Ssc North · 2004–2013

SSC Aero

The SSC Ultimate Aero is a mid-engined sports car that was produced by SSC North America (formerly known as Shelby SuperCars) from 2004 until 2013. The SSC Ultimate Aero held the world production car speed record title, according to the Guinness World Records, from 2007 (when it was officially timed at 255 mph, 410 km/h) until the introduction of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport in 2010. In April 2013, the Guinness World Records temporarily disqualified the Veyron's record time for a period of five days due to concerns about electronic speed limiting changing the function of the car, but after investigation reinstated the Veyron as the record holder. The SSC Ultimate Aero was not sold with electronic driver aids such as an anti-lock braking system or traction control system, as according to Jerod Shelby (no relation to Carroll Shelby), "Early design philosophy on the car was to make it a driver's car. I wanted a car that you not only throttled with your right foot but at times you could steer with your right foot and a sensor."

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: SSC Tuatara

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History

=== SSC Aero SC/8T Number 1 (2004) === The first SSC Aero prototype was completed in 2004 and began road testing in anticipation of the SSC Ultimate Aero production vehicle. Specifications: Engine - Supercharged 6,187 cc (377.6 cu in) LS1-based V8 Power - 679 kW (911 hp) at 6,600 rpm Torque - 1,045 N⋅m (771 lb⋅ft) at 5,800 rpm Redline - 7200 rpm Top speed - 401 km/h (249 mph) (claimed) Dry weight - 1,230 kg (2,712 lb) SSC Ultimate Aero SC/8T Number 2 (2005). Wind tunnel testing indicated that the Ultimate Aero could theoretically reach a top speed of 275 mph (443 km/h) given appropriate transmission gear ratios, although the supplied transmission would result in 268 mph (431 km/h) at the car's redline. The base Aero, however, had a theoretical top speed of about 234 mph (377 km/h). The Ultimate Aero accelerates from 0–62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.78 seconds, slower than the Bugatti Veyron which achieves 0–100 km/h in 2.46 seconds, partially due to its AWD drivetrain. Specifications: Engine - Supercharged 6,300 cc Chevrolet Corvette C5-R V8 Power - 590 kW (791 hp) at 6600 rpm Torque - 1,000 N⋅m (738 lb⋅ft) at 5800 rpm Redline - 7200 rpm Max Speed - 377 km/h (234 mph) Dry weight - 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) 2006. Styling of the Aero includes the use of butterfly doors similar to those found on the McLaren F1 and Ferrari Enzo. Carbon fibre and titanium are used throughout the car, helping to limit the weight to 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) for the standard Aero. The SSC Ultimate Aero was the final version of the prototype, introduced in 2006. It had an increased engine displacement of 6,300 cc and increased boost to 100 kPa. Specifications: Engine: supercharged 6,300 cc Chevrolet Corvette C5-R V8 Power: 780 kW (1,046 hp) at 6950 rpm Torque: 1,113 N⋅m (821 lb⋅ft) at 6200 rpm Redline: 7200 rpm

Speed record

Simulation and testing at NASA's Langley Research Center had shown the Ultimate Aero TT theoretically capable of attaining about 440 km/h (273 mph), sufficient to surpass the production car record-holding Bugatti Veyron's 407 km/h (253 mph). A 19 km (12-mile) stretch of Route 93 was closed on March 21, 2007, to allow SSC to test the Ultimate Aero TT, but the attempt was called off due to bad weather, and an effort the following day failed due to sub-optimal conditions, with test driver Rick Doria reporting wheelspin at speeds above 305 km/h (190 mph). Six months later SSC announced they had established a new production car speed record of 412.28 km/h (256 mph) in West Richland, Washington on September 13, 2007. In accordance with FIA Speed Records rules it was an average of two runs in opposite directions, 414.31 km/h (257 mph) and 410.24 km/h (255 mph). The results were verified by the Guinness World Records on October 9, 2007. SSC is currently one of only twenty-six car manufacturers in history to have held the record. SSC also applied to Guinness for the world record for the highest power for an emissions-legal production car. Its record was broken on July 4, 2010, by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which reached a certified top speed of 430 km/h (267 mph).

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

Manufacturer

SSC North America

Production

2004–2013

Assembly

United States: Richland, Washington

Successor

SSC Tuatara

Engine

General Motors LS-based small-block based, 2004: 6,200 cc supercharged V8, 2005: 6,300 cc supercharged V8, 2006: 6,300 cc supercharged V8, 2007: 6,300 cc twin-turbocharged V8, SSC designed, 2009: 6,300 cc twin-turbocharged V8, 2013: 6,900 cc twin-turbocharged V8

Transmission

3-speed automatic (for EV only), 5-speed manual (for SC/8T only), 6-speed manual (for TT only), 7-speed automated manual (for XT only)

Class

Sports car (S)

Body style

2-door coupé

Layout

Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

Length

4475 mm

Width

2100 mm

Height

1092 mm

Kerb weight

1270-1292 kg

sp

uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q848954CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSC_Ultimate_AeroCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1377770097 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SSC_Ultimate_Aero_TT_-_1.jpgCC0 · Photo: Nate Hawbaker · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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