Shelby Supercars Plans 1000hp Electric Supercar

WEST RICHLAND, Washington — Shelby SuperCars' Ultimate Aero, which holds the title as the world's fastest production car, is going green with an electric powertrain. But don't expect the Ultimate Aero EV to offer any sacrifices; the more ecological car will make 1000 horsepower and 800 pound-feet of torque.

The SSC Ultimate Aero EV will be capable of sprinting to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. With a top speed of 208 mph, the electric supercar will pursue the title of "World's Fastest Production Electric Car." SSC already holds a similar record for all production cars with the V8-powered Ultimate Aero.

The electric Ultimate Aero uses SSC's new All-Electric Scalable Powertrain. In the Aero EV, a twin-motor AESP is mated to a three-speed transmission capable of switching gears in 0.24 second. The car is expected to have a 150-to-200-mile range and will be capable of fully recharging the battery in 10 minutes from a 220-volt power source.

But the powertrain isn't just for supercars. Shelby says the electric unit can be adapted for a variety of applications, from 200-hp midsize cars to buses and delivery trucks making 1,200 hp. SSC plans to have prototypes of the Ultimate Aero EV on the road by spring 2009, with sales possibly beginning before the end of the year.

Inside Line says: Big claims from a company that's proven it can do big. — Eric Tingwall, Correspondent