Toolbox
Back
Related Car News & Reviews
Cars for Sale
words - Matt Brogan
America's Shelby Supercars takes the covers off its latest high-powered offering

This Lamborghini-esque hypercar is the latest creation from American manufacturer Shelby Supercars.

Aptly named after a Kiwi lizard boasting the fastest changing DNA of any animal on earth, the 'Tuatara' is powered by a mid-rear mounted twin-turbocharged 7.0-litre V8 developing 1007kW. Power is put to the ground via a choice of seven-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions.

The remainder of the car's specifications are a closely guarded secret, though we do know it's constructed of carbon-fiber with aluminium reinforced crash structures.

Tuatara was penned by ex-Bertone desinger and current Saab design chief Jason Castriota; the man famous for the 'Mantide' concept.

"The design specifications for the Tuatara were so extreme that a proper name would be a key piece of the puzzle for this project," explains SSC CEO, Jerod Shelby.

"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."

SSC is yet to finalise numbers for the Tuatara but in true hypercar style we expect these to be limited to around a dozen. Pricing has not yet been announced, though some sources quote upwards of USD$800,000.

Similarly, the car's top speed is not advised, though it will need to top the Veyron's 407km/h v.max if it is to score a place in the record books.

Video of the Tuatara is available below.

 

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site

Powered By Motoring.com.au Published : Wednesday, 20 July 2011


Disclaimer:
In most cases, motoring.com.au attends new vehicle launches at the invitation and expense of vehicle manufacturers and/or distributors.

Editorial prices shown are a "price guide" only, based on information provided to us by the manufacturer. Pricing current at the time of writing editorial. Pricing prior to editorial dated 25 May 2009 may refer to RRP. Due to Clarity on Pricing legislation, RRP for those editorials now means "price guide". When purchasing a car, always confirm the single figure price with the seller of an actual vehicle.

^ If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away No More to Pay", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges. Please confirm price and features with the seller of the vehicle.

Opinions expressed with motoring.com.au editorial material are those of the writer and not necessarily Carsales.com Ltd. motoring.com.au editorial staff and contributors attend overseas and local events as guests of car manufacturers and importers.

Click here for further information about our Terms & Conditions.