Bloodhound SSC: supersonic car gears up for first public test
Team aiming to reach 200mph ahead of world record attempt
A rocket-powered supersonic car will make its first public run in Cornwall today, as its Bristol-based makers begins preparations to set a new land speed record by 2019.
The Bloodhound SSC has been designed to reach a top speed of 1,000mph, says the London Evening Standard, but will only reach 200mph in today’s "slow-speed" trial.
The car will be tested on a runway at Newquay Airport, reports BBC News, and will be piloted by RAF Wing Commander Andy Green, who set the current land speed record of 763mph in 1997.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“We've designed and built the most extraordinary, sophisticated, high-performance land speed record car in history,” Green told the website. “It will do 0-200mph in about eight seconds. For a five-tonne vehicle, that's eye-popping performance.”
The rocket car has so far cost more than £40m to develop, reports the Financial Times.
It is powered by the same Rolls-Royce rocket engine used in Eurofighter Typhoon jets, the newspaper says, as well as “three Norwegian Nammo hybrid rockets” and a V8 motor from a Jaguar sports car.
This equates to a power output of around 13,500bhp - “more than six times the combined power of all of the Formula 1 cars on the grid during a typical Grand Prix”, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Following today’s test runs, says the FT, the Bloodhound team will focus on breaching the 1,000mph and clinching the world record.
They are expected to make the record attempt in 2019 in the Kalahari Desert, the paper says.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Christmas gifts for children: the top toys of the year
The Week Recommends The most sought-after kids' presents revealed
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Should Line of Duty return?
Talking Point Adrian Dunbar's hint about a series reboot has some critics worried
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
Aston Martin heads off road with the all-new DBX
Speed Read Aston Martin, Britain’s supercar maker, is branching out into SUVs. Its new DBX looks a winner.
By Nicole Garcia Merida Last updated
-
Ferrari Roma 2020: official images, plus specs, price and release
In Depth Italian marque takes on Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG with its fifth new model of the year
By Cameron Tait Last updated
-
BMW M8 Gran Coupe 2020: design, specs, price and UK release
In Depth Four-door coupe will take on the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door
By The Week Staff Published
-
Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series 2020: spy shots, plus specs, price and release
In Depth German rival to take on Porsche’s 911 GT2 RS with racing-inspired supercar
By The Week Staff Published
-
McLaren GT review: does the new supercar live up to its grand tourer name?
The Week Recommends The Week Portfolio puts the British marque’s mid-engined model to the test
By Cameron Tait Published
-
Ferrari 812 GTS 2020: specs, price and UK release
In Depth Drop-top Superfast pays tribute to the 50-year-old 365 GTS4 Daytona Spider
By The Week Staff Published
-
Porsche 911 (992) Turbo 2020: Turbo S spy shots, plus specs, prices and release
In Depth A electrified version boasting 690bhp is set to arrive by 2023
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
McLaren ‘750LT’ 2020: next Longtail spied at the Nurburgring
In Depth Track-focused supercar spotted with aggressive new looks
By The Week Staff Last updated