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World’s fastest car contender: Shelby SuperCars Tuatara interior revealed

If there’s one view of the all-new Shelby SuperCars Tuatara we’re all dying to get, it’s this one: the view from behind the steering wheel.


These are the first official interior images of the SSC Tuatara, the hypercar aiming to become the fastest production car in the world.

To achieve that, it will have to better the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which has held the record (431.072 km/h) since June 2010.

The 275mph (442.570 km/h) figure on the Tuatara’s speedometer is no coincidence – it is a clear signal of the US-based manufacturer’s intentions to reclaim the fastest production car title. (The SSC Ultimate Aero TT held the record before the Veyron SS at 412 km/h.)

SSC has taken a completely different direction with the Tuatara than Bugatti did with the Veyron. While the French speedster is luxurious and relatively conservative, the Tuatara is futuristic and high-tech.

There are five head-up displays throughout the cabin, with the vehicle’s vital information projected onto the glass screens. The main instrument cluster displays speed and revs in the driver’s line of sight. The display on the right reveals the current gear and is flanked by a gear shift indicator, while the head-up unit on the left can be programed to show information of the driver’s choice (including lap times, as shown).

It’s not all about the driver, however. SSC says two head-up display screens on the passenger side are designed to create a “unique yet thrilling experience” for the passenger by making them feel like “a co-pilot instead of just a tag-along”.

The start button is not without theatre either. When pressed, red lights illuminate in a clockwise sequence before the engine growls to life.

The centre console features a large touchscreen for controlling most of the vehicle’s functions, while there are other physical buttons for managing the traction control and driving modes.

As pictured, the Tuatara will come standard with a seven-speed H-pattern manual transmission – similar to the new Porsche 911’s – and will also be available with an optional seven-speed sequential paddle shift transmission.

The Tuatara is powered by a 7.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with 1007kW of power and 1413Nm of torque. Shelby SuperCars says it will accelerate from 0-60mph (0-96.6 km/h) in just 2.5 seconds.

The SSC Tuatara is expected to cost around US$970,000 ($950,000) when it goes on sale in 2012.

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