Nother CarGuy

SSC North America has used the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to unveil the 2019 Tuatara. Looking virtually identical to the concept that was unveiled over seven years ago, the production Tuatara has a sleek carbon fiber body that allows the model to have a drag coefficient of 0.279. The company says this is significantly lower than competitors such as the Bugatti Chiron (0.36), Koenigsegg Agera (0.33) and Hennessey Venom F5 (0.33). Overall, the car measures 174.4 inches (4429 mm) long, 78.4 inches (1991 mm) wide and 43 inches (1092 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 105.2 inches (2672 mm). The extensive use of carbon fiber also allows the model to have dry weight of 2750 lbs (1247 kg). SSC North America hasn’t released detailed specifications, but the company confirmed the Tuatara will be powered by a twin-turbo 5.9-liter V8 engine which features an 8800 rpm redline and an 8.8:1 compression ratio. The company went on to say the engine will produce 1350 hp (1006 kW / 13...

Seven years after the Tuatara was originally unveiled, SSC North America has announced plans to unveil the production model at Monterey Car Week. Since so much time has passed, little is known about the car. However, the company says the 2019 Tuatara will be a “next generation hypercar that boasts an unmatched drag coefficient, track-level handling characteristics and a top speed that is projected to easily surpass the current world record.” SSC didn’t specify the latter figure, but the company’s statement suggests the Tuatara will be able to exceed the 284.55 mph (457.94 km/h) top speed achieved by the Koenigsegg Agera RS. While the Tuatara was slated to be launched in 2013, the company explained its prolonged absence by saying the model has been subjected to “years of methodical engineering.” SSC says this extended development time will allow the car to have “unparalleled performance” as well as a striking presence. Speaking of the latter, the teaser photos suggest the pr...