Originally Posted by Zorro

Any technical or design features we haven't already been seeing in sports cars for the last 15 years? (ok that was mean, but I couldn't not say it)

Originally Posted by silversurfer

I appreciate the vote of confidence Al.

And just for clarification - "just not the looks and/or features that everyone is looking for" - what "features" are you referring to? Are you referring again to the aesthetic features of the car?

Originally Posted by silversurfer

This is a direct copy/paste of an email written to EVO magazine who requested a statement from Jerrod Shelby after the Bugatti's recent top speed record breaking run. I have permission from SSC to post this here. Maybe you guys will enjoy the insight?

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Ollie,
Junus told me you were looking for a statement regarding Bugatti breaking the world record. I hope the following is sufficient. I am leaving town this morning, so if you have any questions or need more details please feel free to contact Junus. Thanks and regards.

We would sincerely like to congratulate Bugatti. Mentioned in the same sentence as a company responsible for some of the most significant automobiles in history is humbling. 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. We’re proud to have held the record for almost 3 years. I think it goes without saying that it’s a monumental effort for any company to be able to engineer a car able to attain record breaking speeds and Bugatti did a phenomenal job once again.

I think it’s great how two fundamentally different cars are number one and two fastest production cars. Design philosophies between the Veyron and Ultimate Aero couldn’t be more polar, which in my opinion creates an exciting environment. It epitomizes the old adage, “there is more than one way to skin a cat”. The Veyron is a technological marvel, and the Ultimate Aero is an elemental supercar. Growing up racing cars, it was my dream to build the ultimate driver’s car. Lucky enough to be able to follow my dream, I wanted to ensure SSC’s Ultimate Aero will always have its main emphasis on performance and functionality via a fundamental approach. We will introduce technology where it plays a necessary role in emphasis on being a driver’s car without subtracting from the visceral experience. Although anyone can drive the Ultimate Aero, it takes a skilled driver to extract the full potential and it’s a car that grows with the driver’s experience, but that’s the beauty of it, just like the beauty of the Veyron is that it’s a car than anyone can get into and drive at full tilt. Regardless of the design philosophy, the great part of the speed record is that it is a testament of the overall build quality. Everything from door gaps and windshield wipers, to substantial systems such as drivetrain and electrical must be precise, resilient, and cutting edge via their design philosophy. My reason behind breaking the record was to show the world that we produced a comprehensively successful car. I sincerely believe we proved SSC’s capabilities with the Ultimate Aero. You can’t argue with numbers.

As it’s commonly seen, limited production start ups come and go frequently. That being said, I also consider myself blessed to have my staff who enabled the Ultimate Aero to challenge the big companies and our customers who had the confidence and foresight in SSC.

The only unexpected occurrence we’ve faced is the negativity in the eyes of some individuals who can’t understand how a small shop is able to challenge large automotive institutions. It almost seems to be a modern day witch-hunt. Yes, there is monumental difficulty for a small operation to produce an automobile that is functional, let alone a true performer. However, it is obviously possible as seen by the Ultimate Aero. We started the same way Enzo Ferrari, Ettore Bugatti, or almost any other automotive manufacturer started and I struggle to understand why some people don’t make the connection. Each year we will continue to better our product and company with the constant pursuit to push all limits with the driver’s experience first in mind. My hope is that more and more people will focus on SSC’s achievements, future, and be excited with us for what’s to come. That being said, 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. Having famed American designer Jason Castriota as our lead design enables SSC to reflect its engineer and performance in its aesthetics. It’s impossible for us to be more thrilled about having him on board and we’re anxious to show the world what we have up our sleeve.

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Originally Posted by drlar

I have found the common basher of the SSC Aero to be someone that has never seen the car, let alone really have had experience with a Veyron. It speaks volumes that a car that has been in production since 2006 is even comparable or competitive with the mighty manufactures of Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Bugatti. These manufactures invest millions and even billions of dollars to produce an “uber” exotic. It’s not only the capital - these manufactures have the luxury of 100s of the best engineers in the world investing their expertise in the production of these cars. SSC is a tiny USA manufacture that competes, and it was on the top of the world for two plus years.

Let’s just get it out there, I have photographed and been hands on with five different Bugatti Veyrons. I have dissected and played with every single button on the car. I have photographed TWO SSC Aeros. Yes, the Bugatti feels like a “refined” car, but it also cost $5 million to just make one. ANYONE can drive the Bugatti, my grandma and your grandma can. Without smashing the gas pedal it feels and drives like a modern Volkswagen Jetta. Overall the car is very boring; the driving experience isn’t worth what you paid for it. True exotic car enthusiasts DO NOT BUY the Veyron. I know an owner who prefers his Nissan GT-R over it and simply has the Veyron as a trophy piece. You all have heard the story of the guy trading in his Veyron for a ZR1 Vette with no regrets?

The SSC has a personality; it takes respect, courage, and skill to drive. It was built for hardcore enthusiast just like the Carrera GT, Zonda’s, Gumpert, and other uber exotics. It wasn’t built for your grandma to drive.

The KIT CAR comments are pure non-sense. If it wasn’t for the mass-production of basic items do you think we would have any cars like the Spyker, Gumpert, SSC, Diablo, Bertone, and all the other exotics? This is a common trend and the only reason these cars can be built. Who really wants to pay $ 5 million for a car because it has its unique window controls? You really are that out of tune with the exotic industry to not understand that even the Bugatti shares parts with other VW/Audis? The key for f*ck sake is straight from my girlfriends Jetta. The fitment comments are pointless as well. Have you not seen the Ferrari Enzo’s body fitment? Don’t you see those gaps?

I respect how the SSC is shaking up the status quo of the supercar world. SSC has set the bar, and other manufactures challenge themselves to compete. Similar to what the Mclaren set forth years ago. If you’re a true “car” guy you would RESPECT what SSC has accomplished and hope they continue to innovate. As a consumer all we can hope for is that Zonda, Koenig, Lambo, Ferrari, Bugatti continue to master the exotic automobile. Only desk jockeys and fan boys would truly hate SSC’s accomplishments.