Shelby Supercars is aiming to topple the Bugatti Veyron from its top spot as fastest car in the world with its new Tuatara.
Designed by Jason Castriota, who was behind Shelby's Ultimate Aero supercar, the Tuatara comes with a twin-turbo 7.0-litre V8 engine, which pumps out an incredible 1,350bhp.
The mid-mounted powerplant is hooked up to a manual gearbox, but a seven-speed paddle-shift sequential transmission will also be an option. A top speed of 260mph is expected.
Shelby Supercars (SSC), which is no relation to Carroll Shelby of Cobra fame, will make the Tuatara's body and chassis from carbon fibre. It will also feature carbon fibre wheels.
Jason Shelby, the company boss, said: "Most supercar makes use essentially the same model for ten years. After only three years in production with the Ultimate Aero, SSC's Tuatara is about to monumentally evolve in the areas of sophistication, design, aerodynamics and sheer all-round performance."
The car takes its name from the Maori word for a lizard in New Zealand. Tuatara literally translates as "peaks on its back", appropriated by the two winglets on the top of the rear wings that aid downforce and stability.
Alisdair Suttie - 19 Jul 2011