Though Shelby SuperCars first announced the Tuatara — Maori for “First” — roughly a decade ago, it wasn’t until this week that the Washington-based hypercar outfit finally unveiled the first of the production, road-ready Tuataras.
Limited to only 100 units, the 2020 Tuatara continues the industry trend of developing vehicles with increasingly bonkers performance figures, with the Tuatara’s twin-turbocharged 5.9L flat-plane-crank V8 reportedly generating an absurd 1,750hp, as well as top speeds exceeding 300mph. Helping the 2,750lb American hypercar to achieve those speeds is a seven-speed CIMA transmission capable of shifting gears in under 100 milliseconds, a carbon monocoque frame, and carbon bodywork that allows for a ridiculously slippery, class-leading 0.279 drag coefficient.
The car also boasts active aerodynamics and adjustable suspension geometry that raises and lowers the ride height depending on the intended purpose. The thoroughly plush interior is also said to comfortably accommodate drivers as tall as 6’5”. Reportedly starting at $1,625,000, the 2020 SSC Tuatara is poised to reclaim the title of “World’s Fastest Production Car” for the Richland firm — a title SSC’s Ultimate Aero held from 2007-2010.
