Friday 11th November 2011

SSC Tuatara: interior and other details

Further pics of SSC's 275mph megacar revealed as Tuatara debuts in Dubai

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Inspired by ... actually let's not go there

SSC has clearly been studying the supercar oeuvre very carefully, the pretentious name for its Veyron-humbling Tuatara suitably exotic and apparently inspired by a spiny lizard. A pity they didn't clinic the name this side of the pond though. And, no, we haven't stopped sniggering yet.

Daft moniker aside the 1,350hp Tuatara is a deeply serious piece of kit and one that SSC hopes will earn it a place at the table with the likes of Pagani. Indeed, there's a definite desire to move way from the image of horsepower crazed good ol' boys with a vmax fixation and little else. Though, having said that, the headline grabbing 275mph target top speed for the Tuatara remains the stand-out figure.

What, no walnut trim?

That's not enough for SSC though and the car will, in time, be despatched to the Nürburgring in an attempt to prove American supercars can do corners as well as big speeds.

For its debut at the Dubai International Motor Show this week SSC has revealed what the interior of the Tuatara will look like and, fair to say, it's every bit as distinctive and stylish as the exterior. In keeping with the jet fighter performance SSC has gone to town with the aircraft-inspired features, numerous head-up displays boasting to driver and passenger alike exactly how rapidly you're travelling. Ferrari has a similar option on the FF, SSC claiming the additional speed and G-force readouts will help the passenger feel "more of a co-pilot instead of just a tag-along." And, in case the point about the ridiculous name hadn't quite been hammered home there it is again, boldly embroidered into the dash.

Other features include a starter

Impressive numbers on the configurable HUD

button that initiates a countdown of red lights around it that illuminate in sequence before the 1,350hp, SSC-built 6.8-litre V8 (what else?) bursts into life.

No word yet on whether SSC will offer a BMW-style de-badge option for the UK but we can only hope.

 

 

[stephen300o]

Beautiful car. I hope the interior makes it to reality.

[thinfourth2]

For some reason the center console reminds me of talky toaster

[Gizmo!]

I hope the passenger one is turn-off-able.

Like how the middle T of the logo looks like a, er... lady's flux capacitor.

[MagicalTrevor]

Excellent, it has a built in microwave oven in the centre console

[TinyCappo]

No walnut trim But I see a proper manual gearbox I like that alot!!!!


Not keen on the additional passenger gauge. I don't want the Mrs knowing how fast im going a little pointless if its up in 3 inch high blue lettering on the other side though.


without sounding like the stest petrol head ever....what cars has it taken its design features from?

Edited by TinyCappo on Friday 11th November 09:19

[Mattt]

TinyCappo said:

without sounding like the stest petrol head ever....what cars has it taken its design features from?

IMO:

Front lights - SLS AMG
Nose - Enzo
3/4 - Pagani

[Turbo Harry]

That interior looks like something I'd have drawn in my SMP Maths book at middle school.

[ludicrous speed]

I predict it will flop, big time.

[Carfolio]

TinyCappo said:

without sounding like the stest petrol head ever....what cars has it taken its design features from?

It's a close copy of the Maserati Birdcage75 concept of a few years back.

[Turbo Harry]

The centre console looks like a pissed-off koala.

[300bhp/ton]

article said:

Further pics of SSC's 275mph megacar revealed as Tuatara debuts in Dubai

Are these computer generated pictures rather than photographs?

[LotusOmega375D]

"Other features include a starter button that initiates a countdown of red lights around it that illuminate in sequence before the 1,350hp, SSC-built 6.8-litre V8 (what else?) bursts into life."


Big deal!. Diesels have had those for years.

Why can't you just press the starter and go, like a normal petrol car?

[Beefmeister]

Carfolio said:

It's a close copy of the Maserati Birdcage75 concept of a few years back.

Not really a copy, it's the same designer. The birdcage didn't go anywhere so he sold his design to SSC.

I think this thing looks absolutely stunning -properly futuristic. Interior will probably grow on me, but I just hope that with the amount it'll cost owners will be able to specify that they don't want the name ANYWHERE on the car - outside or in.

[RB Will]

TinyCappo said:

Not keen on the additional passenger gauge. I don't want the Mrs knowing how fast im going a little pointless if its up in 3 inch high blue lettering on the other side though.

Probably cant see the HUD from the passenger seat

[Ex Boy Racer]

Love the exterior - have done since I first saw it. The interior though - looks like something from the first series of Star Trek. Looked really futuristic in the 60's...
Are they going to use the services of William Shatner to launch it?

[Carfolio]

Beefmeister said:

Not really a copy, it's the same designer. The birdcage didn't go anywhere so he sold his design to SSC.

I think this thing looks absolutely stunning -properly futuristic. Interior will probably grow on me, but I just hope that with the amount it'll cost owners will be able to specify that they don't want the name ANYWHERE on the car - outside or in.

Yeah I know it was the same designer, but I'm not certain of the details of the deal done with SSC. The Birdcage 75 was done whilst he was with Pininfarina, as far as I remember, and I'm not sure it was as simple as him being allowed to take his design with him.

For now, this thing is still clearly vapourware anyway. Let's see if they manage to make it, and if it turns out to be as fast as they claim already. I have doubts, personally.

[Gizmo!]

I may be going slightly mental...

But the inside reminds me of the MG EX-E.



The rear view also...

[Otispunkmeyer]

MagicalTrevor said:

Excellent, it has a built in microwave oven in the centre console

The badge on the wheel is a bit bombastic isnt it? Thats massive!

Looks like a 1st year industrial design project though.

[Pistachio]

The interior is pants, it might be technologically advanced but it looks awful.

[loveice]

Otispunkmeyer said:

MagicalTrevor said:

Excellent, it has a built in microwave oven in the centre console

The badge on the wheel is a bit bombastic isnt it? Thats massive!

Looks like a 1st year industrial design project though.

Which is a good thing for a hypercar (there're just too many 0-60 in 4 sec supercars nowadays). A car like this should be something 5 year old would draw, not an super experienced VW designer would. You know which car's interior would never be drawn by a first year automotive design student? Phaeton... Don't get me wrong I love Phaeton's design inside out (the early model).

Edited by loveice on Friday 11th November 10:52