It’s been close to a decade since news of the Bloodhound SSC first emerged. This week, though, the people behind the supersonic car have finally revealed the completed version. Measuring 44 feet in length, the Bloodhound draws its power from a V-8, a jet engine and a cluster of rockets, and it may soon be named the fastest car in the world.
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The current land speed record for a drivable object on four wheels is 763 mph, as set by fighter pilot Andy Green back in 1997 behind the wheel of the Thrust SSC. Green will also be piloting the Bloodhound, and he and his team have a much more ambitious targets this time around. Not only do they plan to break the current record, they’re also aiming to hit 1,000 mph!
To be able to do this the engineers needed to develop a powertrain that could produce a staggering 135,000 horsepower. The key components include a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine normally found in the Eurofighter Typhoon, a cluster of bespoke hybrid rockets developed by defense firm Nammo, and a V-8 from technology partner Jaguar used to pump a hydrogen peroxide oxidizer into the rocket.
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To ensure the Bloodhound can stop just as well as it hits high speeds, the vehicle has been fitted with three separate braking systems. And just in case there are any emergencies, the vehicle also features seven fire extinguishers and 500 sensors, twice as many as a Formula One car, so engineers will know exactly how it is performing during each high speed run.
The Bloodhound’s first public run will see it hit 200 mph, at a special event in Newquay, England next spring. In August, the team will head to South Africa to attempt setting a new land speed record, and—if all goes to plan—the team will aim to hit 1,000 mph in 2017.
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