Thrust SSC, the car broke the sound barrier - photos and video

The sound barrier was a concept largely unexplored until the mid 40's. The pilots of some P-51, P-47, I-262, Ta-152 and other fighters of World War II noticed a strange aerodynamic effects when did minced long and caught a lot of speed. The sound barrier was officially broken exactly 60 years ago, the USAF pilot Charles Yeager in a Bell X1 rocket powered motor ... but that's another story.

After breaking the record in the air, the challenge was to achieve at the surface and on wheels. The difficulties were considerable, especially on the power required and the stability of the vehicle. A Bugatti Veyron by little beyond 400 km / h with 1,001 horsepower, and when they want to get that speed, it takes a bestial power, much less is proportional.

Hit a jump to 1997 in Black Rock, Nevada (USA). Andy Green is intended to break the sound barrier, and therefore the land speed record with the Thrust Super Sonic Car (SSC). I had no engine pistons (what we know for cars) but two Rolls Royce Spey 202 jet engines that propelled the legendary McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, the father of the F-15. The power that could develop the car was in the order of 110,000 hp, of course, the reactors did not encourage any transmission to the wheels, they were free.

On October 13, amid great expectations from the media, Andy Green managed to reach the not inconsiderable figure of 1229.81 kilometers per hour, more than Mach 1 or 740 miles per hour, but did not become official. Two days after the record was improved to 1232.93 Km / h, then yes.

The feat was performed in the desert between heavy security. For those who ask the question, no speed trap of DGT have managed to get the license plate, it is beyond their means for more than 800 km / h.

Why I said officially? That assumes that the Budweiser Rocket managed to surpass Mach 1.01 in 1979, but there was insufficient evidence to certify the record, by the lack of measures and that the witnesses did not hear the sonic boom that occurs when you exceed that speed .

New photos of the supercar SSC Ultimate Aero TT II

The new SSC, designed by Jason Castriota, is giving a lot of talk. The design reminds Mantide, no doubt, but is modern, interesting, and far more advanced than anything ever seen in the hands of Shelby Super Cars. On 24 October there was a presentation for "important people" in the aviation museum in Seattle.

World's Fastest Production Car

You've always had the opportunity to buy the world's fastest car, but now you can buy THE world's fastest car. The actual SSC Ultimate Aero TT that set the Guinness-certified top speed record for a production car is up for auction on eBay with your name on it. The 2007 model comes with Palladium paint and black Alcantara interior, nav system, 10-speaker audio/DVD system, back-up camera, and power everything. Oh, did we mention the 1183 horsepower twin-turbo V8 mounted behind the seats?

Sure, the 2009 model has 100+ more horsepower and a theoretical top speed of 270 mph, but that's yet to be verified, making this very 2007 model still the world's fastest production car. At just over $150,000 the reserve has not yet been met, but the minimum bid is surely quite a bit less than the base price of a Bugatti Veyron or Koenigsegg CCX.

SSC Ultimate Aero EV claims 200 mile-range, 10 minute recharging

The unique curves of a supercar tend to attract a lot of attention. But these days, some people are likely to turn away from a sleek and powerful automobile once they learn it guzzles more gasoline than a Hummer. Thankfully, those people are usually the type that can't afford them in the first place. In any case, the real spotlight getters now come with fuel saving efficient power plants. The guys from Silicon Valley kicked off a new trend with the creation of Tesla. Following in the Roadster's footsteps we first saw Ronn Motor Company announce their hydrogen supplemented 40 miles-per-gallon Scorpion HX, and now Shelby Supercars has thrown their hat into the ring. We were first teased with a few specs on an Ultimate EV last July, and now a few more details of the system have been put into words.

The Ultimate Aero EV will feature SSC's newly developed package called the All-Electric Scalable Powertrain (AESP). The system utilizes a lithium battery pack with the ability to charge via a 110-volt outlet in only 10 minutes. The pack, SSC maintains, provides a 150-200 mile range. The Ultimate Aero EV will combine this juice storage with a pair of 500 horsepower electric motors to achieve these claims. It all certainly comes off as a hard pill to swallow, especially since the current necessary to charge a large battery pack at 110-volt in 10 minutes would be massive, to say nothng of dealing with the high heat generated as a result. Perhaps though, the 200 mile range claim comes when the power output is kept at a continually scaled down value. In any case, while the claims sound fantastical, we've had our doubts about SSC before, only to be proven wrong. So here's hoping.

PRESS RELEASE:

SSC Announces Green Technologies Revealing Revolutionary Battery and Electric Powertrain Technology

West Richland, WA January 21, 2009: Shelby SuperCars (SSC) released the details today of the revolutionary electric vehicle technology to be unveiled in the second quarter of this year. SSC will reveal its innovative all-electric powertrain in the current Ultimate Aero, the Guinness Certified "Fastest Production Car in the World," to create the Ultimate Aero EV and will reinforce the company as a benchmark in the auto industry. But unlike other auto manufacturers, SSC's new technology will set a new standard in the electric car industry - one of 10 minute recharges, super horsepower and ranges of up to 200 miles per charge.

While other auto manufacturers focus on producing Green technology for specific cars, SSC's focus is on producing Green technologies for a wide range of applications for an even wider range of vehicles. SSC's electric powertrain package, named AESP (All-Electric Scalable Powertrain) is unique due to its scalable horsepower, light weight, compact size, quick recharge time and liquid cooling.

SSC's Nanotechnology Rechargeable Lithium Battery pack is rechargeable in only 10 minutes on a standard 110 outlet and has a 150-200 mile range on a single charge. This means that in a typical 8 hour day, the car using this technology could go 200 miles, charge for 10 minutes (the time it typically takes to fill up a tank of gas), then drive 200 more miles, charge for 10 minutes and continue on. Some other EV technologies necessitate an overnight charge creating a class of "commuter electric cars" and are not practical alternatives to gas combustion automobiles.

The AESP's main feature is its scalability. The all-electric SUV or delivery truck is now a reality in the not-so-distant future. The AESP is scalable from 200 horsepower for economy and midsize cars, to 500 horsepower for light trucks and SUVs, and up to 1200 horsepower for delivery trucks, heavy duty equipment, buses and military vehicles. The revolutionary design proves electric-powered vehicles not only match, but also provide more linear power (electric motors have 100% torque at 0 RPM) and overall performance than internal combustion vehicles.

All-electric. No gasoline.

Light weight. Just a fraction of the weight of a standard combustion
engine (<200lbs.)

Extended performance. Internal cooling systems are built into the
motors.

Compact size. 1/18 the space of a standard engine; significant increase
in cargo room.

Scalable horsepower. From 200 horsepower (one motor) to 1200 horsepower
(two motors "piggy backed").

Quick recharges. Only 10 minutes on standard 110 outlet.

The current AESP was designed to meet the manufacturing and quality requirements of major automotive manufacturers, transportation operators and the military. SSC will wholesale the AESP to mass production car companies, governments, and to public, private, and niche businesses. Costs for mass-produced units are $5K-$6K per unit for 1000 to 10,000 units (with further reduction in unit cost for increased production.)

SSC's next milestone will be the pursuit of the "World's Fastest Electric Car" with the Ultimate Aero EV later this year.

[Source: Shelby Supercars via Autobloggreen]

Updated SSC Ultimate Aero boasts 1287 hp, claimed top speed of 270 mph

Not content to rest on its laurels after taking the Guinness-verified top speed world record, SSC has revamped the Ultimate Aero for 2009 to make it more powerful, more aerodynamic, and even faster. We thought the 2008 model had plenty of horsepower with 1183 ponies underneath the hood, but SSC has increased that number to 1287 courtesy of a new one-piece billet aluminum engine block that improves structural integrity and oiling capabilities. Helping to push all that horsepower through the air is a redesigned front fascia with a new center grille opening, as well as carbon fiber louvers that feed 20% more air to the radiators. The aerodynamic changes, combined with the increased power, yield an estimated 270 mph top speed. SSC has also given the interior a thorough refresh, adding carbon fiber trim to the dash, air vents, door sills, and around the gauge cluster. A new center console features an Azentek PC Infotainment system that can process the car's onboard diagnostic system. There's no word on whether they'll attempt to best their top speed record achieved earlier this year, but we're sure SSC would like to further distance themselves from the Bugatti Veyron or the 9ff GT9.

[Source: Shelby Supercars]

Shelby Supercars promises breakthrough EV, delivers a lot of hyperbole

Shelby Supercars has just issued its second release this week about its miraculous new project, the Ultimate Aero EV. As we read the announcement, it was obvious that it was exactly the same release from just a few days ago and the hyperbole was in no way toned down. They are promising to deliver a working prototype by February of next year, followed by full production examples by the fourth quarter of 2009. That, in and of itself, is highly improbable, but it just gets better from there. The performance the company is promising is insanely impressive and about as likely to come to fruition as airborne swine or your fairy godmother.

SSC promises two, 500hp electric motors equipped with a triple disc clutch and a six-speed gearbox. As Tesla found out the hard way, making a gearbox last with an electric motor is tough, even with half as much power. But it gets better. SSC promises a power source with extended times between charges, perhaps as long as several years. We're still confused, but we don't think it's a coincidence that the company is making this announcement in the same week it announced its hopes of securing new venture funding.

Building a car powered by an internal combustion engine to go 250 mph is less of a big deal in this day and age. You just need an engine with enough power and a slippery shape. Building the kind of electric car that SSC is promising involves invalidating the most fundamental laws of physics. So for the time being, we remain comfortable skeptical.