Ultima GTR

The Ultima GTR is a supercar manufactured by Ultima Sports Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire, England.[3][4] The car was available both in kit form and as a "turnkey" (i.e. assembled by the factory) vehicle until early 2015, when it was replaced by the Ultima Evolution. 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 was also produced. Kit builders were 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 was the factory recommended standard, and this configuration was fitted to all turnkey cars.

Ultima GTR
Overview
ManufacturerUltima Sports Ltd
Production1999-2016[1]
DesignerLee Noble (preceding Sports model) and Ted Marlow[2]
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutRear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
DoorsButterfly
Powertrain
Engine
Power output
  • 350 PS (257 kW; 345 hp) (GTR)
  • 564 PS (415 kW; 556 hp) (GTR 500)
  • 542 PS (399 kW; 535 hp) (GTR 535)
  • 649 PS (477 kW; 640 hp) (GTR 640)
  • 730 PS (537 kW; 720 hp) (GTR 720)
Transmission
  • 5 Speed Manual Porsche G50 transaxle
  • 6 speed Manual Porsche G52 transaxle
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,560 mm (100.8 in)
Length4,000 mm (157.5 in)
Width1,850 mm (72.8 in)
Height1,070 mm (42.1 in)
Kerb weight980 kg (2,161 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorUltima Sport
SuccessorUltima Evolution

Performance
2005 model

Ultima focused their marketing efforts on record-breaking activities using a model equipped with a 640 bhp (649 PS; 477 kW) American Speed engine, called the Ultima GTR640, and subsequently, a 720 bhp (730 PS; 537 kW) at 6700 rpm and a maximum torque of 855 N⋅m (631 lb⋅ft; 87 kg⋅m) at 4400 rpm Chevy V8 engine called the GTR 720.[5] As a result, they established the following official, independently verified records[6] for a production car equipped with road tyres and exhaust:

  • Fastest 0–60 mph (97 km/h) time: 2.6 seconds[6]
  • Fastest 0–100 mph (160 km/h) time: 5.3 seconds[6]
  • Fastest 30 mph (48 km/h)–70 mph (110 km/h) time: 1.8 seconds[6]
  • Fastest 100 mph (160 km/h) to 0 mph braking: 3.6 seconds[6]
  • Fastest 0 – 100 mph (160 km/h) – 0 mph time: 9.4 seconds[6]
  • Best performance on a skidpad: 1.176g lateral grip in a 200 ft (60 m) circle.
  • Fastest road car over the 1/4 mile: 9.9 seconds @ 143 mph (230 km/h)

Due to its kerb weight of 980 kg (2,161 lb),[7] the power-to-weight ratio for the GTR720 is 745 bhp (755 PS; 556 kW) 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 or the Caparo T1. However, the Ultima chassis is rated for engines up to 1,000 bhp (1,014 PS; 746 kW) and some of Ultima's customers, notably Jeff Schwartz, have fitted engines producing 1,000 bhp (1,014 PS; 746 kW) or more,[8] for a power-to-weight ratio of over 1,000 bhp (1,014 PS; 746 kW) per tonne, which is approximately twice the power-to-weight ratio of the aforementioned cars and nearly the same as the Caparo T1's (1,170 bhp (1,186 PS; 872 kW) per tonne, but this is a "dry" tonnage and the bhp PS kW/tonne would be reduced once oil, coolant, gasoline, etc. are added, compared to the Ultima figures above which are "wet" weights). There are also other model designations for the kits, including the GTR 660 and GTR 730.

In 2007, the GTR720 was independently timed lapping the Top Gear test track in 1 minute 12.8 seconds, at least one second faster than all other times listed on the Top Gear television programme's Power Board at the time.[9][10] 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.[11] 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.

In 2011, Romanian workshop Black Falcon Cars mated an Ultima GTR chassis and a modified Porsche GT3 transmission with a Chevrolet V8 turbocharged by Nelson Racing Engines to achieve 1,716 bhp (1,280 kW) on racing fuel and made it fully road legal under the brand name Black Falcon SBC-TT1750.[12][13]

In 2015 the GTR and Can-Am names were retired and replaced by the Ultima Evolution range, which represents a complete reengineering of the package.

Notes
  1. "Ultima GTR". Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  2. Webster, Larry (April 2000). "Ultima GTR". Car and Driver. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  3. "Ultima GTR - officially the fastest super car in the world". Society of Automotive Engineers. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  4. "British supercar sets new world record". Channel 4 - Car. 6 June 2006. Archived from the original on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  5. "Ultima GTR 720 730 PS (2007) Technical Specifications and performance figures". Zeperfs.com.
  6. "Ultima smashes world record - again". PistonHeads. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  7. "Current GTR Demonstrator". Ultima Sports Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  8. "Jeff Schwartz's Twin Turbo Ultima GTR". Jeff Schwartz. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  9. "Top Gear Power Laps". BBC.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  10. Pattni, Vijay (30 October 2007). "Ultima GTR smashes Top Gear lap record". Auto Trader UK. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  11. Siler, Wes (27 October 2009). "$50,000 Ultima GTR Shatters $1.6 Million Ferrari FXX Top Gear Track Record". Jalopnik. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. "The Black Falcon SBC-TT1750". Luxatic.com. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  13. "Black Falcon Cars". Black Falcon Cars. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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