Updated SSC Ultimate Aero boasts 1287 hp, claimed top speed of 270 mph
Not content to rest on its laurels after taking the Guinness-verified top speed world record, SSC has revamped the Ultimate Aero for 2009 to make it more powerful, more aerodynamic, and even faster. We thought the 2008 model had plenty of horsepower with 1183 ponies underneath the hood, but SSC has increased that number to 1287 courtesy of a new one-piece billet aluminum engine block that improves structural integrity and oiling capabilities. Helping to push all that horsepower through the air is a redesigned front fascia with a new center grille opening, as well as carbon fiber louvers that feed 20% more air to the radiators. The aerodynamic changes, combined with the increased power, yield an estimated 270 mph top speed. SSC has also given the interior a thorough refresh, adding carbon fiber trim to the dash, air vents, door sills, and around the gauge cluster. A new center console features an Azentek PC Infotainment system that can process the car's onboard diagnostic system. There's no word on whether they'll attempt to best their top speed record achieved earlier this year, but we're sure SSC would like to further distance themselves from the Bugatti Veyron or the 9ff GT9. More details on the 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero can be found in the press release after the jump.
Gallery: 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero
[Source: Shelby Supercars]
PRESS RELEASE:
After holding the "World's Fastest Production Car" title for the past year, the Shelby SuperCars' Ultimate Aero is receiving several refinements for the 2009 model year. The SSC engineering team equipped the 2009 Ultimate Aero with a 15% increase in horsepower, a revamped front fascia design, and an array of important interior upgrades. The most substantial change is an SSC-designed, 1-piece billet aluminum engine block. A milestone for the limited-production automobile manufacturer, the new block improves structural integrity and oiling capabilities allowing SSC to boost the power output to 1287 horsepower while improving durability.
Armed with the more powerful new engine, the '09 Ultimate Aero will be able to reach world-record speeds of 270 MPH, raising the benchmark for supercars and pushing the limits of current production car technology. In order to accommodate the '09 Ultimate Aero's unique fuel system requirements, SSC turned to American company Aeromotive to develop a flawless system. The aggressive nose is redesigned with enhanced aerodynamics to accommodate the 2009 Ultimate Aero's higher top speed, and carbon fiber louvers on the side intakes draw in an additional 20% of air into the radiators for improved cooling. The improvement in overall performance will widen the already sizeable gap between the Ultimate Aero and its competitors. The '09 Ultimate Aero also introduces the AeroBrakeTM a rear spoiler system that deploys under braking situations. Finished in carbon fiber, the rear spoilers actuate up an additional 8" when the brake pedal is depressed. The speed of the spoiler actuation is set by the amount of brake pedal pressure. The complete AeroBrakeTM system can be disabled by the push of a button, for town driving or situations where braking and downforce assistance are not necessary.
Rounding out the '09 Ultimate Aero's improvements is a revamped interior. A redesigned dash prominently displays sleek, exposed carbon fiber dash halves and inset air vents. Carbon fiber accents run along the doorsills, surround the new gauge cluster, and continue onto a revised steering column, which includes an analog speedometer and tachometer with a sequential shift light integrated into the tachometer needle. The new center console incorporates a digital temperature control unit and tire pressure monitor along with an Azentek PC base Infotainment unit. The revolutionary Azentek unit offers all the capabilities of a PC and processes SSC's onboard diagnostic software.
For more information and images of the 2009 Ultimate Aero, please visit www.ShelbySuperCars.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
kingtaz0 7:07PM (12/16/2008)
While I think its cool to claim the top spot.. This car just never seemed to have an unique attributes. It is just not a very attractive car. But kudos on 270 I hope you make it into the record books.
And If you can beat the veyrons theoretical 12.5 minute gas range even better.. hehe.
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Stingers 8:04PM (12/16/2008)
The SSC, like the Corvette, gets surprising gas mileage. Good American V8s seem to have an uncanny ability to squeeze out every mile per gallon they can. Apparently displacement is efficient now, seeing as the massive horsepower they make and their mileage is proportionately greater than the tiny little four bangers...
And personally I LOVE the looks. And this car, aside from being the fastest ever, can actually handle, better than a lot of cars with half the horsepower.
zamafir 8:22PM (12/16/2008)
Can you buy one? Or are they still not selling them? What's the point in claiming anything when people can't purchase your product?
Yar 8:54PM (12/16/2008)
@zamafir
http://www.motorcarslv.com/
Yes, they are for sale. It took me 10 seconds to find that.
tkosoccer03 10:17PM (12/16/2008)
To each his own ..
I think it's okay, but there are people who think the design is brilliant.
V3LOCIP3D3 2:58AM (12/17/2008)
If you read the specs and watch Jay Leno drive one, I think you would be convinced that it would probably be the most fun car to drive in the world. It has a real 6-speed stick (no paddles). Rear wheel drive. and a good ratio of a really sporty race car look and feel to a dash of luxury.
That said, if I had a billion dollars I'd never buy one over a veyron. Many car enthusiasts could build a car like that with that amount of money. The veyron was more of an invention. And a W16 quad-turbo is a lower stress engine, and it would probably last an eternity longer than an Aero.
larry a 4:08AM (12/17/2008)
@Stinger, the corvette and z06 get decent gas because of their really long gears, its not so much the engine.
as for this car, its ugly
Kumail 8:16PM (12/16/2008)
O_o
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Yar 7:12PM (12/16/2008)
USA! USA!
Go kick some ass SSC!
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guido 9:47PM (12/16/2008)
Meh. I'll keep my Yugo Cabriolet - even more exclusive than an SSC.
Berto 7:13PM (12/16/2008)
270 MPH is pretty damn awesome, so congrats to the Ultimate Aero team, but I'd be interested in the brakes and stopping distance...
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Randy915 7:17PM (12/16/2008)
I'd take a Veyron over this any day...
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Mobius_1 7:23PM (12/16/2008)
If I could afford one, I'm sure I could afford the other, so your "choice" is completely hypothetical. :)
Josh 8:35PM (12/16/2008)
I agree completely, the Veyron just carries a classiness about it that this cannot compete with. The two really are in different categories though, the Veyron is the pinnacle of luxury as well as capability, where is this can only attest to one of the two.
I still think this car is a pretty ugly machine, it just looks generic to me for some reason. This latest iteration looks somewhat better ( though, I think it may just be the paint job that I like ).
In any case - still an impressive feat to make so much power in a "production" car
Patrick 7:20PM (12/16/2008)
Still love the SVT Focus headlights on this thing!
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pablo 7:47PM (12/16/2008)
At least they painted them black this time! They look a lot better painted on my Focus too.
Nellydesign 8:55AM (12/17/2008)
I thought I was the only one who noticed. It's almost comical how they shmooed the surface of the hood around those headlights just to get them to fit. This vehicle could probably squeeeze out an extra MPH or two if they just hired an actual designer and created unique headlights that flowed with a smooth surface. You know, a surface that doesn't look like a fat lady sat on it. What a design abortion this thing is.
Frank 7:25PM (12/16/2008)
http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=16487
Read the comments. The last one says it all.
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Beastage 7:39PM (12/16/2008)
Which one, the nature of comments is that... they get added, so what was last one is not last one anymore :D
Bungle 8:33PM (12/16/2008)
Hahaha. Yeah, I was like, "Whats 'drivetrain snatch'?" That says it all?!?