SSC Tuatara speed record explained, controversy and all

• SSC North America’s $ 1.6 million Tuatara made three attempts to become the world’s fastest production car.
• The first was disputed, and during the second the car had mechanical problems.
• It eventually finished with the performance during its third race of 282.9 mph.
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It is not often that a car manufacturer claims that it only broke the record for the world’s fastest production car. But when the internet calls BS on that plate, and the car has to try again, twice, then you actually sit up and pay attention.

This is the saga of the $ 1

.6 million Tuatara supercar from carmaker SSC North America. The car’s first record of 316 km / h was short-lived; it was interrogated almost immediately by internet sleuths, to the point where SSC was forced to review its video and GPS data, found discrepancies and promised to try to set the record again.

It was not until the company’s third attempt that it finally set the record at 282.9 mph, although this was not close to the 316-mph requirement it did the first time.

What happened? How did we get here?

Read on for the full story.