Shelby Supercars introduces the Tuatara [video]

New supercar will aim to reclaim SSC's title as maker of the world's fastest production car

Shelby Supercars has named its next creation - meet the SSC Tuatara.

The name, as it is explained in the video above featuring company found Jerod Shelby, is derived from the Maori name for a certain type of lizard native to New Zealand. This reptile has the fastest evolving DNA of any creature, hence, SSC chose it for the newly christened Tuatara in order to communicate how much the car has changed from its predecessor - the SSC Ultimate Aero.

Aside from the name, though, we don't get any new details on the car. But Jerod Shelby seems pretty committed to building a new globe-dominating supercar to top world's fastest car lists everywhere.

This isn't an arena that demands subtlety.

Source: Shelby Supercars

SSC Announces Name of Next Generation Supercar

WEST RICHLAND, WA (7/18/2011)

Shelby SuperCars (SSC), the American supercar manufacturer and creator of the world record breaking Ultimate Aero, is proud to introduce its latest contribution to automobile enthusiasts worldwide. Following several years of design and development of its revolutionary new supercar, SSC has named its new car TUATARA (pronounced twu?tar?ah).

"The design specifications for the Next Generation SSC were so extreme; we knew early on that a proper name would be a key piece of the puzzle for this project," says Jerod Shelby, Founder, Lead Designer and CEO of SSC.
The name "Tuatara" was inspired by a modern day New Zealand reptile that bears the same name. A direct descendent of the dinosaur, this reptile's name translated from the Maori language means "peaks on the back," which is quite fitting, given the winglets on the back of the new car. While the Tuatara is a very unique creature, there was a particular property of this reptile that immediately married it with SSC. The Tuatara possesses the fastest evolving DNA in the world, and amongst the world's greatest supercar manufacturers, so does SSC.

Mr. Shelby explains, "Most manufacturers essentially use the same basic model and body shape for up to 10 years, while only making small refinements to it each year. 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 shear all?around performance. We felt that the fastest evolving DNA was a perfect definition of SSC's latest project."

Exclusive video footage of Shelby SuperCars Founder Jerod Shelby unveiling the name of SSC's Next Generation supercar, as well as additional photos and information on the Tuatara can be found at SSC's official website: www.ShelbySuperCars.com.

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 RODHA RODHA
It looks fascinating. I wonder if it is a pure american sports car or a tech loaded european hyper car?
July 18, 2011 5:15 am
 Tackleberry Tackleberry
It amazes me how incredible they can make the car and how much technology has evolved....yet they can't get rid of that horrible looking windsheild wiper, I had an old Jeep that had a wiper that got stuck like that......drove me crazy. Beautiful car other wise
July 18, 2011 5:30 am
 autoficianado autoficianado
attractrive design but I clearly see Ferrari inspired front, Lambo Gallardo inspired sides.
+1
July 18, 2011 6:37 am
 shaahinmt shaahinmt
Tuatara: Tweeting Twats.
July 18, 2011 7:12 am
 shaahinmt shaahinmt
sorry for that!
July 18, 2011 7:14 am
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
tuatara, huayra, why can`t they pick names that won`t make a knot in the tongue.
July 18, 2011 7:35 am
 kryst_PL kryst_PL
Name was a key element to the project? Oh, please...
July 18, 2011 7:47 am
 blaksabb blaksabb
Hmmm, he must have graduated from Douche University. I would have invited him to my "Dinner for Schmucks".
July 18, 2011 8:23 am
 Cale24 Cale24
Work of art- has taken influences from some cars but who cares. It definitely has input from a talented design team. Looks a little like one of my favourite concept cars, the Maserati Birdcage from a few years back.
July 18, 2011 8:40 am
 F1LMx F1LMx
Same designer.
July 18, 2011 9:24 am
 RobERob RobERob
I have nothing against Shelby, and this is a likable design, but so much focus and time should not have been emphasized on a name not yet worthy of the recognition they are giving it. Save the biology lesson and well thought out marketing campaign for someone who cares and just give us the data ...I mean details on the evolutionary process/direction this car has undergone. Winglets anyone?
July 18, 2011 1:34 pm
 701let 701let
Kudos to SSC for rebadging theyre Aero. I have to admit it looks better than the last POS they released. The funniest bit about all this is the fact that they are trying to get cars built as fast as humanly possible. In my 27 years of being on this planet (which may not seem like much) I have managed to realise that nothing built as fast as possible can possibly be built with quality. I'm pretty sure it takes 7 years for most major car brands to perfect thier new models and even then, when they are released they have to release recalls and updates. That and followed by the fact that this is an american car just tells me that it will be a posers car from the get go and that they really havent thought this through. Also followed by a redneck telling us about the brand and how good it is, can not possibly mean that this car is any good. For all we know he could be driving an F-truck
July 18, 2011 4:25 pm
 ebarsy ebarsy
You're 27 years haven't taught you much huh? most major car companies spend so much time because they A) have multiple cars they are producing with average engineers working on them, not a single car with the best in the world working on it. B) They are mass producing them, not hand building them observing every step of the process. C) They are letting their models run there course grossing as much sales and profitability as possible, not competing to stay the fastest production car in the world as the SSC team is doing.
July 20, 2011 3:45 pm
 6spdterror 6spdterror
He looks like an american Christian Von Koeniggsegg!
July 18, 2011 8:03 pm
 progressive progressive
Hahaaa, I had the same comment. I also have the same haircut :)
July 19, 2011 1:55 am
 Phlarzian Phlarzian
I like it alot! For a supercar. From an aesthetic perspective only. What are the chances it has an innovative, flexfuel/electric/kers/solar drivetrain? Probably not - probably has your typical "bigger is better" lump of a setup.
July 18, 2011 11:03 pm
 thanman123 thanman123
it looks good and its fast but it won't be as good as the veyron. the veyron suprised us and amazed us when it came out to the public. anyway bugatti will probably create a new veyron successor which will smash the competition and eat it for breakfast.
July 20, 2011 12:09 am