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Shelby bids for Bugatti's record

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

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Shelby SuperCars is planning to launch a new model to take back the world land speed record for a production car from Bugatti.

Shelby’s SSC Ultimate Aero first set the record back in 2007 with a time of 412.28km/h (256.23mph), set on a closed 19km (12 mile) stretch of road in Nevada.

See pics of the SSC Ultimate Aero and the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

But Bugatti’s new Veyron 16.4 Super Sport model clocked 431.072km/h (267.91mph) at Volkswagen’s 21km (13 mile) Ehra-Lessien test track in late June.

In a statement, Shelby said it was working a new model that would be “upping the ante all fronts”.

“We’ve been working on a new project to debut before the end of the summer. Not much can be said at this time except that we’ll be upping the ante on all fronts.

Read Autocar's SSC Ultimate Aero first drive

“We would like to congratulate Bugatti. When the Ultimate Aero broke the record in 2007, we knew it was just a matter of time until it was broken by someone else.”

Shelby believes having its new design chief Jason Castriota on board will allow it to find the extra speed required to top Bugatti’s record with a more aerodynamic design.

Read Bugatti sets land speed record

Castriota has worked on designs in the past including the Bertone Mantide and Pininfarina P4/5. In regards to Castriota’s first design for the company, Shelby said it was “anxious to show the world what we have up our sleeve”.