Delivering thrust to the high-speed effort is a Eurojet EJ200 jet engine usually reserved for the Eurofighter Typhoon, an aerial combatant that costs more than several Veyrons. Also propelling the *lo**hound SSC is a 882-pound hybrid rocket, a blend of a solid propellant rocket and a liquid propellant rocket. Combined with an 789-horsepower powerplant that serves as a starter and auxiliary power unit, total power output is in excess of 131,000 horsepower, which begins to sound quite ludicrous even for its task. In comparison, 131,000 horsepower is the equivalent of over 109 Veyron 16.4 Super Sports, each of which develops around 1200 horsepower. And, in case you were curious, there are three different brakes to help slow the speeding missile: disc brakes, air brakes, and a very large parachute.

Fully fueled, the *lo**hound SSC is expected to weigh 14,158 pounds, and need 42 seconds to reach 1000 mph. Targeted terminal speed is 1050 mph (Mach 1.4), although real-world scenarios can never be fully accounted even with the most powerful computers. Nevertheless, we wish nothing but the best of luck on this highly engineered endeavor.

With the model phase out of the way, the first 0-300-mph tests are expected to commence in 2012. Royal Air Force fighter pilot Andy Green will once again be in the c**kpit after pushing the previous Thrust SSC to 763 mph in 1997.