record attempts or preceding tests," the company said in a statement. "Not one of Dewetron's employees was present during the test drive or involved in the associated preparations."

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

"Dewetron did not validate any data from world record attempts or preceding tests," the company said in a statement. "Not one of Dewetron's employees was present during the test drive or involved in the associated preparations."

Even Webb, the professional driver who helped set the record, couldn't make sense of what was happening.

On October 28, SSC CEO and founder Jerod Shelby issued a statement.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

He blamed the misleading video and discrepancies in the displayed speed on a video-editing "mixup."

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

He said that the video production company, Driven Studios, had additional footage of the run and he would share it as soon as he had it.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

But on October 30, Shelby uploaded a 3.5-minute video to YouTube, where he announced that when the company reviewed the additional footage, "We all of a sudden were seeing the same doubts."

So, instead of showing everyone the "actual footage in its simplest form," as the company said it would, Shelby said he would redo the record.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

But what about the GPS data?

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

Shelby told Motor Authority on November 6 that there was no "data file with the GPS satellite data from the first run because it wasn't needed."

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

On December 12 and 13, SSC gave a second attempt at the record speed run at the NASA runway in Florida.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

The Tuatara's owner, Larry Caplin, was at the wheel.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

There were issues. The hood kept popping open because various external systems had been wired to it.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

And on the car's second-to-last run, it became too hot so the engine software started cutting power as a safety precaution.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

On the final run, Caplin noticed the car wasn't accelerating like it was supposed to.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

The team discovered this was because two of the engine's cylinders were not firing properly, probably because of overheating.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

On January 17, SSC made its third record attempt at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

2021 SSC Tuatara. SSC

With Caplin at the wheel once again, the Tuatara hit 279.7 mph in one direction and 286.1 mph in the other.

SSC Tuatara. SSC

Averaged together, the Tuatara hit a speed of 282.9 mph and beat the Koenigsegg Agera RS.

SSC Tuatara. SSC

Unfortunately, the speed is still nowhere near SSC's original claims of 316 mph.

2021 SSC Tuatara. SSC

Still, SSC made certain that there was plenty of third-party validation available.

SSC Tuatara. SSC

Shelby isn't finished yet, though.

2021 SSC Tuatara. SSC

He's planning another Tuatara run this spring, where SSC will attempt to achieve a 300-mph top speed.

SSC Tuatara. James Lipman/SSC North America

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The odd tale of $1.6 million SSC Tuatara supercar that was the world's fastest car, wasn't, then was again

The SSC Tuatara is the latest car from boutique American automaker SSC North America.

Priced at $1.6 million, it claimed to earn the title of "world's fastest production vehicle" on October 10.

On a seven-mile stretch of public highway in Nevada, the Tuatara allegedly hit a top speed of 331.15 mph in one direction and 301.07 on the "slower run."

The feat was uploaded to the company's YouTube channel for all to see.

To be considered for an official world record, contestants have to submit the times for two consecutive runs and average them.

The Tuatara averaged a speed of 316.11 mph.

Professional driver Oliver Webb was at the wheel.

This was faster than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's 2019 run at the Volkswagen Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany, which achieved a speed of 304.77 mph.

However, the Bugatti only ran once, not twice. So, it wasn't official.

The official record was previously held by the Koenigsegg Agera RS, which achieved an average speed in both directions of 277.87 mph.

The Tuatara is powered by a 5.9-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank V8 and produces a claimed 1,750 horsepower.

Only 100 of them will be built and priced starting at $1.6 million.

But after the run, the questions started rolling in.

Internet sleuths on Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube cried foul, saying the car's record video footage seemed fishy - the displayed speed did not appear to match the car's true speed, they claimed.

Among them was prominent automotive YouTuber Shmee, who said, "If the Tuatara did what [SSC] said it did, it would take seconds to prove it."

In its own defense, SSC said that it used technology from Austrian GPS data-measuring company Dewetron to chart the car's speed.

Dewetron pushed back, however.

"Dewetron did not validate any data from world record attempts or preceding tests," the company said in a statement. "Not one of Dewetron's employees was present during the test drive or involved in the associated preparations."

Even Webb, the professional driver who helped set the record, couldn't make sense of what was happening.

On October 28, SSC CEO and founder Jerod Shelby issued a statement.

He blamed the misleading video and discrepancies in the displayed speed on a video-editing "mixup."

He said that the video production company, Driven Studios, had additional footage of the run and he would share it as soon as he had it.

But on October 30, Shelby uploaded a 3.5-minute video to YouTube, where he announced that when the company reviewed the additional footage, "We all of a sudden were seeing the same doubts."

So, instead of showing everyone the "actual footage in its simplest form," as the company said it would, Shelby said he would redo the record.

But what about the GPS data?

Shelby told Motor Authority on November 6 that there was no "data file with the GPS satellite data from the first run because it wasn't needed."

On December 12 and 13, SSC gave a second attempt at the record speed run at the NASA runway in Florida.

The Tuatara's owner, Larry Caplin, was at the wheel.

There were issues. The hood kept popping open because various external systems had been wired to it.

And on the car's second-to-last run, it became too hot so the engine software started cutting power as a safety precaution.

On the final run, Caplin noticed the car wasn't accelerating like it was supposed to.

The team discovered this was because two of the engine's cylinders were not firing properly, probably because of overheating.

On January 17, SSC made its third record attempt at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

With Caplin at the wheel once again, the Tuatara hit 279.7 mph in one direction and 286.1 mph in the other.

Averaged together, the Tuatara hit a speed of 282.9 mph and beat the Koenigsegg Agera RS.

Unfortunately, the speed is still nowhere near SSC's original claims of 316 mph.

Still, SSC made certain that there was plenty of third-party validation available.

Shelby isn't finished yet, though.

He's planning another Tuatara run this spring, where SSC will attempt to achieve a 300-mph top speed.