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This 1,000 m.p.h. Jet-Powered Car Is Hoping to Break the Land Speed Record

2 minute read

A new rocket-powered car that aims to capture the land speed record by traveling at 1,000 m.p.h. made its debut appearance in London on Thursday.

With looks like a something between a space ship and a Batmobile, the 135,000-horsepower Bloodhound Supersonic Car has taken eight years of research and development and is slated for its first test drive next October on a specially designed track in the Northern Cape of South Africa.

Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green, who blazed through the Nevada desert to capture the current land speed record of 763 m.p.h. in 1997, will climb aboard the Bloodhound to attempt to do one better.

The Bloodhound packs the same power as a 180 Formula One race car with multiple engines, including a Rolls-Royce EJ200, which is more commonly found inside fighter jets.

Climbing inside the cockpit of the $23 million-car is also more akin to slipping into a rocket ship, says the team. In addition to the 500 sensors, three braking systems and seven fire extinguishers, there is an oxygen mask included.

“It’s like an airplane but on four wheels,” project technician Mark Blackwell told AFP.

Backers of the project hope the car will inspire the next generation to seek out careers in engineering and science.

[AFP]

See the Evolution of the Ferrari in 10 Photos

Ferrari Formula One driver Raikkonen of Finland and team mate Massa of Brazil during the celebration of Ferrari's 60th anniversary
1947: After two decades of manufacturing only race cars, Ferrari debuted its first road car, the 125 S.Giampiero Sposito—Reuters
Mille Miglia 1998
1953: The 375 Mille Miglia Spyder - Chassis was first introduced at the Paris Auto Salon.Rainer W. Schlegelmilch—Getty Images
Klemantaski Collection
1957: The 250 GT California was an open top model with versions made for both racing and road driving. Klemantaski Collection—Getty Images
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
1962-64: The 250 GTO was the only front-engine model on display at the 1962 pre-season Ferrari press conference.Mario Suriani—AP
Klemantaski Collection
1968: The 365 GTB "Daytona" was first introduced at the Paris Auto Salon.Klemantaski Collection/Getty Images
Zippy car for Günter Netzer
1976: The 512 Berlinetta Boxer was a mid-engined road car that Enzo Ferrari initially worried would be too difficult for his customers to handle. dpa/AP
1986 Red Ferrari 288 GTO in speed on road, side view
1988: The 288 GTO was named for the car's 2.8 liter V8 engine. Ron Perry—Transtock/Corbis
USA - 2009 Concorso Italiano - 1999 Ferrari 355
1998: The F355 was designed to perform at a high level in various kinds of driving environments. Car Culture/Corbis
Ferrari Enzo, 2002
2002: The Enzo, named for Ferrari's founder, was built using formula-one technology. Rainer W. Schlegelmilch—Getty Images
2015: The 488 GTB can accelerate from 0 to 124 miles per hour in 8.3 seconds.Ferrari

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