SSC comes up short...kinda

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Coventrysucks

Malcolm Campbell bettered 300mph in 1935.

If you want to go that fast, all you need to do is get a fairly powerful engine, some low-drag bodywork, decent tyres and you're away.

No fuss, no bother; easy as you like.

People are tricked into thinking that doing 250mph is some Earth-shattering event by the people who are doing it, because the people who are doing it want people to think they are amazing.

They aren't amazing: they are idiots.

The reason more cars don't do 250+mph is not because it is difficult, but because it forces so many compromises to achieve something someone might do more than once, possibly, that it just isn't worth the time, money and effort.

What you see is people with too much time, money and effort to spare focussing on a pointless, unremarkable non-goal to cover up the fact that their car is a Diablo kit-car with a Chevy V8 and Ford Focus headlamps.

First of all I have to say that I don't like the Veyron, it has a problem of attitude in my opinion. But having said I think that it has to be respected hugely for what it has achieved. Some say that speed is pointless and I agree to an extent especially when we are talking of those mindboggling figures. However the same could be said about 0-60 figures (or insert any standstill acceleration you want) since in the real world you never (perhaps rarely) go from 0 to 60. But it's called pushing the envelope. Yes you Coventry say that 250mph isn't new, but the way the Bugatti achieves it most definitely is.

Let me put it this way. Achieving 250mph is easy. Making an all-rounder that can do 250mph and which has had more than 2 produced is most definitevely outstanding. And even if we don't like it we have to recognise Volkswagen's merit.

[Equinox]

The only problem with making cars for the sole purpose to beat a speed record is, thats all people buy them for. They don't buy them because they are nice looking or reliable, have a nice heritage and have good "customer service" etc. etc.

They buy them just to say 'I have the fastest street legal car on the planet." Then their freinds say, 'really, what kind of car is it'... "Oh a Koenigsegg".. 'what the hell is that?'.

Most people have no idea what the hell these cars are, because all they are is just for speed. Then a year or so later the same person comes along and says... 'so what happened to your Koenigsegg?'. "Oh I dont drive it know. I bought the new fastest car in the world"... 'What's that?'. "Oh, its an SSC!"
The person's freind says the same thing... 'What the hell is that now?'

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by The_Canuck

Someone should just go the speed of light and finish all this.

I'm gonna go turn my flashlight. Do I get a prize?

[Pando]

Originally Posted by baddabang

Thats done daily in the AXB.

Yes, when sunlight shines through the windows.

Originally Posted by Kitdy

I'm gonna go turn my flashlight. Do I get a prize?

You're not going any faster because of that. Prize denied.

[fisetdavid26]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

I'm gonna go turn my flashlight. Do I get a prize?

I can give you a big hug. Catch me on MSN to claim your prize.

[Northalius]

Originally Posted by ferrarifreak013

has anyone else noticed how the cars that keep taking the spot for fastest production car just keep getting uglier and uglier?

No. If you mean the SSC Ultimate Aero that might take the Veyrons place? Then no, again. Because the SSC Ultimate Aero looks better than the Veyron. It doesn't look original compared to the Veyron, but it looks better; not ugly at all!

[Glisson]

Equinox, you said it regarding "What's that ?"
As you are probably aware by now I am a great admirer of the Bug legend.
When my dad bought me my first Scalextric (I was 10) in 1958, the two cars it came with were a Bugatti T35 and a Bentley.
So at an early age I started researching on these cars.
Then Bug disappeared off the map till the EB110 appeared.
Then virtually gone again until the V.
However, most (Probably 90% ) of people I talk to about my passion say,
"Oh, they build those fast expensive bikes? "(Ducatti)
and obviously:
"Is it Italian ?"
Amazing that it is all the unknowns who top this "fast chart".
Must say I'd never heard of Kegg till it broke the record either !
Now if the name Chevy had to feature in the SSC logo maybe someone would associate with it. lol

[Viper007]

Well here is the news: SSC Ultimate Aero TT Averages 255 mph in Top Speed Runs at Auto-Focus.us

Shelby Supercars (SSC), manufacturer of the ultra high-performance Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo, set the new “World’s Fastest Production Car” record Friday, September 14th with an average top speed of 255.83 mph. Confident of the 1183 hp vehicle’s abilities, SSC set out to validate their top speed claim in accordance with the strict guidelines set by Guinness World Records. Among other requirements, in order to meet Guinness’ approval, a vehicle testing for the top speed record must drive down the course, turn around, and make a second pass in the opposite direction within one hour. The vehicle’s official “top speed” is calculated by averaging the top speeds of each pass in order to negate any favorable road or weather conditions. Friday, on a temporarily-closed 2 lane stretch of public highway in Washington State, the Ultimate Aero posted a top speed of 257.11 mph (413.83 kph) on its first pass and 254.55 mph (409.71 kph) on its return pass, yielding a new top speed record: a staggering 255.83 mph (411.76 kph). The data, collected by Dewetron’s world-renowned GPS tracking system, will be verified by Guinness before the Ultimate Aero is officially crowned the “World’s Fastest Production Car.” This breaks the current official record held by the Koenigsegg CCR at 242 mph by 11.83 mph and the Bugatti Veyron’s unofficial speed of 253 mph by 3.11 mph.

SSC’s high-speed durability and aerodynamic test runs started in March on a 12-mile stretch of Highway 93 in Elko County, Nevada. After the scouting team discovered a more appropriate test site testing moved to open roads in SSC’s home state of Washington. Unlike these previous tests, which encompassed various durability trials of the Ultimate Aero’s drivetrain and powertrain, today’s session was dedicated solely to determining the vehicle’s top speed capabilities. A recently repaved two-lane section of Highway 221 in Washington was ultimately selected for the task, though navigating the road’s slight elevation changes and mid-way S-bend proved to be a challenge. Test driver Chuck Bigelow, 71 of Richland, WA, had to pass through the S-bend at a minimum of 210 mph in order to attain record speed during the following straightaway (with only 1.5 miles before braking was required); after the record-breaking run, Bigelow stated “if there was additional straight pavement on which to accelerate, the top speed would have been considerably higher and if anyone challenges your record there is tons left on the table”.

Lack of a dedicated test site, which many of the larger automotive manufacturers have at their disposal, was just one of the many obstacles in SSC’s way. Led by founder and lead designer Jerod Shelby, the SSC design team spent the past seven years creating, engineering, and testing the Ultimate Aero. “From the beginning, we felt confident that the Ultimate Aero was first in its class. SSC’s design team deserves their place in the record books for their tireless determination and motivation on this project. We are enormously pleased with the progress we’ve made with the Ultimate Aero and we’re excited to put more of these impressive machines into the hands of our customers,” Shelby stated.

“This is a dream come true,” he said while celebrating at SSC’s production facility. “Everyone at SSC worked so hard in designing, testing, and building the Ultimate Aero, and now to accomplish this record is amazing. The fact that we are a small privately owned company and were able to do something much bigger companies haven’t done on massive budgets makes this so exciting for the entire SSC team.” said Shelby.

With 1183 bhp and 1094 ft-lbs of torque, the Ultimate Aero produces more emissions-legal horsepower than any other production automobile in the world (another Guinness World Record for which SSC is currently applying). Despite being designed to run at redline for extended periods of time, the Ultimate Aero remains remarkably drivable. The proprietary twin-turbo V8 power plant retains excellent idle characteristics, and thanks to a drag coefficient of just .357, wind tunnel testing calculates the vehicle to be aerodynamically stable to speeds up to 273 mph. Featuring all the amenities found in a luxury sedan, the supple leather/suede interior is highlighted by custom Recaro seats, a 10 speaker premium system, DVD/navigation/backup camera, and a cab-controlled lift that raises the front an extra four inches to navigate road hazards.