Spotted: Ultima GTR
For when really, really fast just isn't fast enough
The car from Hinckley also boasts the following acceleration figures: o-60 in 2.6 seconds, 0-100 in 5.3, 30-70 in a disturbing 1.8, and 100-0 in 3.6. It's also covered the standing quarter mile in 9.9 seconds, has generated 1.176g on the skid-pad, and is even claimed to have lapped the Top Gear test track over six seconds faster than an Enzo. So in short they go like a buttered sow and slow down and grip somewhat better...
The body was removed and the aluminium interior panelling was re-done. The originally intended Hewland gearbox was dropped in favour of a Porsche G50 (with a taller top ratio which has been calculated to be good for 204mph) with a heavy duty clutch, and AP Racing brakes were selected to bring the whole lot to a stop.
A quick call to the factory revealed that one particular customer has fitted a twin-turbo version of the LS7 with a reputed (and entirely believable) 1200bhp in his Can Am-bodied Ultima, which has resulted in a claimed top speed of 247mph. Not bad for a car that could be built for a fraction of the price of a Koenigsegg.
However despite the stats and superlative performance, there are the inescapable issues of impracticality and acute lack of ride quality. There are of course other virtually brand new performance cars for £70,000 which are slanted slightly more in favour of comfort. There's this for starters.
Come to think of it, despite the power and performance of the Ultima, in the real world you'd have to be mad to pick one over the Carrera. Wouldn't you?
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I would take the Ultima any day, so long as I have a garage and other cars. Driving a car that can out perform a Veyron (up to say 200mph) would be neat and I like the look of these things and the rarity.
If you are after a 1 car solution in your life then obviously the Porsche wins.
Talk about bump steer & I don't know what diff was in it but without heel n toe he kept skipping the back end out on the down shifts. I've never been so pleased to get out a car!
I hope set up accounts for a lot.....
http://www.pistonheads.com/inc/popup3.asp?pictureU...
Despite the price-performance being pretty phenomenal, I wouldn't have one.
"Come to think of it, despite the power and performance of the Ultima, in the real world you'd have to be mad to pick one over the Carrera. Wouldn't you?"
I have no idea what they have done to this particular GTR, but neither of these comments have any resonance with my experience of the cars.
Doesn't sound as if the author had driven the car from the article either - not sure how you can form these opinions based on looking at a few photos and calling the factory?
That said, the car in the article is a long way from the best Ultimas out there (sorry philcerb).
"Come to think of it, despite the power and performance of the Ultima, in the real world you'd have to be mad to pick one over the Carrera. Wouldn't you?"
I have no idea what they have done to this particular GTR, but neither of these comments have any resonance with my experience of the cars.
Doesn't sound as if the author had driven the car from the article either - not sure how you can form these opinions based on looking at a few photos and calling the factory?
That said, the car in the article is a long way from the best Ultimas out there (sorry philcerb).
That said, I'd personally go for the Ultima!
I saw a couple at 'Caring with Cars' and having done 300 miles in the F1 GTR that day my appetite for something outrageously silly to go in the garage was well and truly whetted
So, I have preliminary Senior management Approval to start a build at the back end of next year/early the following year, once we have moved house and stuff.
Now, the big decision is GTR or Can Am? I love the shape of the GTR, but as a fun car shouldn't it be open-topped?
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