Rolex Teams Up With a Supersonic Car to Set a World Speed Record
Rolex, which has a long history in the automotive world, has unveiled an especially unique collaboration with Bloodhound SSC, the UK-based manufacturers of a supersonic car.
As part of the partnership, Rolex has created a chronograph and a speedometer especially for Bloodhound SSC’s pencil-shaped supersonic car, a model which engineers hope will break the 1,000mph barrier and set a new world land speed record.
At the heart of Bloodhound SSC supersonic model is a Cosworth CA2010 Formula 1 V8 engine combined with a jet engine and a rocket. To complement this behemoth of power, Rolex created a speedometer for the interior of the car that is graduated up to 1,100 mph to accommodate measurement of any broken records. Rolex also created a mechanical chronograph. These two analog instruments sit on the car’s dashboard.
Bloodhound SSC’s car, which is still in development, was designed by a group of engineers under the guidance of Richard Noble. Noble’s previous company Thrust SSC previously created the first car to officially break the sound barrier on land and to achieve a speed of 763 mph, the current world land speed record.
A test of the supersonic car is scheduled to take place in South Africa in 2015/2016. Bloodhound SSC has hired the very same driver as Thrust SSC to pilot the Bloodhound, former UK Air Force pilot Andy Green.
