SSC founder Jerod Shelby with the Ultimate Aero, gen-1.
There aren’t many street-legal automobiles we haven’t driven, over the years, and among them there aren’t many we were intimidated by. That was before we got behind the wheel of the Shelby SuperCar Ultimate Aero.
First, a word of clarification. For those who immediately connect SSC with Texas legend Carroll Shelby, think again. It’s actually the work of Jerod Shelby, who made his fortune at a young age designing advanced medical technology – and who is now risking it all on a company that is obsessed with holding the world speed record for a production automobile. No family connection, but we think the better-known Shelby would appreciate his namesake’s efforts.
And what Jerod Shelby and his small but merry band of designers and engineers have come up with is a knife-edged supercar of daunting proportions.
Impossibly slow and aerodynamically sleek, its 6.8-liter twin-turbo V8 pours out 1280 horsepower and 1112 pound-feet of torque. During a series of timed runs, three years ago, that was enough to propel the Ultimate Aero to an average 258 mph – on open roads – giving it the crown as the world’s fastest production car.
Getting ready for a run: publisher Paul A. Eisenstein in the Ultimate Aero.
What does that actually feel like? I climbed beside Jerod Shelby for a familiarization run during a break, last weekend, from the activities at the Pebble Beach Concours. Pressing the start button mounted on an overhead cluster, Jerod immediately brought the beast to life, the V8 resonating with a menacing road, followed by a steady grumble that only hinted at the power within.
We looped down the hill from SSC’s temporary weekend headquarters and drifted towards the highway. As we approached a long, straight entrance ramp, Shelby downshifted, slammed the throttle and the instant acceleration sunk me deep into my seat and gave enough G forces my vision started to tunnel. By the time we were on the freeway we were comfortably into triple digits.
We head for the highway in the Ultimate Aero.
There was just enough traffic to force the company founder to back down a bit, but at any opportunity Shelby would rev the big engine, which would immediately send us surging forward, the digital speedo clicking away madly.
My turn, we pulled off the highway and swapped seats. Getting my 6’2” frame in under the Ultimate Aero’s gullwing doors was the equivalent of an instant yoga class, but finally behind the wheel I slipped the manual transmission into gear and gently squeezed the throttle. I was relieved to see the Aero could maintain a slow pace, unlike some supercars that buck and balk at legal speeds.
After a couple minutes getting comfortable, I checked for traffic, slammed the throttle and felt a carrier-like launch as the Aero obeyed my wish. The rear tires slipped a slight bit but, to my gratitude, the supercar never seemed to lose control, it continued to point straight and true and almost immediately found its grip. From the corner of my eye I could spot the speedo jump to triple digits before I eased up on the throttle.
The Ultimate Aero is a surprisingly quiet vehicle, all things considered, allowing an easy conversation between Shelby and myself. Still, it takes awhile to get used to what happens when you lay into the throttle. The whooshes and clicks that suddenly seem to surround you are the result of the car’s twin turbos spooling up and their wastegate opening and closing.
You wouldn't buy the SSC Ultimate Aero for interior refinement. It's a pretty basic package.
While handling seemed precise and rewarding, it was a challenging job manhandling the Ultimate Aero, especially at lower speeds. The second of just 15 built, the car Shelby took me out in – and the one used to set the speed record – was not equipped with either power steering or power brakes, luxuries added later in the production run.
Nonetheless, the experience was overwhelming, if daunting. What was particularly significant was watching the reaction of those we passed as they gaped at the impossibly sleek supercar. You’ll see everything on the road during the Concours weekend on the Monterey Peninsula, yet even the driver of a new Mercedes-Benz SLS stared with admiration.
As we pulled back into the parking lot, Shelby began to discuss the future of his little company. The most immediate matter is its goal of regaining the land speed record, which SSC lost to Bugatti in June.
A few potential buyers got a look at SSC's Ultimate Aero II. We had to wait outside.
The goal is to reach a new top speed of 27o mph with the next-generation Ultimate Aero II, currently under development and set to make a world debut in a couple months.
None of the folks involved in the project will say much, though Shelby did let slip the fact that it is targeted to deliver 1400 horsepower and 1150 lb-ft torque.
What will it look like? Well, expect that knife-like nose and, from what we could pick up from a mock-up hidden under a tarp – and a few probing questions – is that much of the increase in speed will come from enhanced aero, rather than more horsepower. It appears that not only will Ultimate Aero II be equipped with a rear, F1-style wing, but also a couple vertical stabilizers for increasing on-road, high-speed stability.
Styling is the province of Jason Castriota, who has penned a variety of edgy products, including the Maserati Bird Cage concept of 2005, and the Ferrari 599. He’s now freelancing and serving as chief of design for the reborn Saab, as well as for SSC.
Castriota suggested the new Aero II will make heavy reliance on carbon fiber technology, including the body and cockpit tub. It will also make use of new carbon fiber wheels weighing just 9 pounds each.
“It’s more than a design exercise,” the young stylist says of the effort to chase the speed record, something he admits, “nobody needs,” but which plenty of people desire.
Wealthy people, to be sure. The last few of the original Ultimate Aeros commanded about $740,000 apiece. The company’s target for Ultimate Aero II is $840,000. The goal is to produce one a month once production launches in 2012.
The very idea of the Ultimate Aero II generates a mixed response. Several wealthy collectors at the Pebble Beach Concours suggested their interest in buying the new model if it lives up to its goals. But uber-collector Jay Leno was more skeptical, asking “Why does anyone need a car that can go 270 mph? That’s instant jail time.” Of course, considering Leno’s esoteric collection, which includes steam cars and jet bikes, perhaps he’ll change his mind.
If the Ultimate Aero II takes the original supercar one step higher, it’s hard to imagine what driving it would be like, but fast, very, very fast, is something you can be sure of.