1. Development History

1.1. SSC Aero SC/8T Number 1 (2004)

The first SSC Aero prototype was completed in 2004 and began road testing in anticipation of the SSC Ultimate Aero production vehicle.

Technical Specifications

• Engine - Supercharged 6,200 cm³ Chevrolet Corvette C5-R V8^[1]
• Power - Initially 580 kW (777 hp) @ 6600 rpm as built in 2004. 680 kW (911 hp) @ 6600 rpm after 2005 upgrade.^[2]
• Torque - 860 N⋅m (634 ft-lbs) @ 5800 rpm as built in 2004. 1,050 N⋅m (774 ft-lbs) @ 5800 rpm after 2005 upgrade.^[1]
• Redline - 7200 rpm
• Top speed - 234 mph (378 km/h, 105 m/s) as built in 2004. 241 mph (388 km/h, 108 m/s) after 2005 upgrade.
• Dry mass - 1,230 kg^[2]

1.2. SSC Ultimate Aero SC/8T Number 2 (2005)

Wind tunnel testing indicated that the Ultimate Aero could theoretically reach a top speed of 275 mph (442 km/h, 123 m/s) given appropriate transmission gear ratios, although the supplied transmission would result in 268 mph (432 km/h, 120 m/s) at the car's redline.^[3] The base Aero, however, had a theoretical top speed of about 234 mph.^[4] The Ultimate Aero accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.78 seconds,^[5] slower than the Bugatti Veyron which achieves 0-100 km/h in 2.46 seconds, partially due to its AWD drivetrain.^[6]

Technical Specifications

• Engine - Supercharged 6,300 cm³ Chevrolet Corvette C5-R V8^[3]
• Power - 590 kW (791 hp) @ 6600 rpm^[3]
• Torque - 1,000 N⋅m (737 lb-ft) @ 5800 rpm^[3]
• Redline - 7200 rpm^[3]
• Max Speed - 234 mph (378 km/h, 105 m/s)
• Dry Weight - 1,300 kg^[3]

1.3. 2006

SSC Ultimate Aero TT. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1909074

SSC Ultimate Aero TT rear view. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1079903

SSC Ultimate Aero TT interior. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1712982

Styling of the Aero includes the use of butterfly doors similar to those found on the McLaren F1 and Ferrari Enzo. Carbon fibre and titanium are used throughout the car, helping to limit the weight to 1,300 kg for the standard Aero. The SSC Ultimate Aero was the final version of the prototype, introduced in 2006. It had an increased engine displacement of 6,300 cm³ and increased boost to 100 kPa.

Technical Specifications (Ultimate Aero)

• Engine: supercharged 6,300 cm³ Chevrolet Corvette C5R V8^[3]
• Terminal power: 780 kW (1045 hp) @ 6950 rpm^[3]
• Terminal torque: 1,100 N⋅m (811 lb-ft) @ 6200 rpm^[3]
• Terminal angular velocity: 7200 rpm^[3]
• Terminal velocity: 400 km/h (248 mph)
• Dry mass: 1,200 kg^[3]

1.4. 2007–2008

The Ultimate Aero TT was a twin-turbocharged version of the Ultimate Aero. The 6-speed transmission was readjusted to increase the theoretical top speed to 440 km/h (273 mph) at 7200 rpm. Wheels on the base model are sized 460 mm at the front and 480 mm at the rear, while the Ultimate Aero TT has wheels an inch larger at each end. The 2007 models are heavier, with the base model weighing 1,300 kg, and Ultimate version 1,250 kg. Unlike the previous year, base models have a navigation system, 10-speaker audio/CD/DVD system, video/DVD screen, back-up camera, air-conditioning, and trunk space as standard equipment. These come optional on the Ultimate. The first production 2007 Ultimate Aero TT car was sold on eBay for US$431,100. Later cars are expected to cost US$285,000.^[7] Only 24 Ultimate Aero TTs were produced from 2006 to 2007. The Ultimate Aero TT made its international debut on the International Show Circuit in November 2006. The Ultimate Aero TT claimed the Guinness World Records for the fastest production car, after it was officially timed at 410 km/h (254 mph) in Washington (state) .^[8] For 2008, the Ultimate Aero received four updates:

• New twin-turbocharged V8
• New aluminium engine block
• Standard HRE monoblock wheels
• Azentek Atlas computer infotainment system^[9]

Technical Specification (2007 Ultimate Aero TT)

• Engine - twin-turbocharged 6,300 cm³ Chevrolet Corvette C5-R V8^[8]
• Terminal power - 880 kW (1180 hp) @ 6950 rpm^[8]
• Terminal torque - 1,500 Nm (1106 ft-lb) @ 6150 rpm^[8]
• Terminal angular velocity - 7200 rpm^[8]
• Terminal velocity - 410 km/h (254 mph)^[8]
• Dry mass - 1,250 kg^[8]

1.5. SSC Ultimate Aero TT

In 2009, SSC updated the Ultimate Aero TT, with the new version having an increase in power of 15% over the older model. SSC predicts a top speed of over 430 km/h (267 mph) is possible. In order to prevent the engine from overheating, airflow to the engine has been increased 20% with new carbon fibre louvres. The nose has been redesigned to make the car more aerodynamic, and the interior has been redesigned. The new Aero also has a new AeroBrake system, which is a spoiler which rises up to 200 mm when the brake is pressed.^[10] This updated model reached a top speed of 415 km/h (258 mph) in a test, according to SSC.^[11]

Technical Specification (2009 Ultimate Aero TT)

• Engine: twin-turbocharged 6,300 cm³ SSC V8^[11]
• Terminal power: 960 kW (1287 hp) @ 6100 rpm^[11]
• Terminal torque: 1,500 N⋅m (1,106 lbf⋅ft) @ 6100 rpm^[11]
• Terminal angular velocity: 7200 rpm^[11]
• Terminal velocity: 415 km/h (257 mph)^[11]
• Dry mass: 1,250 kg^[11]
• Length: 4,480 mm^[11]
• A 2009 SSC Ultimate Aero, albeit with the new prototype SSC Tuatara gearbox fitted, was able to complete six runs of 0-300 km/h (186 mph) from 15.1 to 15.8 seconds, according to SSC's gear ratio testing results.^[12]

1.6. SSC Ultimate Aero EV

In 2009, SSC announced that they would be commencing production of the Ultimate Aero EV, an electrically-powered version of the Ultimate Aero. This car featured twin electric motors, claimed to be capable of producing 750 kW (1005 hp) and 1,085 N⋅m (800 ft-lb) of torque through a three-speed automatic transmission.^[13] SSC claimed that the car would be able to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 335 km/h (208 mph).^[13] However, the car never entered production.

1.7. 2013

In 2013, SSC introduced the Ultimate Aero XT, which was a special version of the Ultimate Aero that was built to celebrate the end of its production. Five XTs were planned, but only one was built. They utilised some components that were designed for its Tuatara replacement; for example, the Ultimate Aero XT was fitted with SSC's new 6.9-litre all-aluminium twin-turbocharged V8 engine and a seven-speed paddle-shifted gearbox.^[14]

Technical Specification (Ultimate Aero XT)

• Engine: twin-turbocharged 6,900 cm³ SSC V8^[15]
• Power: 970 kW (1300 hp) @ 6800 rpm^[15]
• Torque: 1,360 N⋅m (1000 ft-lb) @ 6800 rpm^[15]
• Maximum angular velocity: 9100 rpm^[15]
• Top speed (theoretical)^[15] - 268 mph (432 km/h, 120 m/s)
• Top speed (actual): 257 mph (414 km/h, 115 m/s)
• Drag coefficient: 0.357^[15]
• Dry mass: 1,270 kg^[15]
• Kerb mass: 1,300 kg^[16]

2. Speed Record

Simulation and testing at NASA's Langley Research Centre had shown the Ultimate Aero TT theoretically capable of attaining approximately 440 km/h,^[17] sufficient to surpass the production car record-holding Bugatti Veyron's 408 km/h.

A 20 km stretch of Route 93 was closed on March 21, 2007 to allow SSC to test the Ultimate Aero TT, but the attempt was called off due to bad weather, and an effort the following day failed due to sub-optimal conditions, with test driver Rick Doria reporting wheelspin at speeds above 300 km/h.^[18]

Six months later SSC announced they had established a new production car speed record of 412.28 km/h (256 mph) in West Richland, Washington on September 13, 2007. In accordance with FIA Speed Records rules it was an average of two runs in opposite directions, 414.31 km/h (257 mph) and 410.24 km/h (255 mph). The results were verified by the Guinness World Records on October 9, 2007. SSC is currently one of only twenty-six car manufacturers in history to have held the record.

SSC also applied to Guinness for the world record for the highest power for an emissions-legal production car.^[19]

Its record was broken on July 4, 2010 by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which reached a certified top speed of 430 km/h (267 mph).^[20]