2018 SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane Review and Performance Comparison

SSC Tuatara Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 2018 SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane is a powered by a Petrol V 8. This variant of the SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane is the 7 speed / Semi-Auto version and was first brought out around 2018. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2019 Pininfarina Battista 1900 and the 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport 110 ans Bugatti.

This particular SSC Tuatara has a 5900cc Twin Turbo Petrol powerplant driven by the SSC Rear Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol V 8's include the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Tuatara shares its Petrol V 8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Tuatara's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1985 Alfa-Romeo Spider Veloce or the earlier 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1247 kgs (2749 lbs) places the SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane in a similar weight category as the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC and the excellent 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RZ High Performance Automatic, give or take 50kg.

The SSC Tuatara shares the same bhp with the 2016 NIO EP9 1MW (1341 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 5900cc 16 valve, V 8 engine produces around 1350 bhp (1006 kW) @ 0 rpm which is comparable to the 2016 NIO EP9 1MW (1341 bhp) and also the 2014 Koenigsegg One 1 5.1 V8 Twin Turbo (1341 bhp).

The Twin Turbo V 8 throws out 984 lb-ft (1334.1 Nm) @ 0 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore (996 lb-ft) or the 2022 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore (996 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 2018 SSC Tuatara in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo (1082.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the SSC Tuatara.

The SSC Tuatara has a power to weight ratio of 1082.5 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 2018 Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane means you're competing with the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo (1082.5 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2018 SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane (1082.5 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane generates around 789.0 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD (809.7 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2011 Zenvo ST1 7.0 V8 (803.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane can accelerate 0–60mph in 2.50 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 2.6 secs. Acceleration rivals to the SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane include the 2024 Aston-Martin Valhalla Hybrid (2.50 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (2.50 secs).

The V 8 engine of the SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Flagship 4WD (2.60 secs) and the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (2.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane and the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut 5.1 V8 BiTurbo

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 2018 SSC Tuatara can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 8.11 secs with a trap speed around 168.0 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut 5.1 V8 BiTurbo (8.15 seconds @ 167.1 mph) and a close race between the McMurtry Speirling Goodwood (8.20 seconds @ 166.2 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 2018 version of the SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane has a maximum speed of 316mph.

Top Speed of the 2018 Tuatara equals the Hennessey Venom F5 6.6 V8 Twin Turbo (311 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 2018 SSC Tuatara 5.9 V8 Twin Turbo 91 Octane then there's the slightly slower the Hennessey Venom F5 6.6 V8 Twin Turbo (311 mph) or how about the impressive Yangwang U9 Xtreme AWD (308 mph).

— AutoSnout

Figures & Specs Summary:

Related Links:

• 2018 Tuatara Rivals List.
• 2018 Tuatara: Full Review and Comparisons.
• A Brief History of SSC
• Compare the 2018 SSC Tuatara