How a $1.6 million supercar clawed its reputation back after the internet debunked its 316 mph speed record

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_34 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

SSC North America's $1.6 million Tuatara made three attempts at becoming the world's fastest production car.
The first one was disputed and during the second one, the car suffered mechanical problems.
It finally pulled off the feat during its third run at 282.9 mph.
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It's not often an automaker claims it just broke the record for world's fastest production car. But when the internet calls BS on that record and the car has to try again, twice, then you really sit up and pay attention.

This is the saga of the $1.6 million Tuatara supercar from boutique automaker SSC North America. The car's first record of 316 mph was short-lived; it was almost immediately questioned by internet sleuths, to the point where SSC was forced review its video footage and GPS data, found discrepancies, and vowed to try setting the record again.

It wasn't until the company's third try that it finally set the record at 282.9 mph, though this was nowhere near the 316-mph claim it made the first time around.

What happened? How did we get here?

Read on for the full story.

The SSC Tuatara is the latest car from boutique American automaker SSC North America.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_35 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Source: Insider

Priced at $1.6 million, it claimed to earn the title of "world's fastest production vehicle" on October 10.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_41 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

On a seven-mile stretch of public highway in Nevada, the Tuatara allegedly hit a top speed of 331.15 mph in one direction and 301.07 on the "slower run."

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_40 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

The feat was uploaded to the company's YouTube channel for all to see. To be considered for an official world record, contestants have to submit the times for two consecutive runs and average them.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_15 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

The Tuatara averaged a speed of 316.11 mph.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_45 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Professional driver Oliver Webb was at the wheel.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_17 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

This was faster than the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport's 2019 run at the Volkswagen Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany, which achieved a speed of 304.77 mph.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_23 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

However, the Bugatti only ran once, not twice. So, it wasn't official.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_37 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Source: Road & Track

The official record was previously held by the Koenigsegg Agera RS, which achieved an average speed in both directions of 277.87 mph.

Source: Top Gear

The Tuatara is powered by a 5.9-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank V8 and produces a claimed 1,750 horsepower.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_20 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Only 100 of them will be built and priced starting at $1.6 million.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_39 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

But after the run, the questions started rolling in.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_43 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Internet sleuths on Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube cried foul, saying the car's record video footage seemed fishy - the displayed speed did not appear to match the car's true speed, they claimed.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_8 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Source: Insider

Among them was prominent automotive YouTuber Shmee, who said, "If the Tuatara did what [SSC] said it did, it would take seconds to prove it."

SSC Tuatara Shmee.
Screenshot via Shmee150/YouTube

Source: YouTube

In its own defense, SSC said that it used technology from Austrian GPS data-measuring company Dewetron to chart the car's speed.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_44 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Dewetron pushed back, however.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_28 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

"Dewetron did not validate any data from world record attempts or preceding tests," the company said in a statement. "Not one of Dewetron's employees was present during the test drive or involved in the associated preparations."

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_30 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

Even Webb, the professional driver who helped set the record, couldn't make sense of what was happening.

A post shared by Oliver Webb (@oliverjameswebb)

On October 28, SSC CEO and founder Jerod Shelby issued a statement.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_32 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

He blamed the misleading video and discrepancies in the displayed speed on a video-editing "mixup."

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_25 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

He said that the video production company, Driven Studios, had additional footage of the run and he would share it as soon as he had it.

SSC Tuatara._Lipman_36 — SSC Tuatara.
James Lipman/SSC North America

But on October 30, Shelby uploaded a 3.5-minute video to YouTube, where he announced that when the company reviewed the additional footage, "We all of a sudden were seeing the same doubts." So, instead of showing everyone the "actual footage in its simplest form," as the company said it would, Shelby said he would redo the record.