Hypercars
, luxurious high-performance vehicles usually made in limited quantities, generally are found in Europe though a few companies make them in North America. One of the first companies was SSC North America, created by Jerod Shelby. These high-performance vehicles made and designed in Washington state break records. They’ve recently released new info on their newest ones, the SSC Tuatara Striker, which is all about aerodynamics.
Dinosaurs and fighter jets combine to create the SSC Striker
In New Zealand, there’s a reptile called the Tuatara, an at-risk relict and the last surviving member of the Sphenodontia, a species from the age of dinosaurs. And in Māori, Tuatara means spiny back.
A large at-risk reptile with a spiny back doesn't quite fit the fighter jet-inspired SCC Tuatara. Spines don’t work well with aerodynamics. This is where Striker comes in.
Fighter jets are where the hypercar gets its name; since the 1940s, Striker Fighters have meant multipurpose attack aircrafts.
The SSC Tuatara Striker takes a bit from both names. Like the New Zeland Tuatara, it’s limited in existence, with SSC North American only planning to make 100 hypercars with a few “fins” for aerodynamic purposes.
From the Fighterjet Striker, the vehicle takes speed, power, and a three-fold increased downforce equalling about 1,100 pounds across the car when it reaches 160 miles per hour. What all help create that intense downforce and super aerodynamics include:
All of these engineered parts assist that downforce, with 45.4% in the front and 54.6% focused in the back. This helps balance the car and increase stability.
A one-of-a-kind exclusive engine for the SSC Striker
SSC North America partnered with Nelson Racing Engines to create something new for the SSC Striker. A twin Turbo V8 works with a CIMA 7-speed transmission integrated with a hydraulic-driven Automatic AMT system.
This engine, powered by a microprocessor and offering millisecond load control for the clutch and gear with high electrical precision, is built for accuracy.
Your average vehicle runs on 87 octane fue, but the SSC Striker uses 91 octane, offering the user 1350 horsepower. With alternative fuel types like ethanol or methanol, a wood alcohol CH3OH, this will create 1750 horsepower.
The SSC Striker’s monocoque for safety and three handling modes
The SSC Striker is built from carbon fiber. It has a lightweight frame, carbon fiber skin, and a monocoque. Monocoque is french for a single shell and is used in multiple types of vehicles, including aircrafts. It’s meant to help with safety, specifically and with weight. Leaving the vehicle lighter.
The monocoque on the SSC Striker is also visible throughout the car for aesthetic purposes.
This hypercar coupe will also have a touchscreen for control, allowing the user to change the handling modes. These modes include:
Sport for if you want to work on your corners
Track for if you want to run in a straight line
While the price for the Tuatara Striker isn’t posted on their website, the standard Tuatara’s went for $1.9 million, and the SSC strikers are expected to be nearly $200,000 more.
MORE: You Should Know About the SSC Tuatara
Who would win in a battle of top insurance providers for your car insurance?
While the name and inspiration of the Tuatara Striker conjure ideas of Godzilla versus fighter jets, your vehicle’s insurance shouldn’t be such an intense battle. Though if you want to pit top car insurance providers against one another, you can start with the Jerry
app. In less than a minute, Jerry will take the insurance you want and start collecting quotes from 55+ top providers to give you, so you can determine the winner. This will save you time, as traditionally, without Jerry, you’d also have to collect all this information one at a time via long forms and phone calls.
Instead, Jerry will show you the best deals, and once you select a winner, Jerry will help you switch over and offer continuous support from a team of licensed knowledgeable agents
. The time you save is priceless, but the monetary amount on average is about +$800 a year, which will buy a lot of popcorn to watch other battles.