← All SSC Tuatara trimsSSC Tuatara
Hypercar2024
SSC Tuatara
Tuatara Striker
High-downforce track-oriented body — fixed wing.
Top Speed
285mph
0–60 mph
2.5s
Horsepower
1,750hp
Price
$2.20M
Other trims
Research links
00 / History
The story of this car
Researching SSC Tuatara Tuatara Striker…
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01 / This trim
What makes this trim its own car
Position in the lineup
Mid-range trim
- Quickest 0–60 of any trim at 2.5s.
- Lightest variant at 2,750 lb.
Ideal buyer
Who this trim is for
Buyers who want the model's character without committing to the flagship's running costs. You get the same chassis, the same brand experience, and a payment that won't keep you up at night.
Probably not for
Anyone whose use case clearly favours another trim — if you're never going to chase the 0–60 number or the top speed, the cheaper trim makes more financial sense.
vs other trims
Delta sheet
vs Tuatara
- Price+$300K
- Horsepowersame
- 0–60same
- Top speed-10 mph
- Weightsame
vs Tuatara Aggressor
- Price-$500K
- Horsepower-450 hp
- 0–60same
- Top speed-25 mph
- Weightsame
02 / Mechanical
What's inside this trim
M.01
Engine / Powerplant
5.9L flat-plane twin-turbo V8
M.02
Peak Horsepower
1,750 hp
M.03
Drivetrain
RWD
M.04
Transmission
7-speed CIMA automated manual
M.05
Curb Weight
2,750 lbs
M.06
Power-to-Weight
0.636 hp/lb · 2 lb per hp
M.07
Twin-Turbo V8
5.9L flat-plane crank V8, 1,350 hp on 91 octane and 1,750 hp on E85.
M.08
CIMA 7-Speed
Robotized manual designed for ultra-high-speed runs.
M.09
Sub-0.28 Cd
One of the lowest drag coefficients of any production car.
03 / Features
What you actually get
Safety & driver assistance
- Carbon monocoque
- Carbon ceramic brakes
- Airbags
Performance hardware
- Carbon-ceramic brake rotors
- Launch control
- Adaptive / magnetorheological dampers
- Electronic limited-slip differential
- Multiple drive modes (Comfort / Sport / Track)
Cabin & technology
- Digital instrument cluster
- Premium leather upholstery
- Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
- Bluetooth + smartphone integration
- Premium audio system
- Heated and cooled seats
04 / Maintenance
Keep it running for the long haul
The SSC Tuatara is a hand-built machine running near its mechanical limits in every drive. Skipping a single oil interval shortens engine life dramatically; skipping a brake-fluid flush before a track day is genuinely dangerous. Stick religiously to the schedule below and use only SSC-trained technicians.
Break-in (first 1,000–1,500 mi)
Most powertrain damage happens here. Do these right and the car will outlive its electronics.
- First 600 mi: keep RPM below 5,000 and avoid full-throttle pulls. Vary RPM constantly — no cruise control.
- Avoid highway-speed cruise for >30 min stretches; varied load helps the rings seat properly.
- Do NOT change the factory-fill oil before 1,500 mi unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise — the oil contains break-in additives.
- At 1,000–1,500 mi, perform the first oil change to remove metal break-in particles from ring/bearing seating.
- Heat-cycle the brakes: 8–10 moderate stops from 60→10 mph in succession to bed the pads, then let them cool fully before any hard stop.
- Drive at varied speeds for the first 200 mi — constant cruising glazes piston rings.
- First 1,000 mi (manual): no clutch dumps, no race shifts — let the throw-out bearing seat.
| Interval | Task | Why it matters | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Cold tire pressure check | Set to door-jamb spec when tires are cold. Underinflation kills sidewalls and fuel/range economy; overinflation reduces grip. | High |
| Weekly | Visual walk-around | Check for fluid spots on the ground, tire condition, light operation, and any new noises before driving off. | Recommended |
| Monthly | Fluid level audit | Open the hood: check engine oil (where dipstick exists), coolant overflow level, brake fluid, washer fluid, power steering (if hydraulic). | High |
| Monthly | Wash + interior vacuum | Salt, road tar and bird droppings etch paint and clearcoat. Use pH-neutral car shampoo, two-bucket method. | Recommended |
| Every 6 months | Wax / ceramic top-up | Paint protection prevents oxidation. Spray-on ceramic boosters extend a base coat for 6–9 months. | Recommended |
| Every 12 months | Wiper blades + washer fluid | Replace both blades; switch to winter blades + de-icer fluid in cold climates. | Recommended |
| Every 12 months | 12V auxiliary battery test | Load-test the 12V battery — even EVs have one, and a weak 12V causes the most no-starts on modern cars. | High |
| Every 24 months | Brake fluid moisture test | Test with a refractometer or strips. >2% water content = flush. Hygroscopic fluid corrodes ABS modulators. | Critical |
| Every 24 months | Alignment check | Even a curb hit can throw alignment off. Mis-alignment burns through $1k+ tire sets quickly. | High |
| Every 5,000 mi / 6 months | Full-synthetic oil + filter (track-rated) | High-output engines shear oil quickly. Use the OEM-specified viscosity (typically 0W-40 or 5W-40 for SSC) and an OEM filter. | Critical |
| After every track day | Oil + filter change | Sustained high RPM accelerates oil oxidation. Change within 500 mi of a track day regardless of life remaining. | Critical |
| Every 30,000–60,000 mi | Coolant level + condition check | Use only the OEM-spec coolant (manufacturer-spec long-life). Mixing coolant types causes gelling and water-pump failure. | High |
| Every 60,000 mi | Coolant flush + refill | Long-life ≠ lifetime. Old coolant turns acidic and eats aluminum heads. | High |
| Every 15,000 mi | Engine air filter + cabin filter | Restricted intake hurts power and economy. Replace cabin filter sooner in pollen-heavy or urban areas. | Recommended |
| Every 30,000 mi | Iridium spark plugs (turbo-spec gap) | Turbo engines run colder plugs with a tighter gap; check gap with a wire gauge before install. Anti-seize on threads. | High |
| Every 60,000 mi | Charge-pipe + intercooler inspection | Boost leaks at silicone joints rob power. Inspect couplers and PCV system; clean intercooler core if oil-fouled. | High |
| Every 60,000–80,000 mi | Intake valve walnut-blast (DI engines) | Direct-injection engines (BMW N/B-series, VW/Audi TFSI, MB M270/M139, Ford EcoBoost) build hard carbon on intake valves. Walnut-shell blasting restores airflow. | High |
| Every 100,000 mi | Timing chain / belt service | Most modern engines use chains (inspect tensioner & guides); some Audi 2.0/3.0 TDI/TFSI use a belt that MUST be replaced on schedule — failure destroys the engine. | Critical |
| Every 12 months | Brake pad/rotor visual + caliper slide service | Lubricate caliper slide pins with high-temp grease. Replace pads at 3 mm; rotors at minimum thickness or when scored. | Critical |
| Every 24 months / 30,000 mi | Brake fluid flush (DOT 4 or higher) | Performance use: consider DOT 4 LV or a racing fluid (Castrol SRF, Motul RBF600) with dry boiling point >300 °C. | Critical |
| Every 30,000 mi | Suspension bushing + ball-joint inspection | Check control-arm bushings, sway-bar end links, tie-rod ends and ball joints for play. Worn bushings cause clunks and uneven tire wear. | High |
| Every 50,000 mi | Power steering fluid (if hydraulic) | Electric racks are sealed-for-life. Hydraulic systems need a fluid flush to prevent pump whine. | Recommended |
| Every 60,000 mi | Manual gearbox oil change | Use exactly the spec'd GL-4 / MTL fluid (e.g. Honda MTF-III, Ford XT-M5-QS, BMW MTF LT-2). Wrong fluid causes notchy synchros. | High |
| Every 60,000 mi | Clutch wear inspection | Measure pedal travel and bite point. Hydraulic systems need fluid flushes with the brake system. | High |
| Every 50,000 mi | Rear differential oil | RWD diffs run hot — fresh GL-5 75W-90 prevents whine and pinion bearing failure. | High |
| Every 7,500 mi | Performance tire rotation + wear-depth audit | Heavy / high-power cars (2,750 lb, 1750 hp) shred rear tires fast. Cross-rotate fronts to opposite rear, keep all four within 2/32" depth. | Critical |
| Every 12 months | Wheel alignment + corner-weight check | Performance cars are alignment-sensitive; even a curb-strike puts toe out of spec. Corner-weighting matters for track use. | High |
| Annual | Factory-tech-only service visit | Hypercar service is dealer/factory-only. Bugatti Chiron major service is ~$25k; Pagani requires shipping to Modena. Expect 80–120 hr labor. | Critical |
| Before storage (>30 days) | Fuel stabilizer + battery tender + tire pressure +5 psi | Add Sta-Bil to a full tank, hook a smart tender to the 12V (and Level-1 charge any EV/PHEV), inflate tires +5 psi to prevent flat-spotting, leave windows cracked. | High |
| Coming out of storage | Pre-flight inspection | Check tire pressures, brake function (rotors will be surface-rusted — bed gently), fluid levels, and rodent damage in the engine bay and cabin air intake. | High |
Service milestones
What to expect at each major service stop.
1,000–1,500 mi
- First oil + filter (break-in)
- Re-torque wheels
- TCM relearn (auto/DCT)
- Multipoint inspection
15,000 mi
- Oil + filter
- Tire rotation
- Engine + cabin air filter
- Brake pad measurement
30,000 mi
- Manual gearbox oil
- Brake fluid flush
- Spark plugs (turbo)
- Rear diff oil
- Suspension inspection
60,000 mi
- Coolant flush
- Brake pads + rotors (likely)
- PCV / valve-cover gasket
- Walnut-blast intake (DI turbo)
- Power steering fluid (if hydraulic)
100,000 mi
- Timing belt (if equipped) + water pump
- Spark plugs (NA)
- Transmission rebuild check
- Motor mounts inspection
- All accessory belts
150,000+ mi
- Suspension overhaul
- Fuel injector clean / replace
- Catalytic converter health (O2 sensors)
- AC condenser + compressor service
Fluid specs
Use only OEM-approved fluids. Wrong fluid = catastrophic gearbox / engine damage.
| Fluid | Spec / Approved Type | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil | 0W-40 full-synthetic | ~8–10 qt |
| Coolant | OEM long-life HOAT/OAT — do not mix types | ~2.5–3.5 gal |
| Brake fluid | DOT 4 LV or racing fluid (Castrol SRF / Motul RBF600), dry boil >300 °C | — |
| Manual gearbox | OEM GL-4 75W-90 | ~2 qt |
Longevity tips
- Warm the engine fully (oil at 180°F+) before any spirited driving — cold metal under load wears 10× faster.
- Run 93+ octane (98 RON) only. Detonation on lower octane permanently damages high-compression engines.
- After hard driving (track, mountain pass, autobahn pulls), idle 30–60 s before shutdown so turbos cool and oil temps stabilize.
- Store on a battery tender if driven less than once a week — modern ECUs draw heavy parasitic loads.
- Address small issues immediately (squeaks, warning lights, fluid spots) — they compound into $5k+ repairs.
- Keep a written service log — both for your own tracking and resale value (Carfax-style records add 5–10% at sale).
- Use OEM-spec parts and fluids — aftermarket 'equivalents' often aren't, and brand-engineered specs exist for real reasons.
- Replace tires as a complete set (or at minimum same axle) and never mix tire models on an AWD car — damages the center diff.
Brand-specific notes
- Service is factory-only; expect 60–120 hr labor and parts lead times measured in months. Budget 5–8% of MSRP per year for maintenance.
- Always cross-reference your VIN with the latest OEM TSBs and recalls — manufacturers fix common issues silently under warranty.
- Use the manufacturer app or a third-party scan tool (BimmerLink, OBDeleven, Techstream, Forscan) to monitor adaptations and clear codes between services.
Sources
- Manufacturer owner's manuals (recommended service intervals)
- Manufacturer Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) and recall data
- Consumer Reports — Vehicle Reliability & Maintenance
- Edmunds True Cost to Own — Maintenance Schedules
- NHTSA — vehicle safety + recall data
- FuelEconomy.gov — official MPG and ownership data
- Forum repair databases (BimmerForums, Rennlist, MBWorld, MyTurboDiesel, GT-R Life, etc.)
Always cross-check with your owner's manual — manufacturer intervals and TSBs supersede generic guidance.
05 / Configurator
Build your own
Starting from
Tuatara Striker
$2.20M
Your build
SSC Tuatara Tuatara Striker
Base$2.20M
Total$2.20M