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Gentlemen, meet the new fastest production car

The SSC Tuatara just beat the Koenigsegg Agera RS

One look and you know this car is bound to break speed records. PHOTO FROM SSC NORTH AMERICA

In case you were wondering, the fastest production car in the world was the Koenigsegg Agera RS—which posted an average speed of 447km/h in 2017. The Agera RS had taken the crown from the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, which had held the bragging rights since 2010. Certainly no mean feat by the Swedish hypercar maker.

Unfortunately for Koenigsegg, there’s a new sheriff in town: the SSC Tuatara. SSC North America had been the previous manufacturer of the fastest production car (the Ultimate Aero), and regaining the honor after a decade seems poetic. Powered by a 1,750hp 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the Tuatara managed an average speed of 508.73km/h (or 316.11mph) after doing runs of 484.53km/h and 532.93km/h earlier this month just outside Las Vegas, Nevada.

That 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 engine redlines at 8,800rpm. PHOTOS FROM SSC NORTH AMERICA

The car was piloted by race driver Oliver Webb. As stipulated by the rules, the car had to be a production version, which meant that it had to be the exact version that a regular customer could purchase. Webb also had to drive the Tuatara “the same route in opposite directions” to account for every possible factor. The car then had to be used with street tires and non-racing fuel. Finally, the speed had to be tracked by a certified GPS measurement system, with “two world-record sanctioned witnesses on-site for verification.”

That's 316mph, in case you're confused. Or 508.73km/h. PHOTOS FROM SSC NORTH AMERICA

There you go. Hail, the new king of the road! Go defend your throne against pretenders and contenders.



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist for 26 years. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



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