<p><img class="lead-image-large" src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a590dd450018a7b1bc-2400/SSC%20TuataraLipman34.jpg" border="0" alt="SSC Tuatara._Lipman_34" data-mce-source="James Lipman/SSC North America" data-mce-caption="SSC Tuatara."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>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 recordand the car has to try again, twice, then you<em> really</em> sit up and pay attention.</p><p>This is the saga of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-fastest-production-car-16-million-316-mph-ssc-tuatara-2020-10">the $1.6 million Tuatara supercar from boutique automaker SSC North America</a>. The car's first record of 316 mph was short-lived; it was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-didnt-check-accuracy-of-record-run-video-after-backlash-2020-10">almost immediately questioned by internet sleuths</a>, to the point where SSC was forced review its video footage and GPS data, found discrepancies, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-tuatara-fastest-car-record-rerun-after-internet-backlash-2020-11">vowed to try setting the record again</a>.</p><p>It wasn't until the company's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-tuatara-world-record-speed-run-third-koenigsegg-agera-rs-2021-1">third try</a> 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.</p><p>What happened' How did we get here'</p><p>Read on for the full story.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-tuatara-world-record-speed-run-third-koenigsegg-agera-rs-2021-1" >After the internet debunked a $1.6 million supercar's 316 mph record, it tried againjust not as fast</a></strong></p><h3>The SSC Tuatara is the latest car from boutique American automaker SSC North America.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a719cbd800188aff74-400-300/the-ssc-tuatara-is-the-latest-car-from-boutique-american-automaker-ssc-north-america.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-fastest-production-car-16-million-316-mph-ssc-tuatara-2020-10"><em>Insider</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Priced at $1.6 million, it claimed to earn the title of "world's fastest production vehicle" on October 10.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a390dd450018a7b1b9-400-300/priced-at-16-million-it-claimed-to-earn-the-title-of-worlds-fastest-production-vehicle-on-october-10.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>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."</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a290dd450018a7b1b7-400-300/on-a-seven-mile-stretch-of-public-highway-in-nevada-the-tuatara-allegedly-hit-a-top-speed-of-33115-mph-in-one-direction-and-30107-on-the-slower-run.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>The feat was uploaded to the company's YouTube channel for all to see.</h3><p><biembeddedobject id="8845dcad-c6ce-4bcb-9aac-1187b3446205" class="youtube mceNonEditable" style="width: 784px; height: 441px;">Youtube Embed: <br />//www.youtube.com/embed/N22JfNHiC1k <br />Width: 784px <br />Height: 441px</biembeddedobject></p><br/><br/><h3>To be considered for an official world record, contestants have to submit the times for two consecutive runs and average them.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a890dd450018a7b1c0-400-300/to-be-considered-for-an-official-world-record-contestants-have-to-submit-the-times-for-two-consecutive-runs-and-average-them.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>The Tuatara averaged a speed of 316.11 mph.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b890dd450018a7b1d2-400-300/the-tuatara-averaged-a-speed-of-31611-mph.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Professional driver Oliver Webb was at the wheel.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/601d78aa19cbd800188aff78-400-300/professional-driver-oliver-webb-was-at-the-wheel.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>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.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b590dd450018a7b1cd-400-300/this-was-faster-than-the-bugatti-chiron-super-sports-2019-run-at-the-volkswagen-ehra-lessien-test-track-in-germany-which-achieved-a-speed-of-30477-mph.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>However, the Bugatti only ran once, not twice. So, it wasn't official.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601d78aa90dd450018a7b1c1-400-300/however-the-bugatti-only-ran-once-not-twice-so-it-wasnt-official.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a35325127/ssc-tuatara-hits-2829-mph-at-the-kennedy-space-center/"><em>Road & Track</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>The official record was previously held by the Koenigsegg Agera RS, which achieved an average speed in both directions of 277.87 mph.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d7b7a19cbd800188aff92-400-300/the-official-record-was-previously-held-by-the-koenigsegg-agera-rs-which-achieved-an-average-speed-in-both-directions-of-27787-mph.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/koenigsegg-agera-rs-has-claimed-five-speed-records"><em>Top Gear</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>The Tuatara is powered by a 5.9-liter, twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crank V8 and produces a claimed 1,750 horsepower.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b590dd450018a7b1cc-400-300/the-tuatara-is-powered-by-a-59-liter-twin-turbocharged-flat-plane-crank-v8-and-produces-a-claimed-1750-horsepower.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Only 100 of them will be built and priced starting at $1.6 million.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a419cbd800188aff72-400-300/only-100-of-them-will-be-built-and-priced-starting-at-16-million.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>But after the run, the questions started rolling in.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b090dd450018a7b1c8-400-300/but-after-the-run-the-questions-started-rolling-in.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Internet sleuths on Facebook, Reddit, and YouTube cried foul, saying the car's record video footage seemed fishythe displayed speed did not appear to match the car's true speed, they claimed.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a319cbd800188aff6f-400-300/internet-sleuths-on-facebook-reddit-and-youtube-cried-foul-saying-the-cars-record-video-footage-seemed-fishy--the-displayed-speed-did-not-appear-to-match-the-cars-true-speed-they-claimed.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-didnt-check-accuracy-of-record-run-video-after-backlash-2020-10"><em>Insider</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>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."</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5f99cd7c6f5b310011723fc0-400-300/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.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch'v=3daTG4_JS_4">YouTube</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In its own defense, SSC said that it used technology from Austrian GPS data-measuring company Dewetron to chart the car's speed.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/601d78ae90dd450018a7b1c6-400-300/in-its-own-defense-ssc-said-that-it-used-technology-from-austrian-gps-data-measuring-company-dewetron-to-chart-the-cars-speed.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Dewetron pushed back, however.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d78ad90dd450018a7b1c5-400-300/dewetron-pushed-back-however.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>"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."</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/601d78ab90dd450018a7b1c2-400-300/dewetron-did-not-validate-any-data-from-world-record-attempts-or-preceding-tests-the-company-said-in-a-statement-not-one-of-dewetrons-employees-was-present-during-the-test-drive-or-involved-in-the-associated-preparations.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Even Webb, the professional driver who helped set the record, couldn't make sense of what was happening.</h3><p><biembeddedobject id="9476bf22-603e-4abf-b32c-5c1e33d67996" class="instagram mceNonEditable" style="width: 540px; height: autopx;">Instagram Embed: <br />//instagram.com/p/CG5O1zXhv6h/embed <br />Width: 540px</biembeddedobject></p><br/><br/><h3>On October 28, SSC CEO and founder Jerod Shelby issued a statement.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601d78af19cbd800188aff7e-400-300/on-october-28-ssc-ceo-and-founder-jerod-shelby-issued-a-statement.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>He blamed the misleading video and discrepancies in the displayed speed on a video-editing "mixup."</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601d78af90dd450018a7b1c7-400-300/he-blamed-the-misleading-video-and-discrepancies-in-the-displayed-speed-on-a-video-editing-mixup.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>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.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a690dd450018a7b1bd-400-300/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.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>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."</h3><p><biembeddedobject id="676184d9-b951-4c20-96c9-d100aa5dcf1d" class="youtube mceNonEditable" style="width: 784px; height: 441px;">Youtube Embed: <br />//www.youtube.com/embed/BrclO1wG2Y8 <br />Width: 784px <br />Height: 441px</biembeddedobject></p><br/><br/><h3>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.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b590dd450018a7b1ce-400-300/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.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-tuatara-fastest-car-record-rerun-after-internet-backlash-2020-11"><em>Insider</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>But what about the GPS data'</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601d78ab90dd450018a7b1c3-400-300/but-what-about-the-gps-data.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Shelby told Motor Authority on November 6 that there was no "data file with the GPS satellite data from the first run because it wasn't needed."</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a490dd450018a7b1bb-400-300/shelby-told-motor-authority-on-november-6-that-there-was-no-data-file-with-the-gps-satellite-data-from-the-first-run-because-it-wasnt-needed.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1130210_ssc-aims-to-re-run-tuatara-land-speed-record-in-next-60-days-probably-at-different-location"><em>Motor Authority</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>On December 12 and 13, SSC gave a second attempt at the record speed run at the NASA runway in Florida.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601d78ac19cbd800188aff7a-400-300/on-december-12-and-13-ssc-gave-a-second-attempt-at-the-record-speed-run-at-the-nasa-runway-in-florida.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-tuatara-worlds-fastest-car-speed-record-second-run-supercar-2020-12"><em>Insider</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>The Tuatara's owner, Larry Caplin, was at the wheel.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a890dd450018a7b1be-400-300/the-tuataras-owner-larry-caplin-was-at-the-wheel.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>There were issues. The hood kept popping open because various external systems had been wired to it.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b290dd450018a7b1ca-400-300/there-were-issues-the-hood-kept-popping-open-because-various-external-systems-had-been-wired-to-it.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>And on the car's second-to-last run, it became too hot so the engine software started cutting power as a safety precaution.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b590dd450018a7b1cc-400-300/the-tuatara-is-powered-by-a-59-liter-twin-turbocharged-flat-plane-crank-v8-and-produces-a-claimed-1750-horsepower.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>On the final run, Caplin noticed the car wasn't accelerating like it was supposed to.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/601d78b790dd450018a7b1cf-400-300/on-the-final-run-caplin-noticed-the-car-wasnt-accelerating-like-it-was-supposed-to.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>The team discovered this was because two of the engine's cylinders were not firing properly, probably because of overheating.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601d78a290dd450018a7b1b8-400-300/the-team-discovered-this-was-because-two-of-the-engines-cylinders-were-not-firing-properly-probably-because-of-overheating.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>On January 17, SSC made its third record attempt at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601433b1a7c0c4001991dd88-400-300/on-january-17-ssc-made-its-third-record-attempt-at-the-johnny-bohmer-proving-grounds-at-the-kennedy-space-center-in-florida.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>With Caplin at the wheel once again, the Tuatara hit 279.7 mph in one direction and 286.1 mph in the other.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/601d790d90dd450018a7b1d9-400-300/with-caplin-at-the-wheel-once-again-the-tuatara-hit-2797-mph-in-one-direction-and-2861-mph-in-the-other.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Averaged together, the Tuatara hit a speed of 282.9 mph and beat the Koenigsegg Agera RS.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/601d790890dd450018a7b1d4-400-300/averaged-together-the-tuatara-hit-a-speed-of-2829-mph-and-beat-the-koenigsegg-agera-rs.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ssc-tuatara-world-record-speed-run-third-koenigsegg-agera-rs-2021-1"><em>Insider</em></a></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Unfortunately, the speed is still nowhere near SSC's original claims of 316 mph.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601433b26dfbe10018e00bc3-400-300/unfortunately-the-speed-is-still-nowhere-near-sscs-original-claims-of-316-mph.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Still, SSC made certain that there was plenty of third-party validation available.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/601d790890dd450018a7b1d3-400-300/still-ssc-made-certain-that-there-was-plenty-of-third-party-validation-available.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>Shelby isn't finished yet, though.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/601433b26dfbe10018e00bc2-400-300/shelby-isnt-finished-yet-though.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>He's planning another Tuatara run this spring, where SSC will attempt to achieve a 300-mph top speed.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/601d78aa19cbd800188aff77-400-300/hes-planning-another-tuatara-run-this-spring-where-ssc-will-attempt-to-achieve-a-300-mph-top-speed.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/>
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