SSC (almost officially) takes top speed record
And the award for Top Speed Achieved by a Production Automobile goes to: Shelby Supercars' Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo. Claiming a stretch of public road in Washington State for the effort, the SSC UATT made two runs in accordance with Guinness Book of World Record rules, one in each direction. The first run clocked 257.11 MPH, the second, return one came in at 254.55 MPH. The average: 255.83 MPH. That bests all challengers -- yes, even the Veyron -- by at least 3 MPH.
For comparison, the SSC's V8 packs 1,183 BHP and 1,094 ft-lbs. as opposed to the Veyron's 16 cylinders, 1,001 HP, and 922 ft-lb. In addition to a bigger punch, the SSC also carries less weight: 2,700 pounds versus the Veyron's 4,162. Much of the Veyron poundage no doubt is attributable to its interior, which is a splendid place to be even when you're not doing 250+. SSC still needs to submit the paperwork and get official certification from Guinness before it's run is, as we say, officially official. Intriguing, though, that of all the names mentioned, the one not broached was the previous holder of the top speed record: the Callaway Sledgehammer.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
EuropaCar 12:44AM (5/10/2008)
I wonder when we'll reach a limit to max speed in a production car
Reply
summazooma 10:20AM (9/14/2007)
Amazed that a company called Shelby Supercars is "not affiliated with Carroll Shelby or Shelby Cars North America". How is this?
Reply
AC 11:09AM (9/14/2007)
...because he's not the only one in the world with the name Shelby.
summazooma 9:38PM (9/14/2007)
Thanks for the answer...
The website for SSC gives no direct or easily accessed information on the background behind the company (no investor info, historic background, or any kind of information that might provide a sense of confidence in the people behind this car). Who exactly is Jerod or Jarod Shelby (both names given in press releases regarding previous tests)? Hard to know how exactly he might be able or qualified to sell somebody a car that can safely go 250+mph, since there's so little information on the site.
Besides the somewhat derivative look of the car (looks like a variety of cars, from the Diablo/Cizeta of the 90s to the Koenigsegg to the Saleen S7), the lack of information on the company behind the car, as well as the use of a name that is nothing if not iconic in performance circles could seem suspect. Though it's not likely that Carroll Shelby would be the only Shelby out there, the name's certainly not that common and there is really only one Shelby that has the notoriety with which to be confused... and that person happened to make one of the most distinctive and fabled sports cars of the '60s. Because of this, more information would go long to dispel any questions. Frankly, if the intention isn't to come off like a copy of somebody else's work or to be perceived as riding somebody else's coat tails, I'd think it'd be easy to do... at the very least, make it plainly clear that the Shelby in the name is not THE Shelby.
I'm willing to suspend suspicion on this effort until more information is available but, given the company's apparent goal of being "world class", I would think it might be somewhat naive to not see how these misperceptions might happen and, rather, work extra-hard to not be perceived as riding coat-tails. Being perceived as riding coat-tails, in fact, undercuts credibility, suggesting a short-cut approach to establishing credibility on the name of someone else, a legend, at that...
Dspeed 10:31AM (9/14/2007)
Wow. They actually did it. On a public road, no less.
I guess congradulations are in order.
Reply
Soppy 7:05PM (9/16/2007)
i totally agree. can you imagine the speeding ticket?
jeffinToronto 10:07AM (9/14/2007)
With the power to weight ratio so much better than Veyron, I would have thought it would better by more. I guess the drag must be a little bit more or they were just going for the record and it has a little more on tap.
Reply
DriverG 10:56AM (9/14/2007)
The SSC website actually claims 272 at redline in 6th. They don't go out of their way to say the car can actually do that, but it's a subtle mention in the spec sheet.
Moltenauto 11:22AM (9/14/2007)
Power to weight only applies to acceleration, and has no affect on top speed. Top speed is power versus aero drag.
Ligor 12:46PM (9/14/2007)
shows you how good the Veryon is.
graviton 10:20AM (9/14/2007)
Bugatti should just make a stripped down, barebones "racing version" of the Veyron to shut these guys up. Honestly I would be embarassed to have built one of these Ultimate Aeros knowing that it only got about 3mph faster when
A. Its not really a production car in the same way as the Veyron
B.It is 1500lbs lighter.
C. It looks like every other racing car out there (i.e. its a Maclaren ripoff)
Why did they bother? 3mph faster? They should at lest try to get 10-20mph faster before submitting this.
Reply
Shawn 10:32AM (9/14/2007)
I think it is great that a small company is taking on a international behemoth. Veyron is like the space shuttle...it burns up its tires and consume all of its fuel in 15 minutes...but it gets you to that speed. I think many people considers a sports car to be more than just speed alone, but this is a luxury car that can get you very fast very quickly for a very brief period. It isn't meant to be a sports car.
araemo 1:28PM (9/14/2007)
It wouldn't matter if they took out everything except the drivers seat and driving controls, as others have mentioned, weight has no influence on top speed. It's all about aerodynamic drag(which increases with the square of speed). The engine will have the same amount of drag to overcome unless they change the body/aerodynamic design.
Now, lower weight WOULD make it handle better, and accelerate faster, which would be nice.
Mike 3:10PM (9/14/2007)
You are an idiot apparently. If you had read the article you would notice that the driver said they had plenty of room to improve on the top speed but there was not enough straight pavement. To get that top speed he had to drive 210MPH through an S curve, sounds really easy for you right? Oh and I guess you forgot that the Bugatti top speed of 253MPH is unofficial too? They can go ahead and make a stripped down version but "these guys" aren't gonna shut up cause they know what they are doing.
graviton 8:40PM (9/14/2007)
I may be an idiot but you are apparently a juvenile or an adult with a very low IQ. Why call me names over something as mundane as a car blog? Grow up and get off the internet every now and then so you can learn how to socially interact with society.
Howard Mahoney 10:12AM (9/15/2007)
Hey graviton; When you bust your ass to even or better a speed record you take what you can get! look at NASCAR, one car beats the other by.oo1 of a second and wins the pole! running that close you can bet your booties there was no sand bagging! I can't and won't
say that for the other qualifiers! they'll sand bag to get a spot in the starting line up they want! But, once the pole is locked in with a speed they know they can't beat they just try for their favorite spot in the line up amd that seems to be 20th to 25th! I know, I've been there and done that!
John P. 10:49AM (9/14/2007)
I really find it amusing how everyone defends the veyron and it's superior technology, super this, woohoo that,... like they have a personal stake in the company or something. The veyron is, ofcourse, a wonderful car. A nice study in engineering, but seriously, getting beat, even by 3mph by some guys building a car in a garage that is actually street legal, crash test crap, etc,... is an amazing feat. Give credit where credit is due people.
The veyron costs over twice as much as the ultimate aero, took years and years to produce and surely hasn't made money for anyone. It's not that fast on the ring, the corvette equals it's time so it doesn't have that going for it.
And don't forget this. The Veyron is both French, and Volkswagen. How much you wanna bet it's reliability is off the charts terrible.
So you can drive one at 245mph one handed, talking on the cellphone and getting some from the girl sitting next to you? So what, if that's the case, drive 50! where's the fun in that?
Bare nuckle seat of the pants Ultimate Aero Veyron beating underdog for me baby!
Having said that. Both the Veyron and the Ultimate Aero are butt ugly. I'll take an Aston Martin, a Carrera, or a Ford GT over either one thank you.
Reply
sledgeharvy 1:07AM (9/15/2007)
Hey I own a VW Passat W8 which is half of he W16 and minus the 4 turbos and I love the thing... there's a distinct exhaust note that sounds amazing!!.. so all I can do is just imagine how nice that W16 sounds!!.. Anyhow.. back to my point.. I only care because in a sense I do have a stake in VW or in this case Buggatti.. and besides.. I actually am for this SSC!!.. I've always loved the underdog to win!!.. for the longest time VW was that underdog.. here recently it's been Hyundai/Kia.. and I like what their doing.. I REALLY like Kia's new concept car that was released at the Frankfurt auto show this week..
m 11:46AM (9/14/2007)
Some of you guys need to take some classes or at least study up on Aerodynamics. Weight has little effect at that speed. In fact, more weight might even be helping.
Reply
David Naylor 12:59PM (9/14/2007)
Almost right there, m8.
Weight has almost no effect on top speed. It has a huge effect on acceleration.
However, weight will never make a car go faster!