Ultima GTR
Encyclopedia
The Ultima GTR is a sports car
manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley
, Leicestershire
, England
, and described by commentators as a supercar. The car is available both in kit
form and as a "turnkey" (i.e. assembled by the factory) vehicle. The design is mid engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space frame
chassis and GRP
bodywork. A convertible
version called the Ultima Can-Am is also produced. Kit builders are free to source and fit a variety of engines and transmissions but the Chevrolet small block V8
supplied by American Speed mated to either a Porsche
or Getrag
transaxle
is the factory recommended standard, and this configuration is fitted to all turnkey cars.
Due to its curb weight of 990 kg (2,183 lb), the power-to-weight ratio
for the GTR720 is 727 hp per tonne, which is a better ratio than the Bugatti Veyron
, Enzo Ferrari
, Ascari A10
, Koenigsegg CCX
or CCGT (but less than the Koenigsegg CCXR
), it's also lesser to the Caparo T1
. However, the Ultima chassis is rated for engines up to 1000 bhp and some of Ultima's customers have fitted engines producing 1000 bhp or more, for a power-to-weight ratio of over 1000 hp per tonne, which is approximately twice the power-to-weight ratio of the aforementioned cars and nearly the same as the Caparo T1
's (1170 hp/tonne, but this is a "dry" tonnage and the hp/tonne would be reduced once oil, coolant, gasoline, etc. are added, compared to the Ultima figures above which are "wet" weights).
The GTR720 has been independently timed lapping the Top Gear test track
in 1 minute 12.8 seconds, which is over 2 seconds faster than all other times listed on the Top Gear television programme's Power Board . In October 2009 Ultima set another time of 1 minute 9.9 seconds, but this time in a configuration not suitable for use on public highways. Ultima have been keen to point out that this time is faster than those set by both the Ferrari FXX and the Caparo T1
; of which neither were deemed to be acceptable road cars by the Top Gear presenters shortly after these times were set.
There is very little mention of this on the Maxximus website. They claim to have designed this car from scratch.
Another car, the Stealth B6 is also apparently based around the Ultima. Supercarworld states "The Stealth was based on the Ultima Sports but with modified suspension and even more aggressive, if not tasteful, bodywork."
However the website for Stealth Cars Ltd. states that the car was designed by engineer Bob Light, and no mention is made of Ultima.
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley
Hinckley
Hinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 . It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and described by commentators as a supercar. The car is available both in kit
Kit car
A kit car, also known as a "component car", is an automobile that is available as a set of parts that a manufacturer sells and the buyer then either assembles into a car themselves, or retains a third party to do part or all of the work on their behalf...
form and as a "turnkey" (i.e. assembled by the factory) vehicle. The design is mid engined, rear wheel drive layout, with a tubular steel space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
chassis and GRP
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
bodywork. A convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
version called the Ultima Can-Am is also produced. Kit builders are free to source and fit a variety of engines and transmissions but the Chevrolet small block V8
Chevrolet Small-Block engine
The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block...
supplied by American Speed mated to either a Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
or Getrag
Getrag
Getrag is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG...
transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
is the factory recommended standard, and this configuration is fitted to all turnkey cars.
Performance
Recently Ultima have focused their marketing efforts on record-breaking activities using a model equipped with a 640 bhp American Speed engine, which is called the Ultima GTR640, and subsequently, a 720 bhp engine which is called the GTR720. As a result, they have established the following official, independently verified records for a production car equipped with road tires and exhaust:- Fastest 0-60 mi/h time: 2.6 seconds
- Fastest 0-100 mi/h time: 5.3 seconds
- Fastest 30 mi/h-70 mi/h time: 1.8 seconds
- Fastest 100 mi/h- 0 mph time: 3.6 seconds
- Fastest 0-100 mi/h- 0 mph time: 9.4 seconds
- Best performance on a skidpad: 1.176g lateral grip in a 200 ft (61 m) circle.
- Fastest road car over the 1/4 mile: 9.9 seconds @ 143 mi/h
Due to its curb weight of 990 kg (2,183 lb), the power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
for the GTR720 is 727 hp per tonne, which is a better ratio than the Bugatti Veyron
Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engined grand touring car. The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed of . The original version has a top speed of...
, Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari (car)
The Enzo Ferrari is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite...
, Ascari A10
Ascari A10
The Ascari A10 is an automobile produced by the British company Ascari Cars that was conceived by Dutch millionaire Klaas Zwart. It is a road-going evolution of the KZ1-R GT race car currently contesting the Spanish GT Championship, with both cars penned by ex-Formula One designer Paul Brown...
, Koenigsegg CCX
Koenigsegg CCX
The Koenigsegg CCX is a mid-engined roadster from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg. The CCX has been engineered to comply with the U.S. regulation and market demands and is a newer design that replaced the Koenigsegg CCR....
or CCGT (but less than the Koenigsegg CCXR
Koenigsegg CCXR
The Koenigsegg CCXR is a mid-engined roadster from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg. The CCXR is powered by a modified twin-supercharged V8 engine from the CCX, converted to use E85 or E100 ethanol fuel as well as standard 98 octane petrol...
), it's also lesser to the Caparo T1
Caparo T1
The Caparo T1 is a British mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, engineers formerly involved in the development of the McLaren F1. The T1 was inspired by Formula...
. However, the Ultima chassis is rated for engines up to 1000 bhp and some of Ultima's customers have fitted engines producing 1000 bhp or more, for a power-to-weight ratio of over 1000 hp per tonne, which is approximately twice the power-to-weight ratio of the aforementioned cars and nearly the same as the Caparo T1
Caparo T1
The Caparo T1 is a British mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, engineers formerly involved in the development of the McLaren F1. The T1 was inspired by Formula...
's (1170 hp/tonne, but this is a "dry" tonnage and the hp/tonne would be reduced once oil, coolant, gasoline, etc. are added, compared to the Ultima figures above which are "wet" weights).
The GTR720 has been independently timed lapping the Top Gear test track
Top Gear Test Track
The Top Gear test track is used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear. It is located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom. The track was designed by Lotus Cars...
in 1 minute 12.8 seconds, which is over 2 seconds faster than all other times listed on the Top Gear television programme's Power Board . In October 2009 Ultima set another time of 1 minute 9.9 seconds, but this time in a configuration not suitable for use on public highways. Ultima have been keen to point out that this time is faster than those set by both the Ferrari FXX and the Caparo T1
Caparo T1
The Caparo T1 is a British mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, engineers formerly involved in the development of the McLaren F1. The T1 was inspired by Formula...
; of which neither were deemed to be acceptable road cars by the Top Gear presenters shortly after these times were set.
Platform
Maxximus Technologies, Inc.'s Maxximus G-Force, recognized on October 7, 2008 by the World Records Academy as the world's fastest street-legal car, also used the Ultima GTR as its platform.There is very little mention of this on the Maxximus website. They claim to have designed this car from scratch.
Another car, the Stealth B6 is also apparently based around the Ultima. Supercarworld states "The Stealth was based on the Ultima Sports but with modified suspension and even more aggressive, if not tasteful, bodywork."
However the website for Stealth Cars Ltd. states that the car was designed by engineer Bob Light, and no mention is made of Ultima.