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Yup, we’re back with our Aero-riffic special! To recap, we’re discussing the fastest car in the world today: that’s the SSC Ultimate Aero for those who missed the first part of this entry. In any case, in part II we’d be delving a little more into the technical specs of the Aero; and with that we’d be trying to understand why this baby is the fastest and baddest sports car in the planet.

Alright. First of all, the SSC Aero prototype was built using a supercharged, G-64, 6-speed manual transmission Corvette ZR1 engine. This engine could also be seen in other sports cars like the Dodge Viper. However, the Aero’s engine is supercharged to 382 cubic inches, is rated with 787 horsepower at 6600 revolutions per minute and 736 ft·lbf (998 N·m) at 5800 rpm. On the other hand, the Ultimate Aero has an increased engine displacement of 387 cubic inches and an increased boost of 14 psi. This results in an increase of horsepower that measure up to 1,046hp—a significantly huge boost.

Yup, that engine packs a serious punch. But what adds more power to the Ultimate Aero is its weight to horsepower ratio. You see, having a huge level of horsepower don’t mean jack if you’re vehicle weighs like an aircraft carrier. And so, for maximum speed, a vehicle should have a high horsepower level as well as a relatively low weight. The SCC Ultimate Aero has a weight to horsepower ratio of 2.33, which is a very good example of maximizing horsepower amidst its weight of 2,750 lbs. Not only that, this ratio is a new record in SCC, so expect future vehicles to adhere to this standard.

However, if a vehicle has a very high horsepower rate yet is very light then that means the car might suffer from issues concerning maneuverability. There’d be not enough grip or traction for the vehicle to steady itself while accelerating, and with that the slightest turn on the steering wheel would yield a more dramatic effect on the turning capacities of the car itself. The Ultimate Aero’s proprietary twin-turbo V8 engine has a drag coefficient of just .357, and so when it comes to accelerating at very high speeds the vehicle is still aerodynamically stable.

And so, from the looks of its engine, the SCC Ultimate Aero has the capacity to perform to its intended task. That is, to be able to run at very high speeds as well as to be easily maneuverable at the same time. But what about its other aspects?  Is the vehicle design made for aesthetic or aerodynamic purposes only? Or is it both? And more importantly, what makes the sports car so damn cool?

We’ll discuss that on part III. :p

Take your foot off that pedal, because it’s already proven. Yup, the SSC Ultimate Aero is the fastest sports car on the planet. Running at a blinding maximum speed of 257 miles per hour, it’s the quickest (and expensive) ride that could get you from point A to point B in no time. And what’s great about it is that it’s readily available for your driving pleasure. Well, that is, assuming you’ve got the cash to buy it. Haha.

Anyway, it’s brought to you by Shelby Supercars Incorporated; an American automobile company specializing in the production of—you guessed it—the Aero only. Well, there’s nothing wrong with specializing in one make and mark, since that breeds an area of expertise. Which, in this case, SSC holds the throne in making the world’s fastest sports car. So don’t criticize them for manufacturing only one car type.

Going back, the SSC Ultimate Aero is the brain child of Jerod Shelby. He spent over seven years designing, testing, and eventually making the Ultimate Aero. But the time and effort spent in creating the car was obviously worth it. After all, it was able to break the Guinness Book of World Records’ standard back in March of 2007.

It was able to beat the Bugatti Veyron (max speed of 253 miles per hour) by only a few mph. But still, you really have to admire that this baby is something that most—if not all—speed freaks would want to have nesting in their garage. Knowing that this car could run as fast as a jet, you wouldn’t need an alarm clock to tell you that you’re already late for work. So thanks to Jerod Shelby, who could now wipe the sweat off his brow and enjoy a cool drink or two since his magnum opus has not only hit its mark—but also pierced through it.

But then, this wouldn’t be much of a car blog if we didn’t discuss the nooks and crannies of Mr. Shelby’s “interpretation of speed” now, wouldn’t it? And so, we delve into the more technical parts of the vehicle. And while we’re at it, let’s try to discover what makes the SSC Ultimate Aero the living standard for sports car speed.

We’ll talk about that in part II. :p